3 "borderline" cortisol stim tests, am I ok?
Posted , 4 users are following.
Last December my OBGYN ordered a bunch of hormone tests due to some strange female cycles. Several of them were lower than normal, so she sent me to the Endocrinologist, who wanted to do a cortisol stimulation test, I think because of the very low DHEA result (31.1 mcg/dL; normal range is 57.3-279.2). So she did one stim test in early January, and my results were:
0 min 4.99;
30 min 15.2;
60 min 20.2
She called this borderline but just into "normal" so she asked if I wanted to go get a second opinion at the university hospital. I said ok, and they did another test a month or two later, and the results were borderline again -
0 min 4.7
60 min 19.2
(they didn't do a 30min one there)
So the university hospital sent me back to my endo and recommended testing again in 2-3 months to see if my numbers go more clearly one way or another. So last week my results were:
0 min 5.81
30 min 14.32
60 min 16.61
My Endo called with the results and said it looks like everything's fine, and she wouldn't recommend testing again unless I get more symptoms. I don't understand how this one is "fine," unless she just means there's nothing a lot more conclusive than the other two tests. I had read that baseline cortisol should be above 6, so I can see how I'm close on that. But I also thought by 60 minutes it was supposed to get above 20, and I'm getting a lower and lower result each time I test (20, then 19, now 16). Is that not a big deal?
It's not that I WANT to have Addison's of course. It's just that with the numbers borderline, and so many hormones below normal (DHAS, Prolactin, testosterone, thyroid - thyroid they have been treating since 2007, but I keep having to increase the dosage) shouldn't they do SOMETHING? I have all the symptoms (taken from NIH website):
"Chronic, or long lasting, fatigue
weight loss
nausea
vomiting
low blood pressure that drops further when a person stands up, causing dizziness or fainting
irritability and depression
craving salty foods
hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar
headache
sweating
irregular or absent menstrual periods
in women, loss of interest in sex"
I definitely think it's good that they have been willing to do the cortisol test 3 times. Do you think the results are really "ok"? Is there anything else that I should ask to have tested?
Thanks so much in advance!
0 likes, 11 replies
kenzii92818 Justhormonal
Posted
Justhormonal kenzii92818
Posted
Hmm that is interesting. Even if we don't know why my thyroid is getting lower and lower, it sounds like maybe the other hormones were just low because I needed a higher dose of thyroid medicine. I have been on the higher dose for about 6 weeks now, but they haven't re-tested the other hormones. I still feel about the same though. Should I ask to have the other hormones re-tested, not just the cortisol test? It sounds like the docs are assuming that they are still low and aren't acting on that anyway, so I'm not sure if it would help anything.
kenzii92818 Justhormonal
Posted
If your thyroids come back normal/High then retest Cortisol, if your Cortisol is Low at this point then you know it is not your Thyroid leaching from adrenals, it would be a good idea to maybe speak to your doctor about maybe doing a cortisol saliva test. This will help see what your levels are through the day i.e morning, afternoon early evening and late evening. They should show Morning-Highest Cortisol levels , Then the afternoon and so on, going lower and lower through the day the lowest point being in the evening.
Justhormonal kenzii92818
Posted
Thanks Kenzii... That is in fact what happened - She tested my thyroid levels the same day as the cortisol test (prior to the cortisone injection) and the thyroid level was normal this time (after upping the dose of thyroid meds about 6 weeks ago), but the cortisol numbers were still borderline. She hasn't tested the DHAS or the other hormones (prolactin, testosterone) since early January though, not sure if that matters. I will ask about that and the saliva test next time I talk to her.
hanny32508 Justhormonal
Posted
Roddy999 hanny32508
Posted
Please don't advise people to go to self-appointed quacks. Naturopathy "means exactly what I want it to mean, no more and no less!" (Alice in Wonderland). Practitioners just prey on the gullible. Imaginary 'medicines' only cure imaginary diseases (unless there is a lucky and unpredictable placebo response).
Taking steroids [such as hydrocortisone] without very good reason and follow-up is dangerous in itself and may hide a very real underlying condition.
hanny32508 Roddy999
Posted
Judging without knowing, Roddy. My nature path is an MD, who prefers the more gentle ways of healing. I have profited from his knowledge enormously. Tests were done and finally I was on my way to a better life. Adrenal problems take apparently long to diagnose. The established medical world couldn't find what was ailing me. My nature path came highly recommend even by the conservative medical world.
Roddy999 hanny32508
Posted
You were lucky to get a real MD (and the treatment he gave you was entirely conventional) and I'm pleased for you that it has worked. There is ample evidence that people get better and faster if the doctor has time to listen - see "placebo response". [Obviously not an underfunded NHS GP practice, then!]
jen123456 Justhormonal
Posted
I too had your symptoms and my cortisol registered at 1.....consistently for a 24 hr. period....my dr. put me on hydrocortisone in the morning and at noon. What an awful drug. I have gained 40 lbs and all of it in my stomach, face and back. I do not even resemble myself. I also agree that it masks other symptoms. Please....do not go on steroids unless you're 100% sure you need them.
Roddy999 jen123456
Posted
Interestingly, hydrocortisone for me was (is) wonderful! I went from just dragging along to being top of the world. Yes, I gained a little weight at first but finally had the energy to exercise it off without being exhausted for a week afterards. But the reason HC worked in my case was that my natural cortisol was almost non-existent, so taking the tablets just brought me up to normal baseline.
I've read a number of cases like yours where people have just ballooned and nothing will get rid of it, so I'm not suggesting for a minute that you can "just pull yourself together and get some exercise". That's not how it works. I know that I've been one of the lucky ones (eventually).
hanny32508 Roddy999
Posted