Short Synachten test imminent - any advice?

[OllyTojo]

Firstly, thank you all to all the help so far. I am learning so much.

I spoke to my NHS endocrinologist last week as I am feeling so unwell and my morning cortisol 9am test result was 267 (150 - 600 but only above 400 rules out adrenal insufficiency).

He has referred me for an SST. I had one in 2015 in Thailand which I failed and was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency (pituitary).

Reading up on here, faith in the SST seems very low to say the least in addition to it making you feel very ill quite often.

The posts were quite old now, 7 years or so. Does anyone have any recent information or experience they could offer?

I have just made an appointment to speak to a private endocrinologist next week.

Thank you

I have my first covid jab on Wednesday and hoping my adrenals will cope

[Barrister]

I have adrenal insufficiency. I had my first Covid jab just over 3 weeks ago and it didn’t cause a problem. My last SST cortisol levels were undetectable.

Clemmie

[OllyTojo in reply to Barrister]

Thank you ClemmieAre you getting help/medication for low levels of cortisol with SST?

[Barrister in reply to OllyTojo]

I am - if I wasn’t I would be dead by now with undetectable levels of cortisol. Your level of 267 isn’t too bad - it may be that your pituitary issues have improved and so your adrenals are starting to work again? (You didn’t say what the issue is but It can happen with SAI certainly). Just make sure that they take blood for an ACTH level before your SST as that is very important with SAI.

[OllyTojo in reply to Barrister]

It is the other way around. Levels improved with hydrocortisone in 2015 and so I was reduced down and stopped. This is the first time I have been checked by NHS again since then. I asked GP for the cortisol test because I feel so rough.

[OllyTojo in reply to Barrister]

forgot to say thank you as well. I will ask for ACTH before SST. Thank you

[Dora123]

Hi! I had an SST on the NHS back in mid-2019. My starting 9am cortisol was 374 and it went up to 696 after 30 minutes, so they said that I "passed" so to speak. The SST wasn't horrible in any way. They kept asking me to tell them if I felt anything untoward or noticed any differences. The nurses were always available in case you feel bad. I pretty much felt the same the whole time. I felt fine in the days following, as well. We're all different, but I hope this helps to reassure you a bit!

[OllyTojo in reply to Dora123]

Thank you Dora123. That is helpful. Very kind to reply

[humanbean]

For info on what to expect, how to prepare for an SST this link is very useful - see pages 68 - 70 :

imperialendo.co.uk/Bible201...

In fact the link is useful for any test ever done in a hospital endocrinology department in the UK.

[OllyTojo]

Thank you humanbean 😀