cortisol test

[Wilsleighmummy]

hi, just wondering if anyone can help me.

ive had a call from the doctor to have a corsidol test at 9am tomorrow morning.

what do these normally consist of??

[Hidden]

At the hospital?

[Heloise]

It may possibly be a blood test to measure cortisol. The results of that are not as helpful as a saliva test taken at four intervals throughout the day. The reason is not only do you want to view the levels but they have to meet requirements throughout a whole day. If there are any deviations, it means your adrenals are not working correctly. The Stop the Madness Website states:

24-HOUR CORTISOL SALIVA: This is an at-home test to evaluate your circadian and cellular cortisol levels at key times during a 24 hour period. It’s more accurate than blood cortisol, we saw repeatedly, since the latter measures both bound and unbound cortisol, not cellular levels like saliva, and thus blood can give a false idea of what is really going on.

We noted repeatedly that those will healthy adrenal function will have the following saliva results:

8 am: at the literal tip top of the range

11 am-noon: in the upper quarter

4-5 pm: mid-range

11 pm to midnight: at the very bottom (literally).

For accuracy, patients learned they needed to be off any adrenal support supplement, any medication containing cortisol, any herbs that support adrenal function, or zinc or licorice root for at least two weeks prior to testing…if possible (it may not be possible for some conditions, though–work with your doctor!) Avoid food when spitting into vials. If you wear dentures, remove them to prevent denture adhesives from tainting the spit, says the facilitiies.

Note: we learned the hard way that it’s impossible to know what is going on if you use a lab facility like Quest that has the range as “less than” or “more than” a number. (i.e. < or >).

[Josiesmum]

If it's at GP surgery it will probably just be a blood test. It is done at 9am because cortisol level usually falls during the day so NHS reference range is based on a fixed point (9am) when level should be high.

[nat74]

I had a 9am cortisol blood test 2 weeks ago. Your cortisol level should be at it's highest at 9ish because that's your get up and go period, it fluctuates throughout the day and should be at it's lowest at bedtime. If you have adrenal issues and low cortisol then it can surge early evening giving you an energy spurt and if you're not asleep before 11pm then you may suffer from insomnia. Also many with low cortisol wake between 2 and 3am and struggle to get back to sleep. My level came back as 261 when it should be over 550..I have no idea of the unit of measure lol. I was called back in for more tests on Tuesday, where I had blood taken and then was given an injection to stimulate the adrenal glands and then had more blood taken 30 minutes and then an hour later. I can't remember the name of the test. Sorry if not much help and a bit random..I've been reading up on it lol x

[Wilsleighmummy in reply to nat74]

Thanks, I've no idea what they are going to do, just that I have to have tests done.

When I got bloods done at endo and went back to docs there was a red result, but doc said would worry about this one later, I now presume this was my cortisol levels

[loglegmomma in reply to nat74]

That's the ACTH Stimulation Test. I had that too.

[nat74 in reply to loglegmomma]

That's the one! Thanks x

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to nat74]

If it is abnormal (unlikely - they rarely are) you might find that you need a box of tissues - go prepared. I just couldn't stop crying during mine, really weird feeling.

if it is abnormal - the next steps are usually CT or MRI scan and insulin stress test (really nasty, get a friend to take you home after).