Low cortisol/adrenal insufficiency

[75458854]

Hi all I've had my cortisol tested due to being chronically fatigued and only 19 and it has came back low, saliva and blood test

I am waiting on another blood test but by the doctors, this ones not private.

Anyway my main point is on a Adrenal Facebook page I'm in they only take hydrocortisone and not glandulars, or adrenal cortex, I'm looking for can someone tell me if I should try an adrenal cortex/glandular product for my low cortisol instead of going right to the doctors meds because I'm new to this and I really don't know what's better, thankyou

It has only let me upload one picture which is the saliva test. The blood test was done at 9am And I have been told that it should be at least 400

Blood test:

Cortisol

157 nmol/L

Range 166-507 nmol/L

Acth

27.0

Range <50 ng/L

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

75458854

As identity theft is rife on the Internet, I have removed your picture as it shows your name and date of birth.

As there are only 2 results, why not type them in with their reference ranges. Or resubmit your picture without your personal details showing.

[75458854 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Okay

[75458854 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Did you take cortisol lowering supplements and you went low cortisol?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to 75458854]

Yes I did. I was seeing a private practioner who put me on adaptogenics as 3 of my cortisol levels were high in range (only one of those at the limit). She never suggested retesting. I wasn't happy overall with her "care" and stopped consulting with her and I forgot to retest myself so ended up taking the adaptogens for far too long and my cortisol levels all went too low. It was nothing to do with me having adrenal insufficiency or any other problem with adrenals, it was inflicted due to no proper guidance from a practioner.

[75458854 in reply to SeasideSusie]

So taking cortisol highering adaptogenics wouldn't help me? And did you get the cortisol levels right in the end and feel better in the end?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to 75458854]

And did you get the cortisol levels right in the end and feel better in the end?

I'm still working on it. The morning level is the sticking point, it's coming up but very, very slowly, the other levels aren't doing too badly.

So taking cortisol highering adaptogenics wouldn't help me?

Adaptogenics wont raise cortisol in my experience, they lower it. Also, I couldn't possibly give any guidance on your situation. You have a below range morning cortisol blood result and I have no experience of that. Listen to the people who do have experience of that sort of problem.

[75458854 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Okay thanks

[75458854 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi I had another 9am test but this was NHS, the woman hurt me when jabbing to take blood and I dont know if this could cause result to be elevated falsely or not. Anyways it was 296 nmol/l on a scale of 120-620 nmol/L does this rule out adrenal insufficiency

This was a lot higher and actually in range compared to my other 2 results what do I do from here

I've replaced the old picture on the post with the new one and the old results are underneath it

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to 75458854]

Anyways it was 296 nmol/l on a scale of 120-620 nmol/L does this rule out adrenal insufficiency

As I said in my previous reply I have no experience of cortisol blood tests so I can't comment.

[75458854 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh sorry okay thankyou

[Hidden]

What time of day was your cortisol tested as the time is important? If it was between 8-9am then it is low. Please don't take any adrenal supplements until you have had full testing by your doctors. Your GP should refer you to an Endocrinologist for further testing. This should be the short synacthen test (SST) to see how your adrenal glands respond to the artificial ACTH. They should do an ACTH blood test at the start of the test, this needs to go on ice straightaway, this test shows if the issues is with your pituitary gland. Adrenal Insufficiency is a serious condition & the only treatment for it is with steroids, adrenal supplements won't help. With AI either your adrenal glands or pituitary gland are not working properly so they are not making enough cortisol to function well, the steroids you take are replacement hormones for what your body doesn't make. The pituitary gland produces ACTH which in turn stimulates your adrenal glands to produce cortisol. It is a life threatening condition because if you stop taking the steroids your body will shut down & you can die. I have secondary adrenal insufficiency due to a pituitary tumour that was removed so now my pituitary gland does not produce ACTH to stimulate my adrenal glands to produce cortisol.

[75458854 in reply to Hidden]

9am is the treatment for life? Or do i only have to take it for a couple of months?

[75458854 in reply to Hidden]

Hi I had another 9am test but this was NHS, the woman hurt me when jabbing to take blood and I dont know if this could cause result to be elevated falsely or not. Anyways it was 296 nmol/l on a scale of 120-620 nmol/L does this rule out adrenal insufficiency

This was a lot higher and actually in range compared to my other 2 results what do I do from here

I've replaced the old picture on the post with the new one and the old results are underneath it

Thanks

[Hidden]

If you are diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency where your adrenal glands are not making sufficient cortisol then it will be for life. In rare cases the adrenal glands or pituitary glands can "wake" up but this is usually following surgery to remove a tumour. Hopefully yours will just be false result & you will pass the SST test. Low B12 & Vit D can also cause fatigue. I'm happy to try & answer any other questions.

[75458854 in reply to Hidden]

I dont understand why I cant use a glandular product or adrenal cortex product or whatever theyre called used to lower and higher cortisol, if they can higher cortisol doesn't that mean they can treat my low cortisol instead of having to rely on medication for the rest of my life

[LuluCops]

Glandulars don’t work if you have a AI, because they aren’t what your body needs. Your ACTH is within normal range so I doubt it is a pituitary issue, and as you’re so young it probably is an adrenal issue. Do you take any other medications? Long term steroid use for asthma and also opioids can also affect your adrenals and lower your cortisol levels, but this is still treated with hydrocortisone. Like the pp said, you need a short synacthen test, this needs to be done before 10am ideally around 9am. This will give a more accurate picture of how your adrenals are working.

If you need anymore advice please ask, I have Addisons Disease, I’ve had it several years now so am well versed with the tests and the results.

Please DO NOT take anything until you have been fully tested by an endocrinologist.

Good luck lovely x

[75458854 in reply to LuluCops]

Sorry not glandulars, I read that seasidesusie took something to lower cortisol and then it went too low and I'm wondering what's the difference between me taking something to higher cortisol like a adrenal cortex or whatever theyre called and taking hydrocortisone

I did used to take an inhaler when I was younger but I haven't used it consistently in years and I'm now wondering it that's what set it off, me stopping using it.

I only take vitamins, no real medications

Thanks

[LuluCops in reply to 75458854]

I doubt you stopping the inhaler would cause your cortisol to lower. Like I said it’s prolonged consistent use usually.

Because the adrenal supplements are not made to do what the body can’t. And they probably don’t work as quickly if you need it to, AI is a life threatening condition, if you do have it, HC is definitely the only treatment for it that will enable you to have a ‘normal life’

Have a look at the Addisons Disease website, it is full of information from leading clinicians in this area.

It is addisons.org.uk their forums are really good too.

[75458854 in reply to LuluCops]

Okay thankyou

[75458854 in reply to LuluCops]

I did abruptly stop using nicotine after using it for 3 years could that cause it?

[LuluCops in reply to 75458854]

I don’t think so lovely xx

[75458854 in reply to LuluCops]

Hi I had another 9am test but this was NHS, the woman hurt me when jabbing to take blood and I dont know if this could cause result to be elevated falsely or not. Anyways it was 296 nmol/l on a scale of 120-620 nmol/L does this rule out adrenal insufficiency

This was a lot higher and actually in range compared to my other 2 results what do I do from here

I've replaced the old picture on the post with the new one and the old results are underneath it

Thanks

[75458854]

Hi I had another 9am test but this was NHS, the woman hurt me when jabbing to take blood and I dont know if this could cause result to be elevated falsely or not. Anyways it was 296 nmol/l on a scale of 120-620 nmol/L does this rule out adrenal insufficiency

[75458854 in reply to 75458854]

This was a lot higher and actually in range compared to my other 2 results what do I do from here

[Hidden]

Your result is still on the low side, the reference range they give is for the whole day, cortisol fluctuates throughout the day being at the highest point first thing n the morning & then drops throughout the day, so ideally your result should have been nearer to 450-550nmol/Ls. It probably warrants further investigations.

[75458854 in reply to Hidden]

Can I take an adrenal support/cortex for it?

[Hidden]

You need to get it checked out first before you take any other supplements, your level might be fine but it also may not be - why take the risk?

[75458854 in reply to Hidden]

Because I'm just sick of getting tests done lol ive already had 3 cortisol ones done and about 15 other ones and I just can't be bothered anymore lol

[Hidden]

You are putting your health at risk by not testing fully, you might be fine, but there is also a risk of you collapsing & becoming seriously ill or even worse. Still it's your life you've had the advice & it's up to you what you do.

[75458854 in reply to Hidden]

Okay thankyou

[LuluCops]

I would say that is still low. Did you have the short synacthen test done? If you did you should have two results, your baseline and then the one after 30 minutes that shows what the synthetic ACTH has done, if anything. And that is when you can decide what you take. X

[75458854 in reply to LuluCops]

No I haven't had it done is that where they inject you with cortisol?

[LuluCops in reply to 75458854]

No they inject you with a synthetic form of synacthen

[helvella in reply to LuluCops]

Synacthen is a synthetic form of ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone).

ACTH stimulates release of cortisol.