Cortisol spikes at night - low DHEA: Hello lovely... - Thyroid UK

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Cortisol spikes at night - low DHEA

PixieElv profile image
6 Replies

Hello lovely people

I took a saliva cortisol test and the results are quite scary. My cortisol is normalish during the day but absolutely spikes at night. DHEA is also low, although I am on 25mcg daily (prescribed by my Endo, taken at 10am).

have central hypothyroidism and am on 175mcg a day taken first thing in the morning.

I have trouble sleeping and am very tired during the day. I am also very anxious.

What do I do with my cortisol?

Thank you so much

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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

PixieElv

DHEA is also low, although I am on 25mcg daily (prescribed by my Endo, taken at 10am).

As Regenerus have repeated the morning and night tests to confirm accuracy of the results, and assuming that you don't take any steroids, steroid inhalers or topical steroid creams, then I think the only thing you can do is discuss these results with your endo, s/he may wish to do their own testing.

PixieElv profile image
PixieElv in reply toSeasideSusie

Yes I will do that. Those do worry me Thank you

I see from a previous post that you were taking adrenal supplements are you still taking them? You need to talk to your Endo although I'm very surprised that an Endo would prescribe an adrenal supplement? Are you struggling to lose weight? Do you have thin skin & easily bruise, how is your BP? High cortisol can be due to long term steroids, a benign tumour in either your pituitary or adrenal glands. Oestrogen, HRT & Biotin found in some supplements can also elevate cortisol. It dose need further investigations in case you have Cushing's syndrome.

PixieElv profile image
PixieElv in reply to

Hi PaulineSNo I don’t take adrenal supplements anymore, because they raised my cortisol too high (shown on the first chart) but DHEA now as that was and still is too low.

My BP is really good. 64/108.

I do struggle to lose weight but none of the other issues and I front take steroids.

I’ll look into Cushing’s as that doesn’t sound good.

magsyh profile image
magsyh in reply toPixieElv

Wow your blood pressure doesn't seem right, have you written it the wrong way round?

PixieElv profile image
PixieElv in reply tomagsyh

Oops! Yes I have. 108/64. 😊

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