Short Synacthen Test

[Jamima]

I asked my endo’s secretary to send a copy of above test results as I was advised by someone on here that it should have an ACTH test. I received the results this morning and ACTH wasn’t tested. My baseline cortisol was 342nmol - does that mean that my ACTH is ok? Any help appreciated.

[TopsyFlop]

Hey, im having the same battle with my endocrinologist. My first 9am cortisol test was 231nmol/l, so they said that's low and ordered the SST. I don't know the numbers but my adrenal glands reacted normally to the synacthen so they declared me "fine" even though my baseline 9am cortisol that morning was 163nmol/l! Like it's even lower but apparently that's fine? I've ended up going for a private blood test to get Cortisol and ACTH checked together because they won't have tested the ACTH on the day of the SST. It's a pain in the rear that they don't test ACTH as standard.

[Jamima in reply to TopsyFlop]

Thank you TopsyFlop. It's a battle isn't it? As luck would have it, I had a campylobacter infection a few weeks ago and the receptionist told me my stool sample was clear even though I was VERY symptomatic. Anyway, the infection cleared but almost 3 weeks down the line, my GP called me this morning to say I'd been given the wrong result, and that I had been infected with it. He was obviously back-peddling and asked me how he could help me regarding my ongoing struggles. He's on board, so I've asked for an ACTH and other pituitary testing, I've really had enough of 2nd rate health treatment. How many other tests does the receptionist get wrong, and how many of them are never picked up? Appalling.