a2psyklnut, my brother, also 32, was just diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism last week. His doctor said it was hereditary, because 10-15 years ago, my grandmother had the whole thing (thyroid gland?) cut out. She has a scar all the way around the front of her neck that she jokes is her Frankenstein scar.
From what I heard (third string info from my parents, so forgive me if it's fuzzy), they do not do that as the surgery anymore. They are going to inject a little device in him that will find out which one (I think there are four or so) is the worst and then remove that one.
He had been having heart palpitations, and that was what drove him to the doctor. They also found something odd with his liver, so now he has to go see an internist too. All of this piled onto a little boy on the way (via my sister-in-law, although I think he's been eating for two himself!), due December 16.
Let me know what else your wife finds out. You and your wife will be in my prayers.