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Endo testing for Cushings
Okay, I don't know to be worried or scared or what, but I'm all those right at the moment. I had my first appt with the Endo yesterday, they took FT4 and FT3 labs. Then he had me do an overnight dex test for Cushings? Is this a normal test to have in this "process"? Also, he didn't tell me to fast and I didn't think to ask, but anyway, I didn't fast for any of these tests, so is that going to negatively effect any of them?
I'm just a ball of questions, but I don't even know where to start. Both the Endo and my gyno wrote depressive disorder on my take home sheets, so does this mean that I should be on an antidepressant?
I'm just a ball of questions, but I don't even know where to start. Both the Endo and my gyno wrote depressive disorder on my take home sheets, so does this mean that I should be on an antidepressant?
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I know that you don't need to fast for Thyroid tests. Some of the symptoms for Cushings are round face, weight gain, reddish stretch marks, Buffalo Hump on base of neck..a mount of fat there, red cheeks..to list a few. Do you have any of this? It's good that the doc is testing if you have any of these signs. Many go years or get no testing. I know of 2 people who need help desperately and the doc's just brush them off. I think the doc should have explained more to you and maybe listing Depressive Disorder was the way in which they can get your ins. company to to pay for these tests.
Yeah it doesn't sound too fun.
I guess it's funny, it wasn't at the time, but talking about crying all the time. This morning, I started crying because I couldn't get the copy machine to sort my copies. Of course it just happened to be while someone else was in here and I had to stand there till I got myself together.
I guess it's funny, it wasn't at the time, but talking about crying all the time. This morning, I started crying because I couldn't get the copy machine to sort my copies. Of course it just happened to be while someone else was in here and I had to stand there till I got myself together.
Dexamethasone is a synthetic steroid that is similar to cortisol and reduces ACTH which in turn reduces cortisol production. So a normal result will show suppressed cortisol. Your result is normal as it's very suppressed. Not fasting and birth control pills may have affected this test to some degree.
I had three 24 hour urine tests. Fun eh? :)
I had three 24 hour urine tests. Fun eh? :)
Thanks, I definitely have something going on. I've been on this pill for 8 years, but I've considered going off of it too. Just so confused right now what to do.
Well I got back the overnight dex test for cortisol. I didn't fast, so I'm not sure if the results are accurate, but it's 2.2 the range is (2.3-19.4) dr said it's "normal", but still wants to do a 24 hr urine test.
I know nothing about this test, any idea what this result may mean?
Well I got back the overnight dex test for cortisol. I didn't fast, so I'm not sure if the results are accurate, but it's 2.2 the range is (2.3-19.4) dr said it's "normal", but still wants to do a 24 hr urine test.
I know nothing about this test, any idea what this result may mean?
The artificial hormones you are taking may be part of the problem. They just can cause a whole slew of issues. I have read something about oral Estrogen binging with thyroid hormone and can cause TSH levels to change. I think it would be wise to get saliva testing to determine what female hormones you are lacking and then using the Bio identical creams. You sure sound like you have some kind of hormonal imbalance.
Good luck with that. Reminds me of this section of the article on adrenal fatigue by Ron Kennedy, M.D. ...
"Medical thinking has polarized on the subject of adrenal function, so that, in the minds of most doctors, a person is either in a normal condition or has Addison’s Disease (complete adrenal failure) with no possibility for middle ground. This polarization came about in the early days of treatment with adrenal steroids, the 1950s, when cortisone and hydrocortisone became available.
Doctors did not know the proper dosages, guessed too high, got serious side effects and became phobic about the use of adrenal steroids. To allay their fears of disaster, they created a kind of myth that patients were only allowed to have complete failure of the adrenals or nothing at all. If this were the case, and a person shows up with complete failure of the adrenals (Addison’s Disease), naturally the only thing to do would be to treat with adrenal steroids.
If failure is not complete, the patient is defined as “normal” and not treatable. In this manner, the fear of being sued for inducing the side effects associated with abnormally large doses of, for example, cortisone is taken away by the fact that no one receives this therapy except the patient who has complete adrenal failure. In that strange world, it is is better to have complete adrenal failure than to have partial adrenal failure — because in that case a person at least receives treatment."
"Medical thinking has polarized on the subject of adrenal function, so that, in the minds of most doctors, a person is either in a normal condition or has Addison’s Disease (complete adrenal failure) with no possibility for middle ground. This polarization came about in the early days of treatment with adrenal steroids, the 1950s, when cortisone and hydrocortisone became available.
Doctors did not know the proper dosages, guessed too high, got serious side effects and became phobic about the use of adrenal steroids. To allay their fears of disaster, they created a kind of myth that patients were only allowed to have complete failure of the adrenals or nothing at all. If this were the case, and a person shows up with complete failure of the adrenals (Addison’s Disease), naturally the only thing to do would be to treat with adrenal steroids.
If failure is not complete, the patient is defined as “normal” and not treatable. In this manner, the fear of being sued for inducing the side effects associated with abnormally large doses of, for example, cortisone is taken away by the fact that no one receives this therapy except the patient who has complete adrenal failure. In that strange world, it is is better to have complete adrenal failure than to have partial adrenal failure — because in that case a person at least receives treatment."
Now how to get a doctor to see it and not say I'm just depressed and send me home with antidepressants :)
Welcome to adrenal fatigue/insufficiency..whatever you want to label it - you have it.
That's me, right there, I can't handle any stress. I cry ALL THE TIME! Case in point, I just recently ran a 10K in my home town. I should have been all excited etc as it was my first race, but I started crying two or three times at the starting line and during the race.
I start crying at the gym for no reason, at work for no reason, driving for no reason....
I'll have to try some of those at home tests.
I start crying at the gym for no reason, at work for no reason, driving for no reason....
I'll have to try some of those at home tests.
Not sure either. :) I've had severe adrenal issues though. My number one symptom - unable to handle ANY stress (crying in public is a dead giveaway here). My pupils fluctuating in the light (when severe fluctuate so fast it's less than a second), when using the back of a pen to draw a line across my belly the line turn bright white and spreads (at my worst over 2 inches). My issues - severe vitamin B12 deficiency (now that is just nasty for the adrenal glands) and of course my thyroid issues. I also answered a question on this ha! ....
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Adrenal-Insufficiency/adrenal--fatigue-or-thyroid-issues/show/1655386
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Adrenal-Insufficiency/adrenal--fatigue-or-thyroid-issues/show/1655386
That's interesting. I'm on a BC pill now called Desogen. It's a combo pill. Not sure what that means as far as testing.
I actually read an article on Adrenal Fatigue http://www.womentowomen.com/adrenalhealth/symptoms-adrenalfatigue.aspx and it fits how I feel almost to a T. I'm not sure if the source is creditable, but I wonder if this an adrenal issue, and given that I don't have buffalo hump or the stretch marks etc common with Cushings, but that the dr spent more time checking me for those things and making sure that I got that test I wonder if he was suspicious about that too.
I actually read an article on Adrenal Fatigue http://www.womentowomen.com/adrenalhealth/symptoms-adrenalfatigue.aspx and it fits how I feel almost to a T. I'm not sure if the source is creditable, but I wonder if this an adrenal issue, and given that I don't have buffalo hump or the stretch marks etc common with Cushings, but that the dr spent more time checking me for those things and making sure that I got that test I wonder if he was suspicious about that too.
I'm asking my endo for the reverse T3 test along with free T3 to work out the ratio. I have read there needs to be 20 times more free T3 than reverse T3. I answered another question about SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) you might find of interest! ...
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Thyroid-Disorders/Accuracy-of-Thyroid-Tests/show/1936541?personal_page_id=2274519
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Thyroid-Disorders/Accuracy-of-Thyroid-Tests/show/1936541?personal_page_id=2274519
I'm waiting for the results of the overnight dex test. Depending, what should I get tested next? I don't even have any idea.
I had tests for Cushing's myself. Turns out my symptoms are due to a combination of severe insulin resistance and hypothyroidism. Eg: very prominant buffalo hump due to severe insulin resistance; very round face - oedema due to hypothyroidism etc etc. As i have found out the hard way, TSH, free T3 and free T4 can be optimal with hypothyroid symptoms. Oh those cellular problems! Grrr
Iron and Vitamin D are both okay, I've not had B-12 tested. Yes, I do have weight gain, 10 lbs in 6 months, (and I was on reduced calories and exercise 5 to 6 days a week) and I'm tired all the time.
I'm at a complete loss, don't get me wrong I'm glad it's probably not thyroid related, but I was so sure, now I don't have a clue. I feel like I'm at square one and maybe it's all in my head and I'm just nutso!
I'm at a complete loss, don't get me wrong I'm glad it's probably not thyroid related, but I was so sure, now I don't have a clue. I feel like I'm at square one and maybe it's all in my head and I'm just nutso!
Have you had any vitamins and minerals checked? Iron/ferritin, vitamin D and vitamin B-12 deficiencies can all have similar symptoms.
Your symptoms do sound hypo. Any weight gain? Lowered BP or HR? Fatigue and/or drowsiness? Constipation?
Your symptoms do sound hypo. Any weight gain? Lowered BP or HR? Fatigue and/or drowsiness? Constipation?
Thank you so much. My symptoms besides the depression are mood swings, trouble staying asleep, dry skin, brittle hair, hair falling out, low to no sex drive. Gyno says it's not female hormone related, as those tests came back normal, any ideas on other things it might be?
Your FT4 looks very good. It's at 45% of range, and 50% is the rule of thumb for FT4. Furthermore, your FT3 is at 75% of range, well into the top third. Your thyroid labs look excellent, and I really don't see anything here that would cause hypo symptoms.
There are a couple of very rare hypo conditions that could cause these symptoms, but your numbers look so good that I think I'd just keep that fact in the back of my mind while pursuing other avenues.
What other symptoms do you have besides depression?
There are a couple of very rare hypo conditions that could cause these symptoms, but your numbers look so good that I think I'd just keep that fact in the back of my mind while pursuing other avenues.
What other symptoms do you have besides depression?
Okay here are my test results, haven't talked to Dr but of course they are "within range" does anything in these results explain the hypo symptoms I'm having. And other than the weight gain I'm not really having any symptoms of Cushing's. Dr checked for the buffalo hump and stretch marks etc.
Labs:
TSH .634 (.450-4.5)
Free T4 1.25 (8.2-1.77)
Free T3 3.8 (2.0-4.4)
Labs:
TSH .634 (.450-4.5)
Free T4 1.25 (8.2-1.77)
Free T3 3.8 (2.0-4.4)
No, it doesn't mean you should necessarily be on an antidepressant. Depression is a symptom of hypo. Often, if depression is due to hypo, antidepressants actually make it worse.
If you have symptoms of Cushing's as listed above, then the test for Cushings was a good move. (See my response on your other thread.)
Once you post FT3, FT4 and TSH with their ranges, we can tell you more.
If you have symptoms of Cushing's as listed above, then the test for Cushings was a good move. (See my response on your other thread.)
Once you post FT3, FT4 and TSH with their ranges, we can tell you more.
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