ACTH stimulation test

[Guest guest]

I am new to your group and am hoping to receive some feedback.

My Quick Story: I had been suffering from hypothyroid symptoms and

went for testing at my HMO for fatigue and test results came back

" normal " . Upon further research (thanks to Shomon's advocacy), I

learned about the new range of TSH and mine was 5.1 (not exactly

normal) with a history of thyroid disease in my family. I succeeded in

having an appointment with an endocrinologist who prescribed T-4 and

have been taking it for 7 weeks noticing a major improvement esp. in

mental clarity.

Since I still felt fatigue, I wanted a second opinion and testing

through ZRT because I fit the symptoms for low adrenal. These were my

results:

Testosterone 6 pg/ml

DHEAS less than 1ng/ml

Cortisol morning 0.3 ng/ml

Cortisol noon 1.1 ng/ml

Cortisol evening 1.1 ng/ml

Cortisol night 1.7 ng/ml

Thyroid Results (following several weeks of T-4):

Free T4 1.4

Free T3 2.1 (low)

TSH 1.9

TPO 121 (borderline)

So, I was given IsoCort to take for low adrenal through a doctor

outside my HMO because I had low cortisol.

Now, I returned to my HMO for a follow up appointment and asked my

endocrinologist about low adrenal and taking IsoCort (I'm now taking 3

pellets/day). Plus, I showed her the ZRT results. She told me she

would perform an ACTH stimulation test, but I would have to stop

taking the IsoCort to do it.

My Questions:

- Have any of you had this test performed?

- Are the results of this test controversial for what is the " normal "

range? (like TSH)

- How does this test compare to saliva testing?

- Does anyone have any recommendations for books on the subject of low

adrenal?

- If I've only been taking IsoCort for 3 weeks and am up to 3 pellets,

would there be a problem to stop abruptly? I believe I read somewhere

to gradually ease off.

I appreciate any feedback and am thankful to have found such a wealth

of information online and through your group. Hope to be able to

contribute at some point with information from my own experiences.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Well it sounds as if ou have a very conventional Endo. T4 onmly meds

will never releive your fatigue and I doubt Isocort will be enough

either. The ACTH Stim test is controversial as depending on which one

they giove oyu, the high dose one, anyoene except someone with 's

will respond normally to, and the low dose one many with adrenal

fatigue still show normal response. It DOES tell you if your problem is

adrenal or pituitary. Many people wiht adrneal fatoigeu totally miss any

doagnosis because the Endos rely on JUST this test for adrenal

insufficiency. The saliva testing is the best one and if they will nto

accept that I feel you are wasting time with this doctor. Most peopel

can go off 3 pellets of Icoscort pretty easily as it is very low dose. I

won;t say ou would feel good but it is not dangerous to stop this for

two weeks prior to testing which is what is needed to get accurate results.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/