Cortisol results – help needed please

[Nico101]

Hi guys,

Advice needed please regarding my cortisol results and related changes to adrenal symptoms.

I took the test after stopping Adrenavive and prednisone for over 2 weeks, so this is a true reflection of my levels without medication.

Hopefully, you will agree with my actions to phase out prednisone (I stopped it completely yesterday), and I'm reducing my adrenal support, as it's now looking like I don't need it?

My results are far from perfect, as I still have cortisol above and in the low end of the range, but I'm hoping you can advise on this.

My creatinine is low, but this will be due to reduced muscle mass.

My DHEA is also low, but I've started supplementing with that at 25mg. My melatonin is also below range and I've started taking 5-HTP at 50mg.

Other indications that my adrenals are improving is the need to lower my salt intake all of a sudden. I was taking up to 2 tsp of Himalayan Rock salt on top of salt in foods, but I began reducing that some time ago when I went LCHF. But in the last week or so foods I used to find bland suddenly taste very salty – like olives and Parma ham. I now add only tiny bit of salt to a litre of water (as it's highly filtered, so I worry about reduced mineral content) and am fine with it – no dehydration issues like I used to get if I tried to reduce my salt intake. I haven't craved crisps for over a month.

I also pee better. Instead of having to go lots and not pass that much, I find I'm now going normally and peeing a lot in one go. Not sure if it's that that's improved my sleep, too – but it's probably helped.

I had a blood test recently and sodium, potassium, and magnesium were all within range on the high side, so I'm thinking I'm no longer dumping minerals? This would also suggest my adrenals are improving?

Any advice on this development would be greatly appreciated.

[SilverAvocado]

Hi Nico101, sorry you didn't get any replies. I've noticed on the forum that when people ask more complex questions they are more likely not to get an answer. You might have more luck if you choose only one of the parts you want to ask about and just ask that.

There is also a lot less knowledge about adrenals than about the thyroid. People might know more about just the parts of your test you get from a saliva cortisol test, which would be the cortisol results across the day and the DHEA.

[Nico101 in reply to SilverAvocado]

Thanks. I did wonder what I was doing wrong.

[SilverAvocado in reply to Nico101]

I'm pretty sure the time of day has an impact on how many replies you get, too, but what I dont know is which time is best!

You might be able to find something by using search, but I don't think I've seen such comprehensive results on the forum before, is this the DUTCH test?

[Nico101 in reply to SilverAvocado]

Yes. And I had sex hormones done, too - so this is just one part of it!

Anyway, I think - after reading another similar post and the answers - that I am now producing cortisol again, and have come off prednisone and all but one adrenavive I take first thing, as my waking levels are low. I've started taking Holy Basil, after reading on here it lowers cortisol, to address the high nighttime readings. So, I think I've sort of got my head around it - even if my levels are a bit wonky in some places.

But yes, it's hard getting adrenal issue info on here - and everywhere else - as the thyroid always seems to be the focus and I don't have Addison's.

But I really appreciate you commenting on my post.