Low normal cortisol

[Karen154]

Can anyone please advise on low cortisol. I've uploaded cortisol test result from a 24hr urine test done at the hospital.

Over the previous 4 years I've lost scalp eyebrow hair. I believe this the reason why.

The NHS will never treat me and I will have to continue to watch my hair fall out.

Although the test is very low range normal the consultant won't treat it.

How are some of these so called Dr's allowed to practise.

Of anyone can advise the best way to get these results to midrange normal I'd be grateful.

[Karen154]

Post should have read. The consultant won't treat me.

[helvella in reply to Karen154]

You may not realise that you can edit any posts or responses you have made here.

HealthUnlocked have produced a simple demonstration of how to do this. You can find this here:

support.healthunlocked.com/...

I am pointing this out purely to ensure that you know your options.

(If you make extensive changes, it is sometimes helpful to add a comment so that people can see that you have made changes.)

[mischa]

You have very low cortisol. It reads less than 15nmols with a range of 0 - 165. I am not familiar with the type of test you have had done but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see you have very low cortisol output, particularly over a 24 hour period. No wonder your hair is falling out! I can only suggest your GP does an early morning cortisol blood test or preferably a Synacthen test to see if you are anywhere near Addisons. You must follow this up.

Do you have other symptoms?

[Karen154 in reply to mischa]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I believe we have spoken before. I believe my cortisol is dropping in the afternoon. I've had two early morning blood tests for cortisol which were showing mid range normal.

Considering the test is so low I would have thought the consultant would have tried some form of treatment.

It is almost as thought they want patients to suffer.

We should be able to name and shame them on U tube. Being paid for nothing.

Xx

[mischa in reply to Karen154]

Hi Karen the problem with the cortisol blood test is that it only shows what your cortisol level is at that moment in time. For you to have less than 15nmols throughout the period of 24 hours doesn't look good. It may well be that you have a normal cortisol early morning but for the rest of the day it is low and the only test that would show what your levels are like throughout the day is a saliva test. It will test four points during the course of a day. But your urine test shows what it is like day and night I presume.

Yes I do remember us chatting but then your blood cortisol was 185 which is still very low in fact that figure to me is outside the range. Those low figures tell me you need take something to support your adrenals. It may well be you need hydrocortisone but only a synacthen test will show how much your adrenals are capable of producing cortisol and if you need hydrocortisone to replenish. You could try an adrenal cortex supplement but I think you need something more than that.

What is your thyroid blood test like? Can you post your latest test - TSH, FT4 and FT3.

How is your iron? What thyroid medication are you taking and how much?

[Karen154 in reply to mischa]

Hi mishca, i am taking a supplement but i also feel i need something more.

What i dont understand about the test. If it is less then 15 then i should have a accurate reading of what it is.

It's the nhs consultants we are all paying a high fee for but won't do anything.

I've booked a dr appointment which i have to wait 3 weeks for and I know I won't acheive anything.

Serum ttansferrin is abnormally low and waiting to regarding that. But been told he wont see me and doesn't treat iron to expect to be referred on again.

Another 12 months could easily pass waiting to be treated.

Likely achieve nothing at the end of it.

I can't go on.

Xx

[mischa in reply to Karen154]

Karen you need another doctor! Is it a group practice - if it is see another GP, failing that could you not change your practice? You need help. I don't know if you could request a referral to a different specialist.

To be honest Karen I rapidly found that listening to GPs/Endos was a complete waste of time. Sadly and depressingly they are woefully lacking when it comes to thyroid.

I began doing my own research and began treating myself. Waiting for a GP to wake up and smell the coffee you will end up losing all your hair. Don't let that happen. I was losing excessive amounts of hair, eyelashes and eyebrows had dry, itchy peeling skin, had tinnitus, blurry vision and constipated and an Endo declared me euthyroid on 50mcg of Levo. My FT3 wasn't even in range.

What supplements are you taking for your adrenals?

You must bring your iron levels up because for thyroid hormones to work you need good iron levels and good cortisol, as well as good levels of the basic folate, D3 and B12. Have these been tested too? Most importantly your cortisol needs addressing pronto.

[Karen154 in reply to mischa]

Hi, unfortunately there are no doctors. Only two practices in my area. Been to all of them and their bad.

A GP won't treat against a consultants advice.

This is my fourth endocrine consultant in 18 months. Even paid for private consultant and he was just as bad.

The below 15 reading could be one point in range. Who would know!!

There is nowhere left to turn now. The nhs are employing crap Dr's or they managers won't let them treat you.

Can't help but wonder how long I have before I end up in hospital.

Xx

[Hidden]

A 24 hour urine is useless for testing low cortisol as cortisol is only excreted out in the urine when it reaches a certain level. The 24 hour urine is only really used to test for Cushing's disease or syndrome when cortisol levels are high as it then shows in the urine. To test for low cortisol you need a blood test done between 8-9am & if that is low then they need to do a short synacthen test.

[Karen154]

Hi, I've previously had a cortisol blood test was midcrange normal. Had it donr again 30 later (on another date, obviously) it had dropped quite rapidly by nearly half the reading.

Im going to ask the gp to it again but eben if its a point in range the nhs policy appears to be not to treat.

Xx

[Karen154]

Would anyone know if low cortisol would stopped your period as I've missed this month. Don't usually missca month. My sex hormones were donr a few months back so I know their fine.

[Karen154]

Wanted to update my post. Waited 3 weeks to speak to my gp about about the low normal cortisol test. Also the terrible experience with the haemoglobin consultant.

He agreed to do another cortisol blood test but told me it would be normal and there is nothing to treat. I explained how how I wasn't happy to be left with such a very low test result out of such a vast range as it isn't even mid range normal. I told him how very stressed I've been and could this could be why. If the test was any lower I would have addison disease.

He told me when bloods are normal they don't need treating. So basically if test results are a point in normal range dr's won't treat you. Also said to go on the internet and treat myself for stress.

To add insult to injury he wrote in medical notes. "She herself has admitted to being under stress" and very long conversation with me.

So I get the impression he was implying its my fault for admitted to being stressed.

Told him that as my hair loss is unacceptable and the nhs have failed to treat abnormal bloods as well as borderline test results. I have had to resort to buying supplements off the internet and the dangers that nhs failures are exposing me to. Currently I'm taking 6 cortisol supplements a which I believe I'm benefiting from.My GP said the supplements won't be doing any good at all and won't make any difference. Again close to a arguement with him as I noticed a difference in my scalp since I've been taking them.

God give strength to deal with the nhs.

I'm not surprisesd people get frustrated and attack medical staff.

Lets face it. Most of us feel that medical staff take the p... when the service is this poor.

[mischa]

Hi Karen. What supplenents are you using for your low cortisol?

[Karen154]

Hi, been using super cortisol support from piping rock and found them helpful but I have to import them so not cheap. Just ordered cortisol support from ebay from nature's technology haven't tried yet. Don't like buying supplements off the interent as you never really knows in them.

When I'm under stress I have noticed the bald patches on my scalp feel worse and there is usually more hair fall.

Thanks for your reply.