Best initial cortisol test?: Good afternoon all... - Thyroid UK

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Best initial cortisol test?

Fio1331 profile image
6 Replies

Good afternoon all.

I'm feeling a bit too weak and feeble to go into it all in detail, but I'm considering a cortisol test to see if I have an adrenal problem, and just wondering what you lovely knowledgeable people would recommended as a good starting point as I know there are blood, saliva and urine tests available. I'm thinking the saliva test where you do four samples throughout the day? Would that be a sensible way to get an initial idea of what my adrenals are up to?

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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Fio1331 Yes, the 4 x samples is probably the best. But make sure you do one that measures DHEA as well as cortisol, not just cortisol alone. Genova do one END01 - Adrenal Stress Profile (ASI): Cortisol/DHEA - page 5 on this pdf thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin... and you have to go through Thyroid UK as your 'practioner' when using Genova, details here thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Regenerus also do a 4 x cortisol plus DHEA test thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

I used Genova so can't comment on Regenerus.

Fio1331 profile image
Fio1331 in reply toSeasideSusie

Fabulous, thank you x

msglutenfreeuk profile image
msglutenfreeuk in reply toSeasideSusie

I did the medichecks one last week, and everything was in range, which I was surprised about, I thought things would be low. Do you know what the optimal levels should be for Hashis? I haven't been able to find much tip go. Thanks in advance :)

Fio1331 profile image
Fio1331 in reply tomsglutenfreeuk

I'm afraid I don't, sorry. But I'm sure someone will know on one of these forums!

The confusing thing about any tests is that you can be 'in range' but still have high or low readings, which must mean something, but unfortunately from a medical point of view 'in range' means you must be fine! (Gross generalisation, but based on some experience... :) )

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply tomsglutenfreeuk

msglutenfreeuk, see Example 1 on this page :

rt3-adrenals.org/cortisol_t...

I'm not aware of there being different optimal levels for people with and without Hashi's.

msglutenfreeuk profile image
msglutenfreeuk in reply tohumanbean

great thanks! based on this my normal results should be higher in the morning and lower at night but are ok during the day

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