Short synacthen test

[rustysmum]

Am having this done in the morning. Can anyone please explain to me what happens and what it feels like? Feeling rather nervous. Thanks!

[radd]

rustysmum,

The Synacthen test is to assess the adrenal glands function by the response to an injection of a synthetic ACTH (pituitary hormone) that encourages cortisol secretion.

If your response is mild they may perform an insulin tolerance test to diagnose adrenal insufficiency.

The adrenals become severely compromised over many years of anxiety and stress whether it is physical, emotional, psychological, environmental or illness. Stress also impacts thyroid hormone synthesis, affecting the biochemical pathway that ultimately produces healthy levels of T3 and low T3 causes more stress and strain on the adrenals.

Addison's disease is not common and optimising thyroid hormones and nutrients, and balancing sex hormones, together with a healthy life style has helped many members' adrenal health .

If you have been supplementing adrenal supports these should have been stopped two weeks ago. I haven't had a stim test but hopefully others who have will detail their experience.

Post result for members to comment.

[rustysmum in reply to radd]

Thank you radd for explaining

[punch54]

rustysmum

Hi, I had the short synacthen done in February and like you I was pretty nervous. Well don't be it is not that bad! They basically take some blood and then inject the hormone into your bottom! You wait and have several blood tests taken at half hourly intervals from what I can remember. All I felt initially was a little wave of anxiety, probably self induced!, and a little hot but this passed quickly. So don't fret you will be fine🙂. I was told the next day I had Primary Adrenal Insufficiency and put on Hydrocortisone straight away. It was the answer to why my Thyroid meds hadn't been working properly. Good luck, I hope you don't have Addison's but if you do at least you'll know more about what your dealing with.

[rustysmum in reply to punch54]

Hi punch54,

Thank you for your reply full stop I had the test this morning. The test itself was fine although they seemed confused as to why my blood pressure went really high at the very end of the test. Have felt absolutely awful ever since then and that was four hours ago. Maybe it was blood sugar issues because of being up early and not being able to eat during the test. But at least the test itself was not as bad As I was feeling. Thanks again for the reassurance it really helped me be more relaxed going into the test.

[punch54 in reply to rustysmum]

Hi rustysmum, well done for getting through it and I hope it provides some answers. You could be feeling wiped out because you would have been stressed in spite of assurances and yes it could be your blood sugars. I'd rest and take it easy for the rest of the day if you can. Thanks for letting me know how it went and that my initial message helped you a bit. x

[rustysmum in reply to punch54]

I'm not too sure about the stress as my blood pressure was totally normal at the start of the test, then dropped as expected 30 minutes later. At the end of the test they expected to be back to almost normal but mine had risen quite abbott. On the journey home and the first part of the afternoon my heart was going crazy with skip beats and racing as well as the shakes and sweats and panic attack's like I was having a low blood

[rustysmum in reply to rustysmum]

Oops wrong button! Like I was having a low blood sugar episode it was horrible and one of the worst I've had. Then felt completely wiped out. Feeling a bit better now thank goodness

[Angel_of_the_North]

I seem to be one of the few here who have ever had an abnormal one, so my experience may be different from most. You just lie on a "couch" while they take blood and then give you an injection. Then you wait and they take more blood. I just suddently started crying and couldn't stop. I didn't feel sad or anxious; I just couldn't stop crying (so take tissues). Finally they take more blood. I felt fine by the time I had to leave.

The Insulin Stress Test is truly evil. I had to have 3 days off work afterwards (unpaid, of course) and ended up lying in the street with head, back and stomach pains, vomiting - unable to get up - and it was still NORMAL!

[rustysmum in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Hi angel of the North, thank you for your reply the test was fine sorry to hear you had problems during yours. But good that it helped you find the missing link. Is the insulin stress test the same as the six hour glucose tolerance test where they give you the glucose and test you every hour for six hours? If so I have that to look forward to next week . Doesn't sound like that will be much fun but then seems like it may be the key one for me as I am having low blood sugar issues at the moment .

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to rustysmum]

I think so. They weigh you, inject you with insulin, get you to tell them when your vision gets blurred and then take blood, I think, every 30 mins for most of the day. At the end you get a biscuit and a glass of flat lucozade. I felt fine until the lucozade ... But it's an adrenal stress test, not a blood sugar test

[rustysmum]

Ahhh.. Right that is different then. Phew, sounded horrible for you. For my test you fast then they take bloods before they give you a glucose drink and then retest every hour for six hours . The endocrinologist that I am seeing is testing pretty much everything it seems to try to get to the bottom of why I am having these blood sugar fluctuations.