ACTH stimulation test - Short Synacthen Test

[AnnaG75]

Hello lovely people. Do you recommend the short synacthen test? Is it going to tell me anything useful. I'm not keen on any side-effects. I know I would have to come off my nutri adrenals before hand. Many thanks. Anna.

[Hidden]

If it's via nhs dont waste your time,see my previous posts elsewhere on this

[AnnaG75 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks very much.

[Hidden]

I wouldn't bother putting yourself through this test unless there's a strong suspicion of having Addison's disease. If you have adrenal fatigue forget it. If your cortisol increases after the stimulation, whatever your starting point and numbers you will be deemed normal. I have first hand experience. I know this is rare but I also reacted badly with stomach cramps nausea and dizziness.

[AnnaG75 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Helcaster. I think I'm doing okay at the moment, so think I'll just carry on as I am for a bit and not book the test.

[Hidden in reply to AnnaG75]

To be honest if you're looking for answers via this test, it just doesn't deliver.

Have you had the Adrenal Stress Profile test? You do it with saliva from waking to bedtime, in 4 test tubes, you don't have to spit too much but difficult if you have a dry mouth. I had to keep thinking of lemons lol! You get your results 7 days after posting to the lab. With the courier it's about £80. X

[AnnaG75 in reply to Hidden]

Yep, I've got the kit to do this test. The logistics with the freezer and getting it in the post etc. were all a bit much for my poor addled brain, but I should have another look at it. Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to AnnaG75]

Hi AnnaG75, I didn't understand the instructions either, I don't retain anything much I've read. My partner wrote it out for me in stages, and once I did one tube I was OK. I have a phobia of making calls. So organising the courier was the worst part, especially as most folk find it hard to find us as we're pretty remote.

Then what do you do with the abnormal results if you are abnormal? I had a GP who sent me for the dreaded synacthen test, the more recent one, couldn't interpret the results so I wrote them out with the ranges in a letter. If the test I'm doing next week is really low, I've had a "might" from my GP to give me hydrocortisone. It's taken a year to get to this stage. I did copy that patient leaflet from the something something endocrinologists, UK endocrinologists that is, and posted it to her on adrenal insufficiency. Highlighting the section about losing underarm and pubic hair which I have, and the section where if you have steroid injections, which I've had a shed load, how they mess up your adrenal function. It's a shame when you're exhausted and feel so crap you have to make a case with appropriate rubber stamped evidence in an attempt to get anywhere. So what I'm saying is even if the saliva test proves something amiss, you still have a battle on your hands.

[janeofjungle in reply to Hidden]

My face was flushed and I felt very sleepy a few hours later and then like total crap in the days and weeks afterwards. ..and I still feel horrible. Still trying to figure it all out

[behappy1]

I have had 2 and didn't get any side effects. I'm very glad I had them done as they gave me a diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency and I was able to get on the correct hydrocortisone medication. I also took the results to a private endo for additional advice. So for me, it proved worth it.

[AnnaG75 in reply to behappy1]

Thanks behappy1, I will have a think about it.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I don't think it's much use, although I had an abnormal one. No one else seems to have had any side effects from it, but I couldn't stop crying - so if you do go, take plenty of tissues just in case. If it's abnormal, they just send you for more tests - Insulin stress test (nasty), MRI (very nasty) etc, which will probably come back normal whatever.

[AnnaG75 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Yep, it doesn't sound like a great experience for sure!

[Becks_88]

I had the test last week (currently waiting for results), and for me the side effects were just increased fatigue for a couple of days, if that helps...........

[AnnaG75 in reply to Becks_88]

I thought that might be one of the side effects. I'd have to plan that in really. Thanks very much.