EiR Blog
A Blog For Those Affected By Environmental And Invisible Illnesses Written By Fellow Survivors
ACTH Stimulation Test Results
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Recently received back my ACTH stimulation test results and wanted to share (below). Ideally, I would have done a repeat of the Adrenal saliva panel I had done 8 months ago, but that is not an option right now due to my financial situation. Doctor says everything looks good (within the ranges), and suggested that maybe the symptoms of fatigue, low stress tolerance, etc. are not hormonal, but possibly some type of ongoing infection; he has referred me to an infectious disease doctor.
Not sure if others have seen similar results, or been able to correlate their ACTH stimulation results to their saliva results, or have ever seen the test show results for adrenal insufficiency vs. failure.
Thoughts?
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Comment last edited on about 8 years ago by Maff MaffThanks for posting the info from Dr. T. Interesting stuff which I am sure is based on a lot of clinical experience as well as literature research on his part.
Given your readings are at the upper end of the scale and this fits with your symptoms I think you're right to continue with the adrenal support you're using as it's obviously been helping you to improve going by your posts elsewhere. No point looking at things like hydrocortisone rx unless absolutely necessary!
All the best for continued recovery
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Comment last edited on about 8 years ago by Maff Maff
Good advice, thanks Maff. Always helps to have reminders that the healing is a journey, and that even when the progress seems slow, it is still progress.
I came across this blurb about ACTH testing in Fatigued to Fantastic and thought I would share. Dr Teitelbaum suggests a low therapeutic trial of hydrocortisone if the following conditions are met from the ACTH test:
Baseline reading is less than 16mcg/dl
OR
Cortisol level does not increase by 7mcg/dl @ 30min and 11mcg/dl @ 60min
OR
Cortisol level does not double AND is less than 35mcg/dl @ 60min
Based on this, looks like my results indicate some adrenal issues, but are in the upper range of values. This is about in line with how I feel: nowhere near the fatigue and energy swings I had previously, but still some looming problems with energy and sleep. I am continuing to support the adrenals with licorice, Rhodiola, Vitamin C, and B-Vitamins and plan to only improve!Like 0 -
Comment last edited on about 8 years ago by Maff Maff
Sorry Stache I only just spotted this blog post - been busy with treatments the past few weeks so not monitoring the site as closely.
I can't offer anything in comparison unfortunately as I was never given an ACTH stimulation test despite multiple requests and it being something you would expect to have done with predominant symptoms of fatigue, headaches, hypersomnolence etc. What I would say is that just because your adrenal glands respond normally to stimulation by ACTH as this test shows you could have problems upstream i.e. dysregulated hypothalamic control, pituitary issues. I would have thought these could result in functional deficiency of adrenal hormones despite normal sensitivity to ACTH. Don't quote me on that but something to ask your endocrinologist about.
It would definiotely have been good to do an adrenal hormone saliva test at the same time but finances are always a frustrating limiting factor for us aren't they!
I guess there are some positives to come out of this; you have normal ACTH -> cortisol response and you have been referred to an infectious diseases specialist who might either find something or rule some things out for you. It's a long journey with these illnesses but we just have to keep looking out for little pieces of our particular puzzle.
Good luck!Like 0
