Re: Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

[Guest guest]

The best test to have for adrenal function/suppression is an ACTH stimulation

test which is what my endocrinologist did about a month ago. I was found to

have adrenal insufficiency via this test and I only had to not take Cortef for

the day of the test. This is a TOP ENDO who knows what he's doing.

Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now that I am due for

thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to check my adrenal function but

says since I have been on IsoCort, it won't be a good indication. I would have

to be off of it for two months which I am not willing to do because I am feeling

much better and tolerating for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this,

if you are diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC, how do

you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you cannot rely on the

labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your current state if you fast and

don't take anything for 8 hours?

Debbie

[Guest guest]

,

My paperwork from my endo has ACTH and AM Cortisol test on it (along

with DHEA, FSH and LH, TSH, Free T4 and T3). Are you sauing that you

were supposed to take Cortef for the ACTH test? My doctor said I

would need to be off IsoCort for two month, but I tried it and just

didn't do well. If I akip the dose the night before and of course in

the AM, wouldn't I still get an idea of where I am at?

>

> The best test to have for adrenal function/suppression is an ACTH

stimulation test which is what my endocrinologist did about a month

ago. I was found to have adrenal insufficiency via this test and I

only had to not take Cortef for the day of the test. This is a TOP

ENDO who knows what he's doing.

>

>

> Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

>

>

> My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now that

I am due for thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to check my

adrenal function but says since I have been on IsoCort, it won't be a

good indication. I would have to be off of it for two months which I

am not willing to do because I am feeling much better and tolerating

for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this, if you are

diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC, how do

you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you cannot rely

on the labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your current state

if you fast and don't take anything for 8 hours?

>

> Debbie

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I guess I was reading your post too fast! You only had to NOT take

it for one day. That's what I was thinking too! Thanks for your

response!

Debbie

>

> The best test to have for adrenal function/suppression is an ACTH

stimulation test which is what my endocrinologist did about a month

ago. I was found to have adrenal insufficiency via this test and I

only had to not take Cortef for the day of the test. This is a TOP

ENDO who knows what he's doing.

>

>

> Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

>

>

> My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now that

I am due for thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to check my

adrenal function but says since I have been on IsoCort, it won't be a

good indication. I would have to be off of it for two months which I

am not willing to do because I am feeling much better and tolerating

for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this, if you are

diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC, how do

you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you cannot rely

on the labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your current state

if you fast and don't take anything for 8 hours?

>

> Debbie

>

>

[Guest guest]

There are different types of ACTH tests. Your doctor just drew blood to measure

your ACTH production. An ACTH stimulation test is done by your doctor measuring

your cortisol levels to get a baseline and then injecting you with ACTH and

drawing your blood one hour later. I only had to be off Cortef THAT day for

this test to be accurate.

Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

>

>

> My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now that

I am due for thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to check my

adrenal function but says since I have been on IsoCort, it won't be a

good indication. I would have to be off of it for two months which I

am not willing to do because I am feeling much better and tolerating

for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this, if you are

diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC, how do

you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you cannot rely

on the labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your current state

if you fast and don't take anything for 8 hours?

>

> Debbie

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for the clarification. I will call my doctor's office on

Monday to see if this can be done at the lab. My doctor does not

draw blood in the office (that I am aware of). I will be getting my

labs done Tuesday morning so that they are ready for my appointment

on the 27th (with the holiday and all). My doctor says adrenal

issues are rare, but I strongly believe that I am one of the people

with them! That's why my naturopath gave me IsoCort to begin with.

I had never heard of adrenal insufficiency before until I met with my

ND and gave her my medical history. Now that I have worked my way up

to taking 6 IsoCort a day, I am sooo much better but know I still

have a ways to go! I wonder if I wouldn't benefit from HC but that's

where my endo comes in!

Thanks again!

Debbie

> >

> > The best test to have for adrenal function/suppression is an

ACTH

> stimulation test which is what my endocrinologist did about a

month

> ago. I was found to have adrenal insufficiency via this test and

I

> only had to not take Cortef for the day of the test. This is a

TOP

> ENDO who knows what he's doing.

> >

> >

> > Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

> >

> >

> > My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now

that

> I am due for thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to check

my

> adrenal function but says since I have been on IsoCort, it won't

be a

> good indication. I would have to be off of it for two months

which I

> am not willing to do because I am feeling much better and

tolerating

> for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this, if you are

> diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC, how

do

> you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you cannot

rely

> on the labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your current

state

> if you fast and don't take anything for 8 hours?

> >

> > Debbie

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

2 weeks, not two months. At least for saliva tests. Blood I would think is

even less.

Cheri

Re: Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

,

My paperwork from my endo has ACTH and AM Cortisol test on it (along

with DHEA, FSH and LH, TSH, Free T4 and T3). Are you sauing that you

were supposed to take Cortef for the ACTH test? My doctor said I

would need to be off IsoCort for two month, but I tried it and just

didn't do well. If I akip the dose the night before and of course in

the AM, wouldn't I still get an idea of where I am at?

.

[Guest guest]

Cheri,

It sounds like my doctor is a little OVERLY cautious and I should be

fine if I skip my dose the night before and that morning. Since all

the tests are on one form, I will have to have them do it anyway so

if she give any grief, I'll just tell her I had to do what made me

feel better! I wasn't willing to go two more months of feeling

horrtible to satisfy a test!

Debbie

>

> 2 weeks, not two months. At least for saliva tests. Blood I would

think is

> even less.

>

> Cheri

> Re: Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

>

>

> ,

>

> My paperwork from my endo has ACTH and AM Cortisol test on it

(along

> with DHEA, FSH and LH, TSH, Free T4 and T3). Are you sauing that

you

> were supposed to take Cortef for the ACTH test? My doctor said I

> would need to be off IsoCort for two month, but I tried it and

just

> didn't do well. If I akip the dose the night before and of course

in

> the AM, wouldn't I still get an idea of where I am at?

>

> .

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I should have clarified. He sent me down to the lab to have the blood drawn and

then back to him for the injection and then one hour later, back to the lab for

the second blood draw. You should google ACTH stimulation test and read about

exactly what it is and what it determines. It basically is about the ACTH

injection is supposed to stimulate your adrenals to produce a certain amount of

cortisol, and when it doesn't, you are pronounced adrenally insufficient. I was

diagnosed " partial adrenal insufficiency " and am on daily Cortisol replacement

with Cortef " .

Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

> >

> >

> > My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now

that

> I am due for thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to check

my

> adrenal function but says since I have been on IsoCort, it won't

be a

> good indication. I would have to be off of it for two months

which I

> am not willing to do because I am feeling much better and

tolerating

> for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this, if you are

> diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC, how

do

> you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you cannot

rely

> on the labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your current

state

> if you fast and don't take anything for 8 hours?

> >

> > Debbie

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

,

Very interesting. I will be sure to look it up before Monday.

Something tells me I will have to wait for my appointment on the 27th

to personally talk to the dcotor about it, but I will certainly call

Monday anyway. I have a good rapor with the head nurse so she may be

able to talk my endo about it.

Debbie

> > >

> > > The best test to have for adrenal function/suppression is an

> ACTH

> > stimulation test which is what my endocrinologist did about a

> month

> > ago. I was found to have adrenal insufficiency via this test

and

> I

> > only had to not take Cortef for the day of the test. This is a

> TOP

> > ENDO who knows what he's doing.

> > >

> > >

> > > Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

> > >

> > >

> > > My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now

> that

> > I am due for thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to

check

> my

> > adrenal function but says since I have been on IsoCort, it

won't

> be a

> > good indication. I would have to be off of it for two months

> which I

> > am not willing to do because I am feeling much better and

> tolerating

> > for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this, if you are

> > diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC,

how

> do

> > you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you

cannot

> rely

> > on the labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your current

> state

> > if you fast and don't take anything for 8 hours?

> > >

> > > Debbie

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Debbie B wrote:

> Are you sauing that you

> were supposed to take Cortef for the ACTH test? My doctor said I

> would need to be off IsoCort for two month,

Val says two weeks off all cortisone, licorice, etc. I haven't heard of

needing off for two months before.

sol

[Guest guest]

Debbie, good luck and I hope you won't mind but I am one of those weirdos who

MUST correct everyone's spelling/grammar so I just wanted to say that the word

is

RAPPORT. LOL

Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

> > >

> > >

> > > My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now

> that

> > I am due for thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to

check

> my

> > adrenal function but says since I have been on IsoCort, it

won't

> be a

> > good indication. I would have to be off of it for two months

> which I

> > am not willing to do because I am feeling much better and

> tolerating

> > for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this, if you are

> > diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC,

how

> do

> > you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you

cannot

> rely

> > on the labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your current

> state

> > if you fast and don't take anything for 8 hours?

> > >

> > > Debbie

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

,

You are funny! I used to be such a great speller and now sometimes I

just don't know where my mind is! Where is spell check when you need

it? Thanks!

> > > >

> > > > The best test to have for adrenal function/suppression is

an

> > ACTH

> > > stimulation test which is what my endocrinologist did about a

> > month

> > > ago. I was found to have adrenal insufficiency via this test

> and

> > I

> > > only had to not take Cortef for the day of the test. This is

a

> > TOP

> > > ENDO who knows what he's doing.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > My naturopath put me on IsoCort without doing any labs. Now

> > that

> > > I am due for thyroid labs, my endocrinologist is willing to

> check

> > my

> > > adrenal function but says since I have been on IsoCort, it

> won't

> > be a

> > > good indication. I would have to be off of it for two months

> > which I

> > > am not willing to do because I am feeling much better and

> > tolerating

> > > for Armour thyroid than before. My question is this, if you

are

> > > diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and take IsoCort or HC,

> how

> > do

> > > you determine if your adrenals are recovered fully if you

> cannot

> > rely

> > > on the labs anymore? Won't the labs still reflect your

current

> > state

> > > if you fast and don't take anything for 8 hours?

> > > >

> > > > Debbie

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

No, I was instructed NOT to take any cortef for the ACTH stimulation test

because it could throw it off.

Re: Labs for Adrenal Insufficiency

Debbie B wrote:

> Are you sauing that you

> were supposed to take Cortef for the ACTH test? My doctor said I

> would need to be off IsoCort for two month,

Val says two weeks off all cortisone, licorice, etc. I haven't heard of

needing off for two months before.

sol