Short synactchen test

[Babyr1996]

Hi

I’m new to this particular community

I had this test yesterday but I had a bit of a reaction to the cortisone injected. Immediately after I had severe sweats and Blood pressure dropped to 72/33 an emergency bed was sent for they got me laying down and put fluids into me. I felt fatigued rest of the day and even today still feel real groggy

I have to wait 2 weeks for results but will get a phone call sooner if I’m needed to go back

Has anyone else had a reaction to this test and what could it mean by me reacting like this

Thank you

Hazel

[Hidden]

That was quite an extreme reaction to the test!! Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for the results. (ps they actually give you an injection of artificial ACTH. rather than cortisone, ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.

[Babyr1996 in reply to Hidden]

Hi

Thank you for your reply great to hear from you. Thanks for clarifying too I must have misunderstood what dr said!!

Yes it was quite a reaction!!! I have a very bruised arm due to having a trainee dr struggling to get blood out of me after the test she punctured my vein and it took 3 drs and 7 attempts to get it!! So I feel really aweful but I live to tell the tale!! Haha!! Let’s hope results come through quick I hate waiting!!

[Peep44]

I felt nothing after the injection. I was tired as it was early morning and I spent the half an hour napping while waiting for the other blood test. My adrenals were "blunted". I have to stay on 5mg of prednisone until my adrenals wake up.

[Babyr1996 in reply to Peep44]

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Peep44]

Do you know what caused your adrenal glands to stop producing sufficient cortisol?

[Peep44 in reply to Hidden]

I have been on Prednisone. I started at 20mg in Dec last year and had tapered to 5mg by May this year. I wanted to taper some more but my Rheumatologist ordered the synacthen test to see if my adrenals were up to it. Prednisone takes away the need for the adrenals to do their job. When they are needed again, they may be asleep!

[Hidden in reply to Peep44]

That's a knowledgeable Rhuemy!! Mine don't produce enough due to having a pituitary adenoma removed which caused Cushing's (too much production of cortisol) now I am on replacement steroids but my pituitary hasn't woken up & my adrenal have stopped producing enough to support me.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I also had a reaction to the test (mine was abnormal) but not that reaction. If the results are not obviously too low or too high, the next step is usually an MRI or CT scan, with that reaction I'd be very worried if they tried to get you to do an insulin stress test as well.

[Babyr1996 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Ooo me too!!! Thank you x