Short Synacthen Adrenal test

[weescone]

Hi folks, I’m currently in hospital awaiting my short synacthen test. Is this any use at all, and what exactly does it tell them in the great scheme of all things thyroid related? I’m currently on 125 mcg Levo & 2 lots of 5mcg T3 & have Hashis

[greygoose]

It tells them if you have Addison's or Cushing's. That's all.

[Hidden]

Presumably results have shown that your cortisol levels are low which is why they are doing the test. It will show if you have adrenal insufficiency. It's not a test done for Cushing's, although it is done following surgery for Cushing's when you are on replacement steroids, to see if your pituitary or adrenal glands have woken up".

It is important that they do an ACTH blood test at the start of the test, this needs to go on ice straightaway. A base level cortisol blood test is done followed by an injection of artificial ACTh. The idea is to see id your base level doubles in 30mins, they may also do a test at 60mins. If the base level cortisol doubles then your adrenal glands are working. If it doesn't then you have Primary adrenal insufficiency ie Addison. However if the result doubles but the base level cortisol is low then you may have secondary adrenal insufficiency which is where the pituitary gland is involved, which is why it is important to have the ACTH tested as well. Unfortunately many Endo's don't have enough knowledge of pituitary/adrenal issues to read the results properly!

[Angel_of_the_North]

Sadly, unless the test is way, way abnormal, you'll probably just get referred for further testing. If they send you for an insulin/adrenal stress test, be aware that it is really nasty and you want someone to collect you afterwards. I ended up lying on the ground outside the hospital unable to get up. Might also get an MRI or CT scan.

[weescone in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

What procedure is it they carry out? Sounds awful

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to weescone]

They weigh you, then inject you with insulin and take blood every 30 mins or so for several hours. Then give you a glass of flat lucozade and a biscuit. Sounds harmless enough, but it hit me just after I walked out of the door and triggered all my symptoms so I couldn't get off the ground.

[humanbean]

For information on any tests that endocrinologists do, see this link :

imperialendo.co.uk/Bible201...

To see if you have the latest version, see this link :

imperialendo.com/for-doctor...