Cortisol saliva and DHEA test results - help required please!

[CornishChick]

I have been seeing a functional doctor since February as I have had chronic insomnia for 20 years and feel so tired in the evening that I can’t really go out.

I’ve been taking adrenal cortex, hydrocortisone, DHEA, liquorice extract. Plus tried various other things to clear toxic metals, help low stomach acid plus glycin to calm the nerves to help sleep.

I have recently stopped the hydrocortisone as I have put weight on.

I was really surprised that my cortisol is still low in the afternoon (sample 4). I can’t find the timings and annoyingly they aren’t on the results. I think it was mid afternoon when I also often feel like I could sleep.

I still feel knackered in the evenings and I still have insomnia. How long do you give these FDs to show some kind of improvement?

Be grateful for opinions especially from  humanbean and  TiggerMe and radd

[CornishChick]

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[CornishChick]

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[CornishChick]

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[TiggerMe Ambassador]

That's odd that the timings are missing but sample 4 is 6 hours after waking if that helps.... your results are actually slightly better than mine (total 33.3) and follow the same pattern, are you finding you get off to sleep better now your bedtime level has come down?

How much DHEA are you taking/ did you try pregnenolone? Seems odd that it drops off in the afternoon, with supplement am mine holds at 0.46/0.48 so it could be that a little increase here might help?

Do you think you have optimized your sex hormones as it can take a while to get them in a good place along with tweaking thyroid dose? Did you go for the 4th squirt of Lenzetto?

What does your FD have to say about the results?

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks Tigger

I have always got off to sleep easily. The problem is I wake at 2am for 3 hours minimum.

I take 25mg of DHEA. I have previously tried pregnenalone and it made no difference to how I felt or slept.

I had my Lenzetto reduced from 3 to 2 sprays by the FD following the DUTCH test. She said my cancer risk oestrogen was too high. I have been taking testosterone for a couple of months now. I am weary of increasing that as I found a black hair on my chin recently! 😂😬 I am due testosterone bloods in the new year.

I am waiting to hear from FD. Presumably she’ll want yet another appointment, which is fine if you’re seeing results, but I am not so am starting to feel a bit deflated!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

That sent me off down a rabbit hole of why I take DHEA ( I prefer micronized 10mg)... good for femoral head (where I've osteopenia)... Flask of tea and biscuits needed before you start reading!... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

I tried reading your Dutch results but couldn't make them large enough to be readable

Black chin hair seems to be an age thing regardless 🙃

It is deflating isn't it but the trouble is these things take time to correct... like you say hard to keep the faith

I'm guessing you tried melatonin? I find sleeping an issue around the full moon and tried 3mg which worked a treat if only the dog hadn't woken me 😬 a slightly drunken walk to the garden needed (me not the dog) but quickly back off to sleep, seems to have much the same effect on me as progesterone

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks Tigger, much appreciated as always

I’ll try and attach Dutch results when I’m back home. Do you think I should get micronized? My bone density is fine. If so can you pm where I buy it please? Have been prescribed it by my FD, but it isn’t micronized.

I am 50 but didn’t think I should be getting a black chin hair already?! Worse still this morning I found black hairs on my toes so haven’t taken my testosterone this morning! My leg hairs have always been fair so am not convinced it’s just an age thing for me!

I have tried melatonin and time release melatonin and neither did a thing. Progesterone hasn’t done a thing either. Had insomnia since I was 30, so I don’t think it’s menopause related.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

I'm pretty sure the whiskers appeared before adding TT and I'm fair too but leg hair has certainly darken over the last decade!

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Dutch

Dutch

[JumpJiving in reply to CornishChick]

 CornishChick Do you have a link to this document online please (assuming it isn't part of your test results)?

[CornishChick in reply to JumpJiving]

Hi I’m not very technical. I think I had to log on to obtain my results so I can’t attach easily as a document. I just had this saved to my photos.

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Dutch

Dutch

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

I need to go and re-read radd 's great explanation as I know nothing of Dutch Test results