Hi there, have been doing some medichecks tests recently and plan do another post on thyroid results when they’re available.
I tested 4 point salivary cortisol as when I saw a private endocrinologist in Aug she suggested adrenal fatigue (cortisol hadn’t been checked). I had 9am blood draw via NHS a few weeks ago which showed level higher than range but they weren’t concerned. Followed up with this which appears to show adrenal function is normal so adrenal fatigue unlikely? I’d been working to address adrenal stress since Aug but it’s unlikely I would have rectified the issue in 3 months if there had been a problem? My main concern is that I’m seeing a herbalist who has included adrenal supporting herbs in my tincture and I think I shouldn’t be taking these of my adrenals don’t need it? Many thanks for anyone who’s read xx
Written by
Bambini83
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
10 Replies
•
Did an Endo actually say "adrenal fatigue" or adrenal insufficiency as adrenal fatigue isn't a recognised medical condition? Do you have the numbers for your NHS cortisol blood test? The oestrogen contraceptive pill, HRT or biotin will give an elevated result. Your saliva results are on the low side but not badly so. I have adrenal insufficiency from removal of a pituitary tumour & need to take steroids, personally I wouldn't go anywhere near any herbal supplements but that's my opinion.
Thanks Pauline. She suggested adrenal fatigue rather than insufficiency - as you say adrenal fatigue isn’t recognised by the NHS. I saw her privately as she is a fatigue specialist. She talked a lot about the HPA axis and stress etc. I’ve been working on stress reduction, meditation, keeping my energy levels up by eating regularly throughout the day etc. The herbalist is trying to support healing rather than acting as a medical intervention. It’s part of a bigger picture, endo also suggested potential ME as I’ve had unexplained symptoms for a year or so. I’d planned to do another post on my other results in terms of thyroid just wondered if anyone knew whether these results might indicate any level of adrenal fatigue as a snapshot. I’ll attach my NHS result if I can - I had a huge adrenaline surge when the blood was taken as I have a white coat reaction to the surgery now so I figured that result is invalid...thanks again!
I’m not sure I can attach the photo now?! 9am blood cortisol was 618nmol/L, reference range 172-497. I am taking a supplement with biotin - had stopped this three days prior to test I hope that was enough. Thanks xx
The only useful adrenal test is on that includes both cortisol and DHEA. Testing DHEA as well as cortisol helps with determining stages of adrenal fatigue. In the initial stage, both cortisol and DHEA will be high, the more we struggle to produce stress hormones then DHEA will lower, and more advanced adrenal fatigue then cortisol will lower too. My simple explantation, more info out there to research if you want to.
If you look at your Medichecks results, the results for the 3rd and 4th sample don't actually give a proper result, it could be anywhere between 0 and 1.5 for both of them so that's not particularly helpful, especially for the bedtime sample as that needs to be at the bottom of the range and if yours was 1.4, which comes within the <1.5 range they give, it would be far too high.
Regenerus and Genova Diagnostics both include DHEA as well as cortisol and they have proper ranges for all the samples so you know exactly what your level is, they also plot your results on a graph so that you can see whether or not you follow the normal curve. I'm afraid the test you've had is pretty useless.
You're nowhere near for the first two samples and the 3rd and 4th sample don't tell you anything.
If your herbalist is going to include adaptogenic herbs, it's worth knowing that even though these are supposed to be "balancing" they do in fact lower cortisol (I know from my own experience and the ineptitude of a hormone specialist I was consulting with) plus Google will tell you which adaptogen can lower cortisol.
Thank you so much for this comprehensive reply! I think I need to revisit this, wish I’d checked with you guys first but never mind! I was aware that adaptogens should be used with caution so it’s something I’m conscious of. I end up tying myself in knots at times in trying to do the right things, can be a mine field at times! I genuinely appreciate the input on here it’s truly invaluable xx
Are you and Bambini83 one and the same? If so I'd permanently log out of one identity and just use the one user name otherwise people don't know who they're responding to and it gets complicated and some might think you're hijacking another member's post.
Hi Susie - I am, apologies. I’m not quite sure how that’s happened. I don’t normally log in as it auto does it but am on a different phone. I hadn’t realised I have 2 accounts, it must be from posts I did on post viral fatigue a while ago. I’ll revert back to Bambini once I figure it out!
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Cortisol results help
Cortisol Test Results
High Cortisol Results-thyroid link?
