Adrenal tests

[dalalf]

Has anyone was tested for adrenal malfunction and you did what tests were carried

[phoenix23002]

Here is a link to a good read re: adrenals.. even some self-tests you can do if you suspect adrenal fatigue. You can also google .... STTM adrenals .... and a few more links will pop up with good information.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

[dalalf in reply to phoenix23002]

Thank you so much for the detailed information, before doing the tests

[Jackie]

Hi The test is 24 hour urine collection and a cortizone tablet at midnight . Blood test then at 9am.

Jackie

[dalalf in reply to Jackie]

I haven't seen a doctor yet and wanted to know about the test, to be sure what tests I should do.Thanks

Dalalf

[LizzyB40]

I've just had a 'cortisol' blood test to look t my adrenal function. Blood was taken at 9am today. Endo says that if my levels are low he'll call me back in for a full cortisol test which includes several blood tests over a morning and an injection of cortisol to see how my body is metabolising it. I'll report bak once I get the results of the first test. L x

[Heloise]

Hi dalaif, I'm sure the links from phoenix will help you decide. The saliva test is the best because saliva contains active cortisol and done at the four intervals tells you whether it is struggling or keeping up with your metabolism. It should be highest in the morning and decline until the lowest in the evening. Do you feel it is happening that way?

If you have time, this video explains a lot about your adrenals which are very important to your thyroid.

youtube.com/watch?v=T_Re4ja...(Not working as expected?)

[dalalf in reply to Heloise]

Thanks very informative

[Eddie83]

I've had both the 24-hour urine test (sum of cortisol released over 24 hours) and the 4- or 5-sample saliva tests. My frustration with cortisol testing is that many alternative doctors will do the testing, but don't necessarily know what to give you to improve cortisol rhythm and release. They used stuff like adrenal glandulars, vitamin C, HC, etc. but ultimately the treatment that had a very positive effect, was to support the adrenals with free amino acids. Which I had to discover myself.

Generally, MDs won't do the multi-sample saliva testing. However they will do the 24-hour urine.

[Heloise in reply to Eddie83]

Yes, anyone who cannot achieve good levels of thyroid should always consider adrenal dysfunction but as you pointed out, which part of the adrenal gland is dysfunctional. It's a guessing game whether you want to stimulate the adrenals with ginseng and licorice root or supplement with hydrocortisone and glandulars.

Can I ask which amino acids you feel are helpful? Did you try Gaba. glycine or arginine?

[Eddie83 in reply to Heloise]

Trying to figure out which are low, is a guessing game. What I have done for several years, is use the NOW Amino-9 blend which provides 9 free essential amino acids. From those, the body is able to make what it wants; which counteracts my adrenals keeping me awake in the wee hours. However this is not an ideal solution because it is most effective when administered as two tablespoons of amino powder when I wake up. What I have done recently, is take the Life Extension amino acid profile test. I am now examining the results to see if there is one, or a few, amino acids which are notably low. For instance, my threonine is right at the bottom of range. I'm going to experiment with individual aminos to see if I can find a combination of one, or a few, which provide the desired result. I have never seen an article which says adrenals require specific amino acid(s) for best function.

[Heloise in reply to Eddie83]

Thanks, Eddie, I think this is a good discussion to have. I posted an article which I cannot find now but included all the nutrients we need. Do you eat meat? Are you taking HCL or something to help extract amino acids. Sometimes that is why we lack them. This area needs more attention since they are so important along with the 60 minerals we also need. If you get it all figured out, let us know.

Thanks again.

[Eddie83 in reply to Heloise]

I use mostly the light meats (chicken, turkey, fish). I tried Betaine HCl for a long time, but it didn't do anything. I have been using the "Complete Digestion" product from Enzyme Science, and it obviously makes my digestion work smoother, but it hasn't lowered my need for supplemental amino acids. All of my problems started with gut destruction due to celiac; the amino acid metabolism problem that caused, may be permanent.

[Heloise in reply to Eddie83]

I do believe in enzymes as well. You have gone gluten free I imagine. Difficult to do since gluten can be sneaky.

I hope it isn't permanent. The videos by Dr. John Bergman are great and he has many on You Tube. If he has one on celiac I would definitely look it up. He's quite knowledgeable.

[Eddie83 in reply to Heloise]

Turns out Bergman hasn't done one on celiac. But if you search for "John Bergman gluten", you get a TON of hits! It took 12 years and lots of stupid MDs until I found out the panic/anxiety attack that put me in my deep illness phase, was caused from hypothyroid caused by autoimmunity caused by gut degeneration from gluten. And I don't even have the *DQ2 and *DQ8 genes. Actually, given the benzos, ADs, and anti-psychotics MDs shoveled into me, I'm amazed I'm still alive. Bergman's vid on nutrition for mental illness is spot on ... hypothyroidmom.com has a similar story, concentrating on thyroid disorder and mental illness.

[Heloise in reply to Eddie83]

Such a shame; putrid medical establishment. I knew about leaky gut 20 years ago and when I learned of John Bergman, I was enlightened enough to know he was correct about a lot of functions. Watch the one on neuropathy, excellent. A book called The Second Brain was published decades ago and explained the gut connection.

Don't give up on healing!

[dalalf]

I had many tests for Adult Polyglucosan in London after they research I had to go To Columbia University Hospital in New York USA and still waiting for the result, I asked the doctor in New York to check the Adrenal Glands as I have some of the symptoms and wanted to know how it is done, so I might do it in London before going to see him again in the spring. Thanks for all the information you gave me as now I have to choose the tests that I have to do.

[dalalf]

I also have Antiphospholipids which was diagnosed by Prof. Hughes 11 years ago, I have Sjogrens and had my thyroid glands removed and Pseudo obstruction, that's why I ask before doing tests.