Hi all, I’m going to get a cortisol saliva test but have no idea where to begin.
As it’s a 4 point throughout the day, which couldn’t possibly only be done while sitting in a doctors office all day, and I’m not even sure these tests fall under the FDA and so regulated as to where I can get it.
Can I get online? Do I need to call/go through my doctor?
Can anyone in the US share any knowledge or experience?
ZRT labs copy and paste the link below
store.zrtlab.com/adrenal-ho...
Well the plot thickens! So many options and words I don’t understand lol.
First, have you used this co.?
Also, is there a “standard” list of things to test?
Yes I've used this company before and it's recommended by my Dr. You can select the "Diurnal Cortisol (C1, C2, C3, C4)" test. You will spit into 4 tubes at different times during the day, for example 8am, 12p, 5p, and 11p. This is the cheapest option. It will only test your cortisol at four different times during the day.
Fabulous thank you.
A good place to start. Any guidance for test “prep”? I’m sure the package will contain something, but do you need to fast, or work around Levo, etc?
I didn't fast and you don't have to work around anything. The only thing I'd avoid is brushing the teeth right before or eating foods and smoking before spitting.
There are a couple of options for discounts on this link :
stopthethyroidmadness.com/r...
Look for the heading "Places to order your own tests."
How cool - that page also reccos ZRT. That’s reassuring!
Also, that page is such a great list of tests overall! Thank you!
I think it is rather surprising that STTM doesn't include a folate (aka vitamin B9) test in their recommendations. If you can include that one in your tests then it is very useful. The body needs folate in order to make use of vitamin B12.
Also I wouldn't bother measuring vitamin D2, I would just test vitamin D3. D3 usually comes from animal sources, and D2 comes from plant sources. There is one plant source I've heard of that does contain D3 and that is lichen-derived D3.
goodhousekeeping.com/health...
And I wouldn't spend more money just to measure magnesium. As long as your kidneys function then any excess magnesium will be excreted in urine.
If you look at Table 2 in this link :
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
you'll see where the body's magnesium can be found. Only 0.8% of the body's magnesium is found in the bloodstream. The body will do what it can to maintain the magnesium level in the bloodstream. If the level drops low in blood then it gets stolen from the other places it is used. So the blood levels look good while other parts of the body might be deficient. So the blood tests for magnesium are not reliable.
humanbean and jrbarnes thank you both, test ordered!
I had my doctor order diurnal tests and insurance paid for it. The test was performed by Labcorp. Here's a current link. labcorp.com/tests/104000/co...
In the end, the endocrinologist merely shrugged, though my morning numbers were in the gutter.
In my case, it was something entirely different. Or at least not something that required addressing my cortisol production. I had to address the other organ that was the source of the energy drain. It took years to figure it out.
I hope you get something useful from the ZRT test. I liked their work.
Thanks Rocky! Out of curiosity, did you go to a labcorp location and sit there all day? It just have your doctor order the kit and you did it at home?
Most doctors will test "blood" cortisol, fewer will test saliva, and even fewer (if any) will do a 4 sample test. Insurance plays a role in this I'm sure but the 4 sample saliva is the best indicator of problems. Very easy test as described above just send in the samples and get the results online.
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