Cortisol/Adrenal result

[smilingjane]

Hello everyone

I am perplexed 🤔

I realise this isnt strictly speaking a thyroid query however, I am wondering if anyone can give me any advise on the following cortisol saliva results?

I have no idea and its the first time I have arranged this test.

Cortisol AM 30 7.9 nmolL - ref interval 7.00 - 30.00

Cortisol noon 4.1 nmolL ref 2.1 - 14.0

Cortisol evening 1.2 nmolL ref 1.05 - 8.0

Cortisol night 1.9 nmolL ref 0.33 - 7.0

DHEA 94 Ref - 106 - 300

The notes said Diurunal Cortisol pattern is consistant with evolving (Phase 2) HPA Axis (adrenal gland) dysfunction.

I don't understand this at all.

I would be greatfull if anyone with some knowledge of adrenal gland issues can tell me if this is disturbing or not.

Thank you team 😊

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

smilingjane

Any chance you can add an image of the results please. It's easier to see how well (or not) you follow the normal curve when we see the graph.

[smilingjane in reply to SeasideSusie]

Not sure how to post an image?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to smilingjane]

Click on the rectagular icon below the message "Reply" box (last icon in the row, mountains and sun inside rectangle), you can then upload your image.

[smilingjane in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ooo thank you SeasudeSusie!Another thing learned

😉

[smilingjane in reply to smilingjane]

It was 8am not 9am that the first sample was taken, on fasting and before thyroid meds.😊

[humanbean]

Cortisol AM 30 7.9 nmolL - ref interval 7.00 - 30.00 Approx 4% through range

Cortisol noon 4.1 nmolL ref 2.1 - 14.0 Approx 17% of the way through the range

Cortisol evening 1.2 nmolL ref 1.05 - 8.0 Approx 2% through range

Cortisol night 1.9 nmolL ref 0.33 - 7.0 Approx 24% through range

...

Your results are very poor. You should ask your doctor to do an early morning blood test for cortisol - say, around 8am - 9am. A member who turned out to have Addison's Disease (permanent adrenal failure) reported her saliva results here, so you can compare :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

although I don't think yours are quite as bad as hers.

Assuming that you don't have Addison's Disease the question is, can you improve your results on your own? I'm not sure that doctors help much (or at all) if Addison's is ruled out.

I wrote a lot of replies to someone who had low cortisol quite a while ago. You might find the whole thread of interest if you are left to your own devices :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[smilingjane in reply to humanbean]

Hello Fellow humanbean

Thanks for the info and links.

Helpfull as always 😊

Will check out when can hold my phone a bit longer. My first saliver test was taken on fasting at 9am.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to smilingjane]

My first saliver test was taken on fasting at 9am.

Was that 30 minutes exactly after waking up as per their instructions?

[smilingjane in reply to SeasideSusie]

It was started at 30 but took 7 mins to get into tube.🙄

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to smilingjane]

That's OK, you started it on time. First one always takes the longest, dry mouth first thing compared to later in the day.

[smilingjane in reply to SeasideSusie]

Cortisol Graph

graph

[smilingjane in reply to smilingjane]

Hormone comments

Hormone comments

[smilingjane in reply to smilingjane]

I have emailed my results to my endo. Not going to bother with GP for obvious reasons.

Thank you to you and humanbean so much for your rapid and knowledgable responses.

Do my results say anything to you other than humanbeans response?

🤔

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to smilingjane]

smilingjane

You can see from the graph that you don't follow the normal curve.

Optimal levels according to rt3-adrenals.org/cortisol_t... are:

• Morning at the top of the range - yours is 4%

• Noon approximately 75% of the range - yours is 17%

• Evening close to 50% of the range - yours is 2%

• Nighttime at the bottom of the range - yours is 24%

So looking at your percentage through range your first three samples are way too low and your nighttime sample is higher than it should be.

Although DHEA lowers with age, yours is below range and your probably not old enough for it to be really low anyway.

As Humanbean says, your results are very poor and need further investigation by a, hopefully, knowledgeable doctor.

[smilingjane in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you my dear friend.I'm on the case 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

Always test thyroid levels early morning, before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Last 5mcg dose T3 approx 8-12 hours before test

Do you normally split your T3

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[smilingjane in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello Slowdragon

Recently, (Jan) stopped T3 under endo instructions because developed horrible though temp body tremor.

Recent tests are hiding from me but as I remember 3/4 way through range, (approx) for T4 and T3. Now back on 100 mcg of Levo as before started T3 18 months or so ago.

Endos plan is to see how tests are in July with view to restarting Lio.

I take all the right sups, inc. SI B12 ..... they are okay.

I stopped taking my Estrodial in Jan, (after body tremor scare). Have restarted it after cortisol test this week. I read somewhere Estrogen could mask low cortisol. Or have I completely got that wrong?

Also wondering, do you think thst I should wait to restart Estrodial until Julys thyroid blood test? Just a thought.

Or should I do you think carry on with starting the Estrodial this week. Maybe it will helo my Cortisol?

If I am already seeing an endo, do you think that I shoukd still inform my GP? I will of course ask for the cortisol early morning blood test, so I suppose that answers my question.

Would a GP do anything other than refer on in this situation do you think?

Thank you so much

😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to smilingjane]

Don’t know anything about HRT

We frequently see cortisol levels improve as Ft3 levels improve

[June25]

Have a look at Paul Robinson's book "Recovering with T3" In Chapter 16 he describes in detail how he managed to correct his low cortisol by timing his T3 doses. He calls it 'The Circadian T3 Method'. Of course you need to be dosing T3 in the first place in order to do it.

[smilingjane in reply to June25]

Thank you June25

Good thinking. I will be talking to my endo very soon and will I am sure be back on T3.

Thanks for the info. I have one of Pauls book, I'l check it out.

😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to smilingjane]

You might find McPammy posts interesting

She dramatically improved her cortisol with careful addition of small doses of T3

[smilingjane in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SD, will check her out now😊