Re: Adrenal challenge

September 9, 2006

I don't know if this is the same thing, but I had to do a pre-post

ACTH (I think) challenge. They took a base like and then took samples

at two intervals afterwards. It was to measure adrenal reserve. I

survived it well, but don't know if I would now.

Michele

>

> I'd never heard of this until my doctor asked me yesterday if I'd

had one. She said it involved going to hospital for a day to be

observed after a dose of cortrosyn I think. I looked up a description

of the process, but has anyone tried this? What happened? I'm not keen

to do anything to send myself off into a tailspin without some first

hand experiences. I'd also like to be sure it's worth the effort.

>

September 9, 2006

Thanks Michele, and was it helpful to have this in your treatment?

Re: Adrenal challenge

I don't know if this is the same thing, but I had to do a pre-post

ACTH (I think) challenge. They took a base like and then took samples

at two intervals afterwards. It was to measure adrenal reserve. I

survived it well, but don't know if I would now.

Michele

>

> I'd never heard of this until my doctor asked me yesterday if I'd

had one. She said it involved going to hospital for a day to be

observed after a dose of cortrosyn I think. I looked up a description

of the process, but has anyone tried this? What happened? I'm not keen

to do anything to send myself off into a tailspin without some first

hand experiences. I'd also like to be sure it's worth the effort.

>

September 9, 2006

, I am new here but not new to CFS/FMS/MCS, etc. I had the

cortrysin stim test at my doc's office. They drew blood before and

then at two intervals after. Another woman had the test at the same

time. She had no problems--had the test, went on her happy way. I

got extremely ill from it and it took weeks to recover. Blah. I am

not sure the information was worth the pain. I could have just tried

some hydrocortisone to see if it helped instead. We pretty much knew

already that my adrenals were shot. I suppose it provided

some " evidence " for whoever needed evidence that I wasn't completely

nuts at the time. Ha! Blessings to you. Janine

September 9, 2006

Hi Janine,

Thanks for the report. I can't even remember all the tests I've had over the

years. And have to make some decisions without them...partly due to not having

unmimited access to them...but also not always seeing someone with correct

interpretation skills, and not willing to have severe risks and reactions, as

you did.

I think that's theone I had at the Mayo Clinic, with less problem, but being on

Florinef might make a difference.

In my last consultation with Dr. Cheney, he and my PCP decided I could try

Cortef. So far, I only take about 2 mg at scattered times through the week...not

every day. (Another Dr.s suggestion)

Experimenting with dose. But I'm very happy with it...to have another tool for

better functioning.

Did you decide to take Hydrocortisone?

Katrina

>

> , I am new here but not new to CFS/FMS/MCS, etc. I had the

> cortrysin stim test at my doc's office. They drew blood before and

> then at two intervals after. Another woman had the test at the same

> time. She had no problems--had the test, went on her happy way. I

> got extremely ill from it and it took weeks to recover. Blah. I am

> not sure the information was worth the pain. I could have just tried

> some hydrocortisone to see if it helped instead. We pretty much knew

> already that my adrenals were shot. I suppose it provided

> some " evidence " for whoever needed evidence that I wasn't completely

> nuts at the time. Ha! Blessings to you. Janine

>

September 10, 2006

Katrina, I take 20 mg of hydrocortisone daily, with 7.5 at 8:30 a.m.,

5 at 10:30, 5 at 12:30, and 2.5 at 2:30. When I first started, I

crashed 15-30 minutes before the next dose. I am improved but still

would feel it if I missed a dose.

Flourinef is, I think, more for the other function of the adrenals, to

help with blood volume and pressure. Perhaps it helps with the fight

or flight too.

I am supplementing thyroid too. It seems I have to balance the

thyroid and adrenal meds--too much of one burns the other out. It is

a delicate matter. Blessings. Janine

September 10, 2006

Mmm, that's what worries me Janine. So did your doctor then prescribe the

hydrocortisone? I might ask my doc about this. I had a blood test to measure

cortisol levels this morning, but don't know how accurate it is, or really, what

it says about my adrenals since it's taken in the morning, and doesn't

necessarily reflect how I will do throughout the day. By afternoon I'm wrecked

most days.But whether it's due to adrenals, I don't know.

Re: Adrenal challenge

, I am new here but not new to CFS/FMS/MCS, etc. I had the

cortrysin stim test at my doc's office. They drew blood before and

then at two intervals after. Another woman had the test at the same

time. She had no problems--had the test, went on her happy way. I

got extremely ill from it and it took weeks to recover. Blah. I am

not sure the information was worth the pain. I could have just tried

some hydrocortisone to see if it helped instead. We pretty much knew

already that my adrenals were shot. I suppose it provided

some " evidence " for whoever needed evidence that I wasn't completely

nuts at the time. Ha! Blessings to you. Janine

September 11, 2006

Hi ,

I had a test that sounds like the one you described. It was called the ACTH

challenge test. I

survived it just fine.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

5058215 & dopt=Abstract

However, it didn't return anything of interest as the consultant I saw was not

knowledgeable and

CFS & ME and did it entirely to rule out an 's dx.

Kindest regards,

Annette

___________________________________________________________

All new " The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease of

use. " - PC Magazine

http://uk.docs./nowyoucan.html

September 11, 2006

I had the ACTH stim test done as well. I went in at 11:00 a.m. on

a Friday and told my assistant at work that I would be back (working)

by 1:00 p.m. Well, I never made it back. I was so light headed

after an hour that I had to stay in the lab-they were trying to get

rid of me after another 30 minutes so I finally went home and

laid down. However, the doc that ordered the test had left for

another hospital by the next Monday, so I was never able to find

out what happened. The test resutls that I asked to be sent to me

showed everything within normal range, although baseline cortisol

was just barely above the bottom limit-like 9 on an 8 to 40 scale.

Mike C

>

> Hi ,

>

> I had a test that sounds like the one you described. It was called

the ACTH challenge test. I

> survived it just fine.

>

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=15058215 & dopt=Abstract

>

> However, it didn't return anything of interest as the consultant I

saw was not knowledgeable and

> CFS & ME and did it entirely to rule out an 's dx.

>

> Kindest regards,

> Annette

>

> ___________________________________________________________

> All new " The new Interface is stunning in its

simplicity and ease of use. " - PC Magazine

> http://uk.docs./nowyoucan.html

>

September 11, 2006

Thanks Annette, I'm thinking the risk might not be worth it. Plus she's saying

I'd need to be in the hospital/clinic for a day with all those chemicals. EEEK!

Re: Adrenal challenge

Hi ,

I had a test that sounds like the one you described. It was called the ACTH

challenge test. I

survived it just fine.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

5058215 & dopt=Abstract

However, it didn't return anything of interest as the consultant I saw was not

knowledgeable and

CFS & ME and did it entirely to rule out an 's dx.

Kindest regards,

Annette

__________________________________________________________

All new " The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease

of use. " - PC Magazine

http://uk.docs./nowyoucan.html

September 11, 2006

Yep may give it a miss I think Mike. I just can't see the value in risking

it.Thanks for relating your experience.