Frustrated Testing

Hello,

I had been diagnosed with Adrenal Insufficiency years ago after going through many Dr's, blood sugar tests, and ACTH tests.  About 8 years ago I went through a divorce, and part of the process was losing most of my personal possessions, including all my Dr's records.  I wasn't able to retrieve the records from the Dr's earlier this year because to much time elapsed.  I also moved to different part of the country, and now I have to 'prove' I have adrenal insufficiency.  I took an ACTH test several months ago and the first Dr. said I had no issues.  Here is the first test:

ug/dl         Baseline Cort            8.0
ug/dl         30 Min Corisol         12.8
ug/dl         60 Min Cortisol        15.0

ng/dL        Aldosterone             7.0

Sodium     138
Potassium     3.6
Chloride      103
Glucose       73
BUN              14
Creatinine       .9
Calcium         8.3

The Dr. rejected this because I am already on Hydro Cortisone about 25mg.  So he wanted me to take another test.  This time I didn't take it in the morning, my fault, and it came out as:


Baseline        3.4
30 Min           8.6
60                 6.1

This test was rejected because I took it at 4:00pm.  So I just got back the results from another test taken about about 8:30am where we have reduced the Hydro cortisone down to 15mg / day.  I didn't take any cortisone for 14 hours before this test.

Baseline          12.1
30 min           15.5
60 min           17.5

I am still waiting for Rennin and ACTH base levels to come back.  This process is getting very frustrating!  I am basically being told that I am low, but in the normal range.  Everything I read says there is some adrenal issue.  Do these numbers suggest a problem?

Regards,

Randy.

[stella5349]

Hi Randy

I do think you have issues. There's is no way to take your other test. Would it be possible to talk to the Xspouse to see if they are with them?

I feel for you - most think thyroid is hard to get help for. The adrenals are even worse unless you have critical Addison or Cushing disease! ARGH

[galliar]

Hello Stella,

My x spouse would not give me the tests if she had them.  I think at this point the #'s show I have the adrenal Insufficiency.  I have been in the hospital several times with dehydration, severe flu-like symptoms, and total muscle weakness.  Cortisone in 40-60mg doses makes the symptoms begin to reside, as if life was pumped into me, within about 45 minutes.  I climbed a 2000 climb with my wife last year and got deathly ill after finishing the climb.  I couldn't lift my head to throw up, it was the most miserable thing and only cortisone would reverse it.  She thought I needed help at a hospital.  The same thing happened at a church all men's deal where we worked out.  The Blood pressure dives, sodium gets below normal, and BUN gets high.

I did just receive some more results:

Resting ACTH Level - 52
Renin Level - 4.3

The ACTH is at the very top of the range, and the Renin is quite a bit above the range.  There just appear to be to many factors that line up, the symptoms match, and Cortisone clears the symptoms quickly.  Since Dr. Jeffries originally diagnosed this, I am pretty certain he had it right.  He was the person who created the idea of the low doses of steroid for adrenal issues.  He wrote a book called, "The Safe Uses of Cortisone" which is a classic.  My current endo did see the ACTH stimulation and sent an email within 15 minutes of it being released.  She told me to get on 25mg of Cortisone right away.

I'll get through this diagnosis.  I have a meeting with the endo on Wednesday.

Regards,

Randy.

[stella5349]

OK Randy

I hope it all turns out.

Let us know what happens