Cortisol

[Christielle]

Hi everyone. Strange that I just came from my gp and she noted that my thyroid hadnt been checked by the endo on Tuesday, though everything else was. So I had to have more bloods taken today two days later! Can anyone tell me if 228 (nmol/L) is high on cortisol? there is no range given on the sheet. All the tests done show I am on the uppermost top of the ranges on most things. my ALT liver function states high, and is 58 which is outside the high range. thanks so much everyone xx

[Hidden]

Christielle,

There has to be ranges. Can you ask surgery receptionist for another print out including ranges?

Even stranger the endo didn't check bloods. Perhaps because they hadn't been previously done but therefore he should have organised some for you.

I don't know about raised liver enzymes but if you type ALT in the search box at top of page you will get loads of hits which may be helpful.

Flower007.

[Christielle in reply to Hidden]

Hi Flower. Thank you. The papers I got are copies from the Testing. The colomn that states ranges are blank xx

[Christielle in reply to Christielle]

That being said, all of the other tests have the ranges, except for the cortisol the LDL cholesterol and HDL Ratio

[Hidden in reply to Christielle]

Even stranger Christielle,

I think these things are sent to test our perseverance levels and assertiveness (as if we really need testing!).

228 doesn't sound high to me for a blood cortisol test (my range was 171.0 - 536.0) but without your range it is difficult to be certain.

If you concerned have you thought of a saliva stress test which gives a much more accurate portrayal of your cortisol pattern over a 24 hour period?

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Test required is:

Adrenal Stress Profile (ASI): Cortisol/DHEA Specimen requirements: Saliva

Cost: £79.00

Order Code: END01

Flower007

[Christielle in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Flower :). Will get that test when I have the money xx

[PinkNinja in reply to Christielle]

That 24 hour cortisol test is a test worth doing. It will tell you so much more about your adrenal status than a random blood cortisol test.

I agree with Flower007 that your cortisol does look to be at the lower end but it depends on what time of day the blood was drawn and the range for the particular lab where the blood was processed.

I believe, as a general guide, cortisol levels should be highest first thing in the morning around the time you would get up. This is logical because it is the cortisol (as well as other things) that help you get up and get going. Middle of the range is best during the day and then it should be lowest around midnight when you should be sleeping. Even if your cortisol levels are in the normal range you could have a pattern where your cortisol isn't peaking until the middle of the day or later in the afternoon, perhaps. And perhaps it isn't dropping enough by bedtime, resulting in insomnia or other sleep disturbances. During all of this your cortisol could be in the normal range but the pattern might not be ideal. The 24 hour cortisol test should help you to determine if there is indeed an issue here

[Christielle in reply to PinkNinja]

Hi there Carolyn. that blood test was taken at 3 pm xx

[PinkNinja in reply to Christielle]

In that case it could be an ok reading. The 24 hour one could still be useful because it is helpful to know the level first thing in the morning. Perhaps even ask for a morning blood cortisol test first thing in the morning from your GP. He may not do it though.

[Christielle in reply to PinkNinja]

Thank you so much Carolyn! xxx