Hyperparathyroidism, a hormonal disorder caused by overactivity in one or more of the body’s four parathyroid glands, affects about 100,000 people in the U.S. each year. Though it can occur at any age, the condition is three times more common in women than in men, with menopause being a key risk factor, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The disorder raises calcium levels, which can cause symptoms such as bone and joint pain, osteoporosis, kidney stones, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, brain fog, and depression—symptoms often mistaken for normal aging. Hyperthyroidism can also increase the risk of developing long-term heart disease.
Westchester resident Carine Feist, MPH, began noticing joint pain, severe heartburn, and fatigue last fall. “After a full night’s sleep, I’d still be physically exhausted and ready for a nap by 10 a.m.,” she says.
A medical research reviewer with a background in public health, Feist has been proactive with her medical care and was already monitoring her bone density due to a history of osteopenia. When her symptoms persisted, she went to her family physician, who found her calcium levels to be abnormally high. Further blood tests confirmed hyperparathyroidism.
She was then referred to Dr. Kaare Weber, an endocrine surgery specialist who is Chief of Surgery and Associate Medical Director of Surgical Services at White Plains Hospital. “He exuded confidence and exceptional ability,” Feist notes. “He told me, ‘We will get you better.’ That’s what you want to hear when you’re having a procedure.”
Dr. Weber, who has performed more than 1,000 hyperparathyroidism surgeries, says modern imaging has revolutionized treatment. “We can now localize the parathyroid glands before surgery using tools such as high-resolution ultrasound, sestamibi scans (an imaging test for overactive parathyroid glands), or 4-D CT,” he says. “This precision allows minimally invasive outpatient procedures with very low risk, faster recovery, and significant improvement in quality of life.”
In Feist’s case, the imaging showed that only one gland needed to be removed. Following her March 2025 surgery, she experienced life-changing improvements overnight. “I didn’t have fatigue, and I didn’t have to rely on Tums anymore,” she says.
An avid traveler, she’s now planning a trip to Iceland with her 93-year-old mother—a journey that seemed impossible just months ago.
“Seeing patients regain their energy and return to their passions is one of the most rewarding aspects of treating hyperparathyroidism,” Dr. Weber says.
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