high cortisol

[nanae1176]

Hi to all.
I have had hypothyroidism for over 10yrs, and just recently had a full yr with ups n downs in that dept with changes in medicine and TSH ranging from .01 to 13.60 in a matter of 40 days! Quite a roller coaster to say the least.
I have been reading trying to get some help and info on balancing my thyroid problems and found over and over people saying to make sure you keep an eye on adrenal function if you are on thyroid hormone therapy.
So, i went in and had my cortisol and aldosterone checked.
results:

Cortisol (AM) 21 ref. range 7-18 ug/dL
Aldosterone, S <8.0 ng/dL ref. range <=21 ng/dL

and as of right now im officially lost. I don't know much about adrenal glands. have appt with my GP next week but just wanted some advice? or input?

[rumpled]

I had Cushing's myself w low BP.

Not everyone gains weight either.

I hope you get a decent endo. Cortisol can vary by time of day so you need average testing (urine), more times (saliva) and more testing in general as it may be other hormones. Cortisol can rise too just in response to being ill.

One test is just not enough.

[nanae1176]

Cortisol checked at 8am.
LOW blood pressure. Have always had low blood pressure, thought it was just due to hypothyroidism.
got lucky today and seen my GP early, she just happens to have a best friend who is an Endo and i get to see the endo next week.
Yes, I have read about cushings but doesnt sound like me..? I have been loosing weight last month n half, not hungry unless you count salt n sugar cravings which is about all i can stomach lately. Abdomen feels hot, while my feet n hands are freezing. Cold hands n feet im used to but this is gotten worse lately and the hot feaverish feeling in abdomen is all new..?
Running fever bout every other day, which again is new because my body temp is always below the norm. Having really weird thing happen when im asleep, i wake up like im jolted or can't breathe or something, idk it's really really weird and scarry, never had that before either.
Have read about addison's and a bit about Schmidt's they kinda sound a lil more like this but unsure if i could have high cortisol and addison's? is that even possible?
Thanks for caring enough to reply :)
this is a new area for me and i will take all the help i can get right now.

[rumpled]

That is a roller coaster.

What time did you have the cortisol checked?

Is your blood pressure high or low?

Have you read up on Cushing's syndrome (elevated cortisol) and do you have any of the symptoms?

There is no one test for it - so you would need several sets of tests, and need a good endocrinologist, and once you have good suspicion there is an issue you would need a neuro-endo (pituitary endo) at a pituitary center for final diagnosis and treatment. Not only do you have to determine *if* you have it, you also have to determine the source - which can be pituitary, adrenal or ectopic which can be anywhere (thankfully that is rare, usually lung though).