As part of my journey to get my thyroid medication sorted I have had a saliva cortisol test done. Has anyone got experience of this?
I've attached my results. Would this need treatement of some kind or will it correct itself once I get started on my thyorid medication? I am not currently on any due to a horrendous experience when taking levothyroxine. I currently have armour NDT sitting in my cupboard but I an so scared to take it in case I feel like I did on levo.
Any advice gratefully received.
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LlamaLegs79
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I see no need for any kind of treatment for cortisol. If you have had trouble with your past treatment for hypothyroidism, I suggest that you go to the home page and read "Managing the Total Thyroid Process".
Paying for four samples to be tested is usually enough, six is overkill.
But my biggest gripe is with the reference ranges. They suggest that from 2pm onwards it is perfectly healthy and normal to have zero cortisol. This is utter nonsense. I always say it would be healthy for a corpse but not a live human being.
The other issue is being told your cortisol is less than 1.5 at 4pm. The test machinery used clearly can't measure very small quantities. I would want an actual number, not a fudged result like that.
Oh, and another issue is that your test didn't include a DHEA result, which can be useful.
If you ever do another saliva cortisol test the best ones are those by Regenerus Labs and Genova Diagnostics UK. See the following links and info from Thyroid UK on how to order.
Your first and second samples are actually quite low compared to the optimal results suggested on that link. If the adrenal glands can't produce sufficient cortisol at the start of the day then they keep trying. This is probably why your third sample is over the range for that time of day. Your cortisol output is deteriorating overall, and over time the third sample will deteriorate too, then the fourth sample will be high, and the over the range results get later and later in the day, as the earlier results get lower and lower and drift further and further from optimal.
You might find this thread helpful - read the whole thing. You could follow some of the suggestions too e.g. the info on the adrenal cocktail, for example :
I used Blue Horizon after a recommendation from this site. It really is a minefield and I dont think I will be having another one anytime soon as its costing me a fortune. Thank you for your detailed response; I will have a look at the link you have posted now.
I'm not the best person to ask on cortisol but from my experience my cortisol levels fell after going on levothyroxine. I've been taking your regular synthetic levothyroxine since October last year and I had it adjusted to what seems to be a decent dose last December. I'm also supplementing iron, vit D and B12, and magnesium.
I struggled for two years to get prescribed levothyroxine and my cortisol levels were definitely through the roof. Levothyroxine was definitely my savings grace in this regard and it took me about approx one month and half to two months to feel that I was no longer stressed.
That's when I realised that my body was stressed (I'd describe it like a tight knot in my stomach that got my body racing) all this time and not my psyche (as all doctors seemed to believe). I was finally calm and it finally felt quiet.. It was bliss! I could finally rest and get a proper night's sleep and it is so helpful in my overall recovery.
So you will have to see how you feel after some weeks on Armour NDT. Initially I felt generally ill for about 4-6 weeks on levothyroxine but it gets better over time, but it's vital you find the right dose for you and supplement appropriately. No one bothered telling me I was anaemic and am supplementing with liquid iron that is stronger that iron tablets, which is bringing my energy levels up.
For reference I did a generic cortisol level test in the morning along with a thyroid panel and some vits/minerals. The online doctor at the private lab suggested my cortisol levels would return to normal once I get adequate treatment.
That's so comforting to read. I guess I just need to bite the bullet and see how I go. Levo had me bedridden with anxiety which I had never experienced before. And now I get anxious about the anxiety if that makes sense 🙁. I was great for a couple of weeks and it came out of nowhere. I will give it a go. Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Thankfully levo reduced my anxiety and already on the first day. Before that I was having panic attacks probs every 20 min but a doctor dismissed it as "normal for women to suffer anxiety issues" ... turns out it was caused by an unmedicated thyroid. Can't even begin to tell you how enraged I was after that appointment.
You might have to try different brands before you settle on one that helps you but I've read a lot of people feel well on Armour NDT. Some don't but they eventually find something that helps them in the end. I'm on Teva that I know doesn't work for most people, but it does me good 🙂
I saw on your previous post that you have a vitamin D deficiency - as I did - and when I got it up to over 100, I was doing much better. Your TSH was also above 5, which you should ideally get to 1 or under. Once all the medication and vitamins/minerals are at optimal levels, your stress and anxiety along with other symptoms will be a thing of the past. You need thyroid medication to help absorb the vits and you need the vits to ensure the thyroid medication is effective over time.
I never thought I would ever get rid of my crippling anxiety issues but I did. There's light at the end of the tunnel but sometimes it feels like we hit a dead end until we find what works for us. You own your health so get yourself into good health! 🙂
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