Short Synacthen test - at short notice.

[Jenny583]

Hi,

I just got a call from hospital secretary for appt for short Synacthen test 8.15 on the - next week (15th August).

The secretary when asked said HRT patches & T3 are not steroids,( I self source without script T3)- & not to worry about that, as only hydrocortisone is the one to avoid.

She said I would have blood drawn via cannula, & that I would be out by 11am.

I would have to park in pay car park.

Is this the same procedure as you have in the UK? Will I be able to drive OK?

Thanks for reading this, & for all your help which has kept me going.

Jenny

[MaisieGray]

I had my test carried out in Yorkshire - I live in the Midlands - and immediately afterwards I drove to the large shopping mall on the other side of the city for a full day's retail therapy before driving home that evening; and was perfectly fine. The only discomfort was a momentary feeling of nausea when the ACTH was given, that was gone the moment it appeared, which the nurse advised me would happen. Regarding parking, I was given a token for the machine so that I didn't have to pay to get out of the car park (that didn't happen for my normal Endo appts there). I wasn't given any advisory info beforehand as it was a spur of the moment decision by my Endo to send me off for the SST immediately after my appt with him, although I might have been asked by the clinic nurse about steroids, I can't remember.

[Jenny583 in reply to MaisieGray]

Oh MaisieGray!

Retail therapy, ha ha, I did my retail therapy last Tuesday.

I noticed from some of the posts different reactions. I think I might check out the bus time tables to be on the safe side...

I hope your health is better now, all be it from the retail therapy!

[suztango]

Hi Jenny,

I think people react differently to the short Synacthen test. I took days to recover (utterly wiped out and dizzy). For others it's completely fine. I think if you react like me, then you'll find it difficult to drive afterwards. Others are fine with driving.

[Jenny583 in reply to suztango]

Thanks for the tip suztango,

It looks like I may have to get a bus, to be safe, it would be cheaper than parking too. Assuming they start that early!

Take care.

[suztango in reply to Jenny583]

Good luck and best wishes x

[Jenny583 in reply to suztango]

Thanks suztango!

[humanbean]

Read pages 68 - 70 in this document :

imperialendo.co.uk/Bible201...

The secretary is wrong about the HRT patches. They should be stopped for 6 weeks before doing an SST test. The document itself is produced by the following so I can think you can trust the source!

Endocrinology Handbook

Imperial Centre for Endocrinology

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Charing Cross, Hammersmith and St. Mary’s Hospitals

[Jenny583 in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean,

That is where I got the info! & why I raised the question. I asked the endo clinic by phone last month.

They didn't know what I was talking about, said only steroids are a no no.

They don't have a clue here. I will print that paper and if there's any more nonsense as before, I will be ready. Thanks for the encouragement.

[humanbean in reply to Jenny583]

Good luck.

[Jenny583 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks Hun.

This is the wording, & Iv'e come across it elsewhere, so there's no excuse for their ignorance. "HRT or any oestrogen should be discontinued for 6 weeks before the test."

[humanbean in reply to Jenny583]

Make sure you only print the pages about that SST test, otherwise you will have to cut down a few forests and buy a few pints of ink. The whole document is very long.

[Jenny583 in reply to humanbean]

Ha Ha! yes my brain fog is much better, now that I,m self medicating (small dose only) tiromel. So I will only print 1 tree!

[Barrister]

When I had a SST I felt no different - but then I was very ill anyway so I couldn’t have felt any worse. My cortisol level was only 15 and i got the bus home afterwards.

All of the information regarding SST states that you need to stop HRT for 6 weeks before the test.

Clemmie

[Jenny583 in reply to Barrister]

I hope your feeling better now Barrister? I know what you mean about not feeling any worse! that's how I was when I stopped high dose AD's! the side effects from stopping were a walk in the park compared to before.

I assume they prescribed steroids after a score of 15....

[Barrister in reply to Jenny583]

Yes I have Adrenal Insufficiency. But they wanted me to have another SST yesterday to see if my adrenals have “woken up”! But since yesterday I’m feeling just how I was feeling before diagnosis - May be because they made me stop Hydrocortisone for 20 hours before the test. Now having to double dose just to try to get back to where I was before.

I’ve looked at my letter and before, where they used to say that HRT needed to be stopped, it now says it doesn’t but I think it very much depends on the hospital. I believe HRT can increase cortisol levels slightly.

Clemmie

[Jenny583 in reply to Barrister]

Hi Barrister,

You poor thing! I hope your adrenals wake up after a big dose of Hydrocortisone. I think the hospital staff need waking up... more than our giblets do, sometimes though, Lol. Take care of yourself.

[humanbean]

Can you give me the page number for that, please. I can't see it.

[humanbean]

Ah! That is the preparation for the Insulin Tolerance Test. The Short Synacthen Test is described on pages 68 - 70.

[Barrister]

Just a follow up - I had a SST this morning and have felt so unwell since I left the hospital - nausea, dizzy, cold sweats, abdominal pain, back pain. I’m really surprised as I didn’t feel anything like this last time. I don’t know how I managed to get home today, feeling as I do.

I hope that your SST was ok.

Clemmie

[Jenny583 in reply to Barrister]

I hope you are being well cared for, It seems quite hit & miss in the UK.

You can't go wrong with keeping informed - when you are a member of this forum though, invaluable advice & support. My SST is next Thursday, will keep in touch.

Hopefully the HRT won't tip the odds.

[DippyDame]

Mine, recently, was absolutely fine, if anything I felt better for a couple of days after the test....maybe a positive reaction to the ACTH!

Must investigate that....

[Jenny583 in reply to DippyDame]

Thanks DD,

A lot of Ladies on here seem to be having this test, I'm thinking it must be something to do with hypothyroidism. Pleased your feeling better! Yes, do investigate further, sounds like you may be in need of this ACTH....