Addendum cortisol

[mummytosix]

I don’t know the numbers or range yet but I’ve just had a letter back from my endocrinologist to say that my addendum 9am cortisol is a little low, and they will arrange a sync then test. Is this significant or is it normal for cortisol levels to be low?

[humanbean]

It is very significant, and it isn't normal for cortisol to be low. You should ask for a copy of your result and the reference range for your records.

When cortisol is severely low people are diagnosed with Addison's Disease or adrenal insufficiency from some other cause. This is a serious condition and if you are diagnosed with it you will have to be on hydrocortisone for life.

addisonsdisease.org.uk/what...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adren...

The Short Synacthen Test is described on pages 68 - 70 of this document called the "Endocrine Bible":

imperialendo.co.uk/Bible201...

...

If further testing shows that you don't have the conditions I mention (i.e. your adrenal glands and pituitary are still working as they should be) then you will have to find out about self-help to improve their health. You can get some help here on this forum but you would be best to read posts and replies by this member, who has serious adrenal problems and is much more knowledgeable about where you can find reliable information :

healthunlocked.com/user/pau...

[mummytosix]

Thankyou. I’m waiting for the print out of the results but they haven’t arrived at the doctors yet.

[Hidden]

Your cortisol should be somewhere between 350-550 at 9am in the morning as that's when cortisol is at it;s highest level, it will account why you feel so tired. It is important when you have the short synacthen test to have an ACTH blood test drawn at the same time, this needs to go on ice straight away. You can pass the SST when your cortisol level reaches over 450nmol/Ls, if it doesn't then it means your adrenal glands are not producing enough cortisol, this is primary adrenal insufficiency or Addisons. However if your ACTH is low but you respond to the artificial ACTH you can have secondary adrenal insufficiency which is where the pituitary gland is not working properly to stimulate the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Both are treated with steroids, it is a life threatening condition where if you stop taking the steroids you can die. Have a look at the Addison's disease website for more . I have secondary adrenal insufficiency as my pituitary gland doesn't work.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post re dire ferritin.....You will need to make sure ferritin doesn’t drop so low again

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

This may be affecting adrenal levels too

Make endocrinologists well aware of this ferritin issue

[mummytosix in reply to SlowDragon]

That would make sense because my iron levels are still low. On a range of 15-220 mine were at 150 after the infusion, down to 25 4 weeks after. I know they are lower again now because ive got heavy bleeding again but from previous experience I can’t be referred for an infusion until they go under 20 and they can only check ferritin every 28 days so rather than go to the doctors now when they might not be under 20 I figured I’d wait until next week before I get my blood checks in the hope they are low enough that they can refer me for an infusion, if I went this week I doubt they would be low enough and then I’ll have to wait 28 days before they can retest and then refer me. Hopefully that makes sense. I have no other way of raising my iron because I’m intolerant to oral iron.

[mummytosix in reply to mummytosix]

The test I had done on the day I had my infusion showed that my ferritin was under 1 on the 15-220 scale and my heamaglobin was down to 62 😕

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to mummytosix]

So your endocrinologist must get involved in sorting out iron issues

It’s chicken and egg......your heavy periods linked to being under medicated and under medicated in part because of low iron