Help Finding Lab

[Guest guest]

You shouldn't have to pay to get this test, ask y our GP to

arrange this. The best and most reliable test is the 24 hour salivary adrenal

profile that you can get done through Genova Diagnostics. See our FILES section

under the FOLDER entitled ' Discounts on supplements and tests' and then click

on Genova. TPA members get a discount on the tests there.

Luv - Sheila

Labtestsonline list an ACTH

(corticotropin)test. Does anyone know where I can get this test, please? I need

to know if ACTH levels are low. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila

Thanks for your reply (digest 3528(7). Can I ask you to see my post (digest

3520(9))which explains background. In digest 3512(8) I posted last test

results. and Lee gave me really good info, but I think I am going to

struggle getting the tests they said I should have had. I cannot see GP

agreeing to give tests that 2 endos have said were unnecessary. I thought my

best bet was to try and get a test which will be accepted (blood test) to try to

prove that they should have looked at the pituitary and ACTH level. Also Lee

said there was a possibility of a benign tumour on pituitary and I saw the ACTH

test on labtestonline site which I thought might shed a bit of light. I am a

bit desperate at the moment. I have asked each time I have seen endo why

cortisol level is so low - is it because ACTH not being produced to stimulate

cortisol? All I get is " no there is nothing wrong with pituitary and you do not

have addisons " . I may be wrong and GP will agree to further tests, but I wanted

to have backup. If you don't know of a lab that does this test, is there a

private doc in my area who might authorise test, please? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

I've been for your other messages but can't find them. I need

the actual message number, not the Digest number. However, because Lee and

responded with such good info, I would probably have felt there was

no need for a further response from me also. Trust the information that comes

from Lee and .

What you need to do is to write a letter to either your GP or

endocrinologist explaining the reason you need the test done and this is

because there is a connection to hypothyroidism and a sufficient secretion of

cortisol is needed to help get the T3 into the cells. You don't need to know

whether you are suffering with 's or Cushing's (the two extremes too

little or no cortisol or too high a level of cortisol) all you want to know is

whether you are suffering with low adrenal reserve (or adrenal fatigue).

However, as the NHS do not recognise this condition, this is often a road you

have to go down privately, and if you are suffering with adrenal fatigue, have

to treat it yourself. Go to our FILES section, click on the FOLDER 'Adrenals'

and in there, do the Adrenal Questionnaire, and then do the Adrenals Home

Testing. These cost nothing but will give you more of an idea whether this is

low. Even if you had the ACTH test done, either within the NHS or privately, if

the results don't show 's or Cushing's, you will be told that you don't have

a problem. Also, remember that when having the ACTH blood test done, that is

only a snapshot of what amount of cortisol you are putting out at that

particular time. A blood test taken at a different time during the day might

show a completely different result.

Luv - Sheila

Hi Sheila

Thanks for your reply (digest 3528(7). Can I ask you to see my post (digest

3520(9))which explains background. In digest 3512(8) I posted last test

results. and Lee gave me really good info, but I think I am going to

struggle getting the tests they said I should have had. I cannot see GP

agreeing to give tests that 2 endos have said were unnecessary. I thought my

best bet was to try and get a test which will be accepted (blood test) to try

to prove that they should have looked at the pituitary and ACTH level. Also Lee

said there was a possibility of a benign tumour on pituitary and I saw the ACTH

test on labtestonline site which I thought might shed a bit of light. I am a

bit desperate at the moment. I have asked each time I have seen endo why

cortisol level is so low - is it because ACTH not being produced to stimulate

cortisol? All I get is " no there is nothing wrong with pituitary and you

do not have addisons " . I may be wrong and GP will agree to further tests,

but I wanted to have backup. If you don't know of a lab that does this test, is

there a private doc in my area who might authorise test, please? Thanks.