Aa
Low cortisol
Hi all, I have a few pre-test questions. I had a cortisol test the other day, and the results came back low. I think barely below the standard range. They ran the test because I have muscle pain and weakness, brown patches on my face/neck and have had several hospitalizations for uncontrollable vomiting in the last two years. one episode of vomiting was so severe that developed cardio myopathy. they have never found a reason for the vomiting, they always give me dilaudid to stop the pain and vomiting and nausea meds and iv fluids. I have Hashimoto's, Sjogren's, Reynaud's and fibromyalgia. I am always dehydrated, they always have to do blood draws on the back of my hand because they can't get a vein in my arms. I have sleep disorders, can't get to sleep and can't stay asleep when I do get to sleep. I am irritable, but that may be from lack of sleep, lol.
They are doing a an ACTH Stimulation test on Thursday and I am not finding a lot of info on low cortisol except Addison's disease. What else could be causing low cortisol and what can raise cortisol levels except prednisone?
They are doing a an ACTH Stimulation test on Thursday and I am not finding a lot of info on low cortisol except Addison's disease. What else could be causing low cortisol and what can raise cortisol levels except prednisone?
Sorry, this was accidental.
....could be one of the underlying issues.
What meds are you currently on? Do you remember in the past having any steroid or cortisone shots or treatment? That can mess up natural production of cortisol. Let me know and I'll check it out for you.
Taking better care of your thyroid issues, which means monitoring your T-hormone levels frequently, will help, as increasing cortisol production depends on a well functioning thyroid or balanced thyroid hormones.
Watch your diet! High fat/high cholesterol can make your cortisol levels
spike or deplete! Eat green!!! No junk, low carbs (carbs, yes carbs! contribute to the worse kind of LDL, also increasing Heart Disease risk)
And distress! Watch out for hidden stress, the worse kind, to my opinion.
Meditation, hypnotherapy (min. 5-6 sessions!) connecting with nature
and avoiding stressful situations, will help a lot.
This is one of my areas of expertise, so if you have any questions,
just ask me!
Note, this is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
Hope this helps.
Niko
....could be one of the underlying issues.
What meds are you currently on? Do you remember in the past having any steroid or cortisone shots or treatment? That can mess up natural production of cortisol. Let me know and I'll check it out for you.
Taking better care of your thyroid issues, which means monitoring your T-hormone levels frequently, will help, as increasing cortisol production depends on a well functioning thyroid or balanced thyroid hormones.
Watch your diet! High fat/high cholesterol can make your cortisol levels
spike or deplete! Eat green!!! No junk, low carbs (carbs, yes carbs! contribute to the worse kind of LDL, also increasing Heart Disease risk)
And distress! Watch out for hidden stress, the worse kind, to my opinion.
Meditation, hypnotherapy (min. 5-6 sessions!) connecting with nature
and avoiding stressful situations, will help a lot.
This is one of my areas of expertise, so if you have any questions,
just ask me!
Note, this is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
Hope this helps.
Niko
I am currently on levothyroxine, plaquenil, gabapentin, baclofen, hydrocodone, Bentyl. Been on all these meds for between 5 and 8 years, except the Bentyl, which I have taken for 30 years. I was on prednisone for a year back in 2005, had some cortisone injections a few years ago after a neck injury, but nothing in the past 2 years.
I have my cholesterol, glucose and triglyceride levels checked every six months, they are within normal ranged. My diet doesn't include a lot of junk, lots of chicken, seafood, salads, fruits, dairy. I avoid red meat and fried foods. I should probably cut back on the carbs, I do like potatoes and rice, but I have lost 50 pounds and am still working on losing a bit more. I am currently seeing an endocrinologist, rheumatologist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, internal medicine/primary care. I see each of them at least twice a year and they test lots of things, lol.
I have dark patches along my jawbone and a rather large white patch on my throat. I showed them to my rheumatologist and endocrinologist at my regular appointments last week, which is what prompted the cortisol test.
As for stress, I have plenty of that, lol. My daughter and grandchildren are moving in with me in two weeks. My daughter and I have a difficult relationship at times so I am a little apprehensive, shall we say.
On top of all the autoimmune issues and the fibromyalgia, I have herniated discs in my neck and lower back and am losing the use of my right arm. As you can probably tell, I am not needing any more health issues. Hoping to find a relatively benign cause for the low cortisol and avoid prednisone.
I have my cholesterol, glucose and triglyceride levels checked every six months, they are within normal ranged. My diet doesn't include a lot of junk, lots of chicken, seafood, salads, fruits, dairy. I avoid red meat and fried foods. I should probably cut back on the carbs, I do like potatoes and rice, but I have lost 50 pounds and am still working on losing a bit more. I am currently seeing an endocrinologist, rheumatologist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, internal medicine/primary care. I see each of them at least twice a year and they test lots of things, lol.
I have dark patches along my jawbone and a rather large white patch on my throat. I showed them to my rheumatologist and endocrinologist at my regular appointments last week, which is what prompted the cortisol test.
As for stress, I have plenty of that, lol. My daughter and grandchildren are moving in with me in two weeks. My daughter and I have a difficult relationship at times so I am a little apprehensive, shall we say.
On top of all the autoimmune issues and the fibromyalgia, I have herniated discs in my neck and lower back and am losing the use of my right arm. As you can probably tell, I am not needing any more health issues. Hoping to find a relatively benign cause for the low cortisol and avoid prednisone.
Steroid medications like prednisone (a synthetic corticosteroid) can prevent the body from producing cortisol, the natural steroid. When these medications are used for more than two weeks, the dose should be lowered gradually to allow the body to resume its normal production of cortisol.
I take it that in your case it may have not be done this way.
STRESS is a benign cause for high AND low cortisol, or is it not benign? And with the low levels of cortisol b.c of chronic stress, it may still help keep the inflammation going indefinitely (cortisol receptors stay deactivated, while it's supposed to be just a controlled immune response).
Adrenal insufficiency MUST always precede Thyroid treatment!
It's a medical rule of thumb. I can explain another time or just look it up.
You need this thoroughly checked.
One of the most common FMS presentations is low cortisol.
Cheers!
Niko
I take it that in your case it may have not be done this way.
STRESS is a benign cause for high AND low cortisol, or is it not benign? And with the low levels of cortisol b.c of chronic stress, it may still help keep the inflammation going indefinitely (cortisol receptors stay deactivated, while it's supposed to be just a controlled immune response).
Adrenal insufficiency MUST always precede Thyroid treatment!
It's a medical rule of thumb. I can explain another time or just look it up.
You need this thoroughly checked.
One of the most common FMS presentations is low cortisol.
Cheers!
Niko
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