Cortisol levels

[arjs1973]

Hi all recently had a test done to check for adrenal antibodies and my cortisol checked. Adrenal antibodies came back negative but my cortisol blood level came back at 160. Where do I start to put this right as I'm feeling at death door at the minute. Reference range is 170 - 540. Any help would be grateully received right now xx

[Emyloulou]

Was this done 8-9am ish? If it was you need to speak to your gp as that is too low. If it wasn’t I would have it repeated x

[arjs1973 in reply to Emyloulou]

it was taken at 9.15am

[Emyloulou in reply to arjs1973]

In that case in my opinion it’s too low and needs to be investigated by an endocrinologist. Did your gp do it or was it a private test? X

[arjs1973 in reply to Emyloulou]

It was a private one

[Emyloulou in reply to arjs1973]

If I were you I would make an appointment with your gp and take you results. They will probably ask you to repeat it but it definitely needs investigation. Do you have symptoms as well?

[arjs1973 in reply to Emyloulou]

gone off food. feel very light headed. just feel exhausted xx

[Emyloulou in reply to arjs1973]

I had those symptoms plus constant nausea, lost over 6 stone(luckily I needed to!) because I wasn’t eating, shaking both internally and externally, I ached everywhere and couldn’t even shower without having to lie down afterwards.

I had a quick look at your previous posts and noticed you had a synacthen test a few years ago. What were the results? Just because you passed it then doesn’t mean your ok now as things change slowly sometimes so you really should ask them about repeating that x

[arjs1973 in reply to Emyloulou]

I can't find them. just looked. I looked at my results on line my cortisol was 245 which warranted them to do the synacthen test but I believe that came back ok. my cortisol is lower now so no idea why that is xx

[Emyloulou in reply to arjs1973]

Mine sst came back borderline the first 2 times but my baseline cortisol was getting lower and lower so I had an insulin tolerance test and that failed. I’m now on steroids and feeling a whole lot better!

If I where you I would make an appointment with the gp and ask for another sst or referral to endocrinology x

[arjs1973 in reply to Emyloulou]

thank you so much for replying. it's been a long road so far and doesn't seem to be an end in site xx

[Emyloulou in reply to arjs1973]

You’re welcome. I know how it feels but don’t give up, you’ll get there in the end you just have to keep pushing. My problem wasn’t my gp, he was fantastic, it was the endocrinologist who I had to battle with xx

[Hidden]

If the results were in n/nmols & done around 9am then I agree with Emmy loulou that they are very low. At that level you need to see an Endocrinologist to have further testing & treatment.

[arjs1973 in reply to Hidden]

thank you Always a battle with my gp x

[CornishChick]

Good luck. I’m in exactly the same boat. Had two 9am bloods @ 200 approx. My GP sent me to the endo, I waited weeks. He was absolutely useless. He will do the synacthen test although doesn’t think I have Addison’s. Try and find and adrenal expert endo if you can. I’ve yet to find one. The endo said 100-1000 at 9am is considered normal!

I’ve had some good advice here and been told if it’s negative to have a private saliva test which is more reliable. Not all GPS take note though.

I’ve also read liquorice increase cortisol. I haven’t tried it yet but you can see my post or google it x