Cortisol Levels: Test Blood or Saliva?

[onlythebrave]

Hi,

Doctor suspected Adrenal problem, I had a dry blood spot and a saliva test. The results of both were completely different. My Saliva test show me flatlined, the dried blood spot test show in low middle of range. So which one is correct? Has anybody else had this?

[MaisieGray]

In the blood, cortisol is mostly bound up by Cortisol Binding Globulin (CBG) and albumin, leaving only about 1-3% bioavailable to enter tissues and invoke a biological response. Salivary cortisol reflects the amount of cortisol that escapes binding proteins, and enters the tissues throughout the body, including the salivary glands and saliva.

[onlythebrave in reply to MaisieGray]

Thank you for your reply, so just to be clear, the saliva test gives a clearer picture of cortisol levels?

[MaisieGray in reply to onlythebrave]

Yes, saliva cortisol shows what is available, just as Free T3 shows what is available to the body out of Total T3.

[bookish in reply to MaisieGray]

Thank you for that useful information. I did a 4 point saliva cortisol with Regenerus, (rather low) and started Adrenanive 11 under Dr P. My then GP later insisted that the only way to test was blood and was very sniffy about my result. Of course, hers came back all ok. Now on Nutri Adrenal as per Dr P, which are suiting me much better and I actually feel a bit more human!

[Angel_of_the_North]

It is very unlikely that a GP will take any notice of a saliva test, even though it is much more revealing.

[onlythebrave in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you all for your replies.

Previous GP not interested in me or my symptoms after general blood tests ok. so saw a private doctor who gave me various tests (Saliva cortisol flat lined) and prescribed Adrenavive I, and thyroid was lowish too he said, so he gave me Metavive II, although the lab ranges said ok. He also precribed bio identical Progesterone.

I improved after increasing Metavive to 5 each morning. Did ok for 7 or so months, not great but better and could work. Then I had some sort of a relapse after a holiday, did a lot of walking. Went back to feeling bad again, extreme fatigue, jittery, palpitations, numb feeling in the kidney area, and depression to name a few, even though I was still taking the above supplements. Private Dr said I had done too much and needed to rest. After 6 weeks rest I didnt feel any better. I had one better day after being sick the night before, but the next day I was bad again. Dr said I should have a comprehensive stool test, so had a Gi Map test which showed,a parasite and bad bacteria, and low good bacteria and low S iga. I am taking various supplements to kill parasite and boost my microbiome for several weeks, but health hasnt improved. Maybe they found a parasite, but wasnt the reason for feeling so ill. My previous GP was closed down and my private doctor has retired.

So had to register with a new GP, I told him what had been happening for the last 2 years and he sent me for a general blood test, chest xray, a blood cortisol test and a basic stool test. All the tests I had privately he's not interested in. As of 2 years ago I can see these tests coming back normal, and I will have another GP who doesnt believe me. I dont know what to do, have been off work for 4 months and dont want to lose my job I've had for 20 years. Should I request seeing an Endocrinologist? previous GP would'nt refer me, so dont know if this new one will. Can they really refuse a referal? Any advice would be appreciated, I havent got a lot of strength left to keep fighting, I would rather die than keep feeling like this