Secondary Adrenal Insuficiency???

[dustybrown]

Do these test results support a case for Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency? Should I seek out another specialist to have more tests conducted other than the ACTH test performed that got these results???

Cortisol Baseline: 11.9 mcg/dl
Cortisol 30 min: 22.2 mcg/dl
Cortisol 60 min: 25.8 mcg/dl

[horselip]

I just wanted to say that your testing for secondary Adrenal insufficiency is not a clear "NO you don't have it." Yours was a bit of a stunted response. Not a clear yes or no.

Most people's AM cortisol values are little higher than yours. So I would discuss it with your doctor and ask if it might be good to have them directly measure and track your ACTH and cortisol for a while. If you have RA then it is important to know if your body is naturally making enough steroids as they play roles in inflammation and fatigue.

[dustybrown]

WOW! I am sorry, I am sure that had to have been rough!!!! I am thinking my adrenals are ok. Perhaps I am just a little stressed, but ok. My endo thinks my problems are more rheumatologically related. Half of my family has thyroid disease and the other half has rheumatoid related diseases. It really *****.

If you're me and you feel like **** it gets really easy to get confused between the two disorders when there is so much overlap. It looks like right now I've got Fibro arthritis and a degenerating spine since I was 17. My bloodwork suggests I am on the road to RA. Yuck!!! Well thanks to all who answered my post. I appreciate it!!! This website rocks!!!!

[rumpled]

ACTH is a single draw, lavender tube - ideally chilled, has to be spun immediately, and frozen right away or it degrades right away, Renin also degrades just as fast.

The stim test gives you an artificial form of ACTH to see if your adrenals react to it.

I had high cortisol and then lost my adrenals, so I did not have this test.

[dustybrown]

This test was done early in the morning. The first draw was done around 8 am, the second 30 min later etc...

[horselip]

It's hard to say as the ACTH is supposed to make your cortisol double and your values are very close.
What are your AM cortisol values?
Have these been monitored?

My cortisol and ACTH values went down slowly after my surgery. 12 months later I was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency and my cortisol and ACTH were both low.

[dustybrown]

So it's a different kind of test??? I heard a saliva test works even better. Is this true? Also, does my ACTH stim test look normal to you???

[rumpled]

ACTH is a one time draw usually. Actually, they gave it to you to stimulate the cortisol, but that is not the test of ACTH per se.

[dustybrown]

I am a little new to this stuff, I thought that my test was a ACTH test???

[rumpled]

A stimulation test does not tell the source of the issue. For that, the ACTH and antibody tests are used.