So I've been working on my low cortisol for the last year and these are the first results without any supplementing for 6 weeks... would suggest my adrenals are rallying
Things are moving in the right direction, though it still dips afternoon and evening, I have been doing an awful lot more activities so I shall add back in the adrenal glandular and keep on doing what I've been doing 😁 I've certainly been aware of the afternoon droop gradually creeping back in, I wondered if it was just the season change...
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TiggerMe
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It's another one of those things you need to experiment with and see what works for you, you can see from my graph it drops of rapidly an hour after waking, but really I've no idea how long it takes for the supplement to kick in 🤷♀️
Previous result from 21st February when I'd stopped the hydrocortisone 1st Jan, this was just at the beginning of my Tiggerme transformation
I was still taking DHEA at this point
DHEA am
0.78........... now 0.46 (no DHEA for 6 weeks)
0.23-1.38nmol/L
DHEA pm
NORMAL RANGE
0.57......... now 0.48
0.13-0.69nmol/L
Yes, I've added back in the glandular (1 capsule Pure Encapsulations Adrenal) and DHEA (Davinci 10mg micronized) as it seems they are gently supporting rather than pushing things crazy high, I still feel good so don't want to push things too far the other way 🙃 and my adrenals seem to be happier
Funny you say that, I looked again at DGL and again decided against it as it seems to lead to other issues like low potassium and may effect HRT, so I'm going to stick with what is working and not rock the boat
If you google it tends to pop up that it can inhibit uptake but as with many supplements it can vary so I can do without variables as it just means more ££ testing to see what it doing
People with a real liquorice habit tend to die from low potassium 😕
She has given me a prescription. I was hoping to get it free on the NHS but it’s a 6 month wait just to talk to someone! No doubt they’ll say no anyway! I don’t feel any different on it, been maybe 4 weeks. Guess I should probably get tested?
Cor that’s a real improvement isn’t it. Well done, love seeing the graphs 👏
Hydration also seems to help with afternoon dip, i did one of those 7 day BP things for the GP and found I had low blood pressure most afternoons. Drink a bottle of water in the car on my commute home and seem to be perkier 😊
Interesting.... in the back of my mind I'm sure I've been told that taking your BP at 2pm gives the most accurate reading after the morning high, far enough after lunch and before the evening drop off.... did that hold up with your testing?
Funny thing with de/hydration as they say it can raise and lower you BP 😵 it seems for me if it's water it perks me up if it's a nice cup of tea on the sofa it's often nap time... but luckily 20 minute powernap max as then my bladder kicks in 🔔
BP is also connected to renin and aldosterone levels isn't it which is the adrenal link but it all gets so complicated
Aldosterone regulates BP blood, and sodium/potassium balance. When I started Levothyroxine many years ago I suffered low sodium, high potassium and cardiac arrhythmias. Saliva cortisol & DHEA were always well under range for years.
It is more usual to have elevated aldosterone with ill/un-managed hypothyroidism. GP checked aldosterone serum blood levels and they were low (instead of high) so GP & NHS endo were unable to offer any advice. I then suffered latent BP, eventually ending up with a TIA 🙄.
I have since learnt aldosterone will stay high for years even with low thyroid hormones because even with low ACTH stimulation, the adrenal cortices are able to continue producing sufficient aldosterone for quite some time before eventual failure. (A protection technique I guess a bit like before hypo diagnosis labs might read high T3 & low T4 with rising TSH before T3 eventually slumps & hypo symptoms set in).
Like TiggerMe I have recovered with own resources. If you have aldosterone checked you will also need renin and electrolytes tested at the same time. If you’re a heavy salt user, leave off for several days before test.
Anyway, how are you doing with your new practitioner? Have you seen any improvements? 😊
Thank you Radd, most interesting. So is it worth getting aldosterone, renin and electrolytes checked privately if the NHS won’t help? Are there supplements you can buy to correct levels please?
I have always had low blood pressure but since eating Himalayan salt it’s normal.
I don’t feel any different yet unfortunately with my functional doctor. The only time I did was when I started hydrocortisone and felt amazing, but it wore off. Insomnia is is still there, although I do have some stress to deal with at present (got builders in 😬).
The FD has phased out a lot of supplements and is retesting my cortisol and DHEA this month. They will hopefully have increased, but sadly my insomnia has not improved. I did sleep really well when on holiday, so I do think the stress of day to day life doesn’t help.
I still avoid going out in an evening and would not have the energy to go for a walk/bike ride/mow the lawn etc at 4pm or later.
I’m not sure how long you give these FD’s?! Appreciate nothing is a quick fix in the thyroid/adrenal world, but how long would you keep shelling out?
How long is a piece of string? I’m sorry to hear you haven’t felt it helpful as yet. I’m still shelling out for functional help on and off after 9 years as believe the alternatives they have offered have been enormously helpful.
Aldosterone is part of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system which works with other hormone, enzymes and proteins. Therefore, there is testing for the system alone and testing for aldosterone production. It is an adrenal hormone, and many of us have suffered poor adrenal function and low hormone output due to years of un/ill-managed hypothyroidism. The renin-aldosterone axis is primarily regulated by renal blood flow and we also know that renal function is influenced by thyroid hormones.
Therefore, regarding the more usual forum hypothyroidism/adrenal issues I think testing is only useful if symptoms were to remain well after thyroid hormones have been stabilised for a while, and adrenals function has improved.
I haven't tested my 'free' adrenal hormones for a some years now as stamina has built slowly and I feel so much better but I still have to take extra salt. It is usual for people with adrenal issues to need extra sodium and this not only replaces low levels but makes us pee out excess potassium so keeping the ratio in check.
I am surprised you pay for help as your knowledge is unbelievable, I wonder how a professional can tell you anything you don’t already know?!
I think my thyroid hormones have been stable for a long time, but my adrenal function hasn’t improved much, so I think you’re saying don’t bother testing aldosterone unless adrenals have improved?
Could my 2am waking be due to low cortisol? I read it can mean a release of adrenaline but obviously endocrinologists poo poo that idea?
I also eat salt daily. If I don’t I feel a bit faint. Also, I noticed when shaking after a good few hours gardening, plain cashews and a sugary drink didn’t help, but salted crisps stopped the shakes. The shakes might’ve been just from holding hedge cutters, or maybe excessive work, I’m not sure. But I think salt helped.
Aldosterone (and a pituitary hormone called antidiuretic hormone) cause your kidneys to retain sodium, and release potassium to keep balance. The sodium increases water retention that highers blood volume and blood pressure.
When aldosterone is in short supply the kidneys leak salt, potassium rises, BP drops, so we feel dehydrated, dizzy, and may suffer heart bangs (I did).
I drink water daily with added salt (and sometimes black pepper for a bit of spice 😁). I have found if I don't add salt I literally pee the water straight out, and risk eventually feeling out of sorts . However, if I add salt my body uses the sodium and water more efficiently, I pee normally and I feel fine.
Electrolyes are regularly tested as part of a group for my haemochromotosis, and sodium is always at the lower end even though I take extra salt.
I don’t think the glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids that are replaced in adrenal insufficiency directly address low aldosterone as ADTH must remain good as my cortisol, DHEA, etc have all recovered.
Aldosterone is not reliant upon ADTH but regulated within the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in a type of feed-back-loop, so I assume the problem lies within here.
I think testing is good for high aldosterone when there is a tumor or something but for low, unless labs correspond with other adrenal/HPA axis failure endos appear stumped.
Could be genetics or just failure to ever totally recover. I've was tired my whole life before being diagnosed with hypo aged 49 so there was a lot of damage to repair. Cortisol took literally years to raise after being adequately medicated with thyroid meds.
The extra salt works fine for me. I was suggesting to the O/P to use salt if it makes her feel better as there is a science behind it.
It is amazing how adrenals recover given the right supports, proving the ‘theory’ again and again of adrenal fatigue. So pleased you’ve now regained enough stamina/resilience to lead your more normal life.
My advice is to remain mindful and if you have a dip, respect it and rest. Once at your levels mine just continued improving. Well done you 👏
Thanks you 🤗... it is a long game isn't it, I was surprised how quickly my afternoon energy improved by adding back in the morning dose of adrenal glandular and DHEA so I think I'll stick with that for the next 6 months.... had wondered whether the spare tyre was cortisol related but obviously not... just down to eating too much now my appetite has improved, so I'll have to up my game or cut out the tea and biscuits after exercise... or could just embrace plump and happy for a few more months 😁
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Low normal cortisol
Low cortisol/adrenal insufficiency
Update #3 Self-Treating 
Confused. Low cortisol
