Adrenal Thread

[gtype]

Hi, I know this thread is old, but I really need a good opinion, so I will risk it, and I'm sorry if there is already another

thread or something and I am hijacking an old one.

I have been feeling tired, with constant headaches above the eyes (it hurts when I look up too), dry mouth, dry eyes, dry skin, I

think hair loss started somewhere in that time too. It started six years ago, and the headaches and tiredeness have been getting

slowly but steadily worse. I also have a lot of trouble concentrating, and my memory.. well I am basically a fish. Finally, it seems the problem is adrenal fatigue, but it seems no doctor ever heard about it in this

country. Anyway, I don't want to rant, so I'll just get on with it. Finally, an endo made some bloodwork and found something, put

me in the hospital in a week for more tests. After that, she said "well, we don't know why, but it seems you are making few

cortisol. It doesn't caus your simptoms, but we will give it a shot anyway." She then prescribed 5mg hydrocortisone, at wake up.

Also, my pituitary MRI came clean.

After reading a lot, I upped the dosage to 20mg, progressively, and although I fell slightly better, it's not really that much. I

don't dare upping it more without more data, and it seems I can't find an up to date doctor in this country, so I have to resort to

the internet. I'll post all bloodwork with the date it was made. Almostg all of them were made between 8 and nine AM, except the

first, that I think was made at 12 o'clock.

Also, since it is portuguese, I'll try to translate it, but please ask if something feels worng.

Date: 02-03-2010 (Test to see if I had something, before they put me in the hospital)

FSH 2.3 (mUl/mL) < 15
LH 1.8 (mUl/mL) < 9.0
PROLACTINE 5.9 (ng/ml) < 18
TOTAL TEST. 2.0 (ng/ml) 2.7 - 11.0
ANDROSTENEDONE 1.5 (ng/ml) 0.6 - 3.7
TSH - 3rd GEN. 2.7 (uUl/mL) 0.4 - 4.0
FREE T3 4.1 (pg/mL) 1.8 - 4.2
FREE T4 1.1 (ng/dL) 0.8 - 1.9
ACTH 8.8 (pg/ml) 9 - 52
CORTISOL 2.1 (ug/dl) 5 - 25
IGF1 244 (ng/ml) 116 - 358



Next, the ones made during the week I spent at the hospital

Date: 06-04-2010

BIOCHEMISTRY (Blood)

Glucose 85 (mg/dL) 60 - 109
BUN 12.5 (mg/dL) 7.9 - 20.9
Creatinine(IDMS) 0.83 (mg/dL) 0.72 - 1.18
Urate 5.9 (mg/dL) 3.5 - 7.2
Total proteines 6.2 (g/dL) 6.6 - 8.3
Albumine 4.2 (g/dL) 3.5 - 5.2
Calcium 9.2 (mg/dL) 8.8 - 10.6
Sodium 138 (mmol/L) 136 - 156
Potassium 3.8 (mmol/L) 3.5 - 5.1
Chlorine 105 (mmol/L) 101 - 109
Osmolality 275 (mOSM/Kg) 260 - 302

ALT (GPT) 25 (U/l) < 45
Alkaline Phosph. 64 (U/l) 30 - 120
Gama GT 15 (U/l) < 55
Total Bilirubin 0.3 (mg/dL) 0.3 - 1.2
Tot. Cholesterol 169 (mg/dL) <= 190
Cholesterol HDL 33 (mg/dL) < 40
Atherogenic Ind. 5.1 <= 5.0
Cholesterol LDL 115 (mg/dL) < 115
Triglycerides 206 (mg/dL) < 200


HORMONOLOGY (??)

FSH 1.5 (mUl/mL) < 15
FSH 20 min LH/RH 3.4 (mUl/mL)
FSH 60 min LH/RH 3.6 (mUl/mL)
LH 1.9 (mUl/mL) <9.0
LH 20 min LH/RH 21 (mUl/mL)
LH 60 min LH/RH 18 (mUl/mL)
TOTAL TEST. 3.2 (ng/ml) 2.7 - 11.0
Paratormone 72 (pg/ml) 9 - 72


BIOCHEMISTRY (Urine)


Urine Summary (Type II Urine)

Color Yellow
Appearence Ligh
Glucose 0.0 (mg/dL) 0.0 - 30.0
Bilirubin 0.0 (mg/dL)
Acetone 0.0 (mg/dL)
Density 1.015 1.010 - 1.030
Hemoglobin 0.00 (mg/dL)
pH 5.5 5.0 - 8.0
Proteins 5.0 (mg/dL) 0.0 - 20.0
Urobilinogen 9.2 (mg/dL) 0.0 - 0.2
Nitrites NEG
Leucocytes NEG

Urinary Sediment (Flow Cytometry)

Cilinders (??) 0.2 (/µL) 0.0 - 1.2
Leucocytes 0.7 (/µL) 0.0 - 15.0
Peeling Cells(?) 0.2 (/µL) 0.0 - 4.0
Erythrocytes 1.3 (/µL) 1.0 - 24.0
Cristals 0.0 (/µL) 0.0 - 27.0
Path. Cilinders 0.2 (/µL) 0.0 - 0.2


Celular Biology

everything fine except this:

Platelets 137 (10^3/µL) 150 - 400




Date: 07-04-2010


HORMONOLOGY (??)

PROLACTINE 12 (ng/ml) < 18.0
TSH - 3rd GEN. 2.0 (uUl/mL) 0.4 - 4.0
TSH3 20min P.TRH 9.4 (uUl/mL)
TSH3 60min P.TRH 6.1 (uUl/mL)
FREE T3 3.9 (pg/mL) 1.8 - 4.2
FREE T4 1.1 (ng/dL) 0.8 - 1.9
HGH 0.1 (µg/L) < 1
IGF1 279 (ng/ml) 116 - 358



Date: 08-04-2010

ACTH 15min 25 (pg/ml)
ACTH 22 (pg/ml) 9 - 52
ACTH 15min CRH 28 (pg/ml)
ACTH 30min CRH 31 (pg/ml)
ACTH 45min CRH 26 (pg/ml)
ACTH 60min CRH 23 (pg/ml)
ACTH 90min CRH 16 (pg/ml)
ACTH 120min CRH 18 (pg/ml)
CORTISOL 15min 11 (ug/dl)
CORTISOL 12 (ug/dl) 5 - 25
CORTISL 15m CRH 8.9 (ug/dl)
CORTISL 30m CRH 15 (ug/dl)
CORTISL 45m CRH 14 (ug/dl)
CORTISL 60m CRH 11 (ug/dl)
CORTISL 90m CRH 6.6 (ug/dl)
CORTISL 120m CRH 6.8 (ug/dl)


(SKIPPING AUTO-IMMUNE STUFF, IT'S ALL NEGATIVE)


Protein Electroforese (??)

Total proteins 5.2 (g/dl)
A/G 2.85

Albumin (74.0%, 3.85 g/dl) 3.2 - 5.0
Alpha 1 (1.1% , 0.06 g/dl) 0.1 - 0.4
Alpha 2 (7.7% , 0.40 g/dl) 0.6 - 1.0
Beta (10.4%, 0.54 g/dl) 0.6 - 1.3
Gamma (6.8% , 0.35 g/dl) 0.7 - 1.5

(I put them here because they are all low, except for Albumin)


Date: 26-06-2010 - I was already on a 20mg hydrocortisone for about a week


HEMATOLOGY

Glycated Hemogl. 5.4 (%) 4.0 - 6.0


CLINIC CHEMISTRY

Blood Sugar 5.1 (mmol/L) 3.9 - 6.1
Total Calcium 2.10 (mmol/L) 2.12 - 2.52
Sodium 140 (mmol/L) 136 - 145
Potassium 3.9 (mmol/L) 3.5 - 5.1
Chlorines 103 (mmol/L) 98 - 110
Magnesium 1.04 (mmol/L) 0.74 - 0.99
Ferro Serico (Can't Translate, Ferro = Iron) 67 (µg/dL) 65 - 170
Iron Fixation Capacity (??) 292 (µg/dL) 250 -450
Ferritin 78 (µg/L) 26 - 388
Folic Acid 4.3 (ng/mL) 3.1 - 17.5
B12 Vitamin 583 (pg/mL) 254 - 1320


THYROID STUFF

TSH 2.12 (mUI/L) 0.36 - 3.74


ENDOCRINOLOGY

FSH 2.4 (mUI/mL) 0.7 - 11.1
LH 2.0 (mUI/mL) 0.8 - 7.6
PROLACTINE 6.2 (ng/mL) 2.5 - 17.0
17Beta Estradiol 40 (pg/mL) 0 - 52
TOTAL TEST. 4.64 (ng/mL) 2.45 - 16.00 (From 20 to 49 years old)
S.Dehidroepiandrosterone 153 (µg/dL) 80 - 560
ALDOSTERONE 4.5 (ng/dL) 1.0 - 16.0 (lying down)
Morning ACTH 9.78 (pg/mL) 0.0 - 46.0
Morning Cortisol 4.82 (µg/dL) 4.30 - 22.40

(Note, there was a history made in 09-10-2009 that reported 5.56 morning ACTH and 1.94 morning cortisol)

So, do I need aldosterone? Do i need testosterone? Should I increase my cortisol dosage? If it's primary, shouldn't the ACTH Stim test be better? Thank you.

 

[UFgrad777]

what TSH level is optimal? my dr. put me on synthroid several years ago and he says my doage is just right. I will have to double check but I think it is now the same level that yours was pre-treatment but I will need to double check.

 

[Sharpman27]

I have been having adrenal insufficiency for about 7-8
years or so, maybe even before that.

I have tried many things. Vitamin C, E, all kind of herbs, hydrocortisone,
pregnenolone, panthonenic acid, prednisolone,DHEA.

In my experience all antistress supplements make (my) adrenal fatigue worse.
Vitamin C, E, DHEA, ginseng etc... all made me feel worse.

Pregnenolone helps. In the beginning 50 mg makes you feel great, but this
feeling goes away within days. I remember needing about 300mg after
a while to feel ok.

HC in the beginning 10-15mg, again you feel great. After a few days this goes away and I end up needing about 30-40mg to feel ok.

Prednisolone, is milder but longer lasting than HC. I take 7,8mg or so which is about 35mg HC. I only need to take this once a day and not many times like
HC.

I read a lot about people thinking that if they add a small dose of HC, that it
will add up to their daily natural production of cortisol. I don´t think this is true.
Perhaps if you take max 5mg or so, but when you take higher than 5mh your body lowers its own production. So you end up needing 25-40mg. You(I) have to take full replacement dosage to get better from my experience.

Your body is fine with the low levels of cortisol. If you take HC, it will think
´´Hey, this too much´´ and your own production lowers.

So lets say you are making 15mg cortisol a day. You have very obvious
low cortisol symptoms. Now you take 10-15 mg of HC a day and you think
you have corrected this deficiency because 15+10/15=25/30 mg HC a day
should correct it, but then your body lowers its own production by the same
amount of what you are taking, so you end up having the same amount
of cortisol which you had before taking HC.

offtopic:Yesterday I took my first shot of HCG(175IU). Man I was seriously shaking,
afraid of doing stuff incorrectly. Wonder how long it takes to work. I am going
to do every day 200IU or so. Used androgel for a while, got slightly better,but
balls started shrinking and I stopped after a 2 weeks or so. So now trying HCG monotherapy.

Low libido, no spontaneous erections, erectile quality not so good usually. Total
testosterone 450 or so(280-900)

Sharpman

 

[jonkobeck]

I found another MS word doc, but I couldn't upload it because it is not supported, so I am pasting it in here. This one also has the section on how to interpret the results.

ADRENAL STRESS QUESTIONNAIRE



0 = never/rarely 1 = occasionally/slightly
2 = moderate in intensity or frequency
3 = intense/severe or frequent


Predisposing Factors

I have experienced long periods of stress that have affected my well being______________

I have had one or more severely stressful events that have affected
my well being _______________

I have driven myself to exhaustion _______________

I overwork with little play or relaxation for extended periods _______________

I have had extended, severe or recurring respiratory infections _______________

I have taken long-term or intense steroid therapy _______________

I tend to gain weight especially around the middle _______________

I have a history of alcoholism/drug use _______________

I have environmental sensitivities _______________

I have diabetes type II _______________

I suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome _______________

I suffer from anorexia* _______________

TOTAL:







Key Signs and Symptoms:

My ability to handle stress and pressure has decreased _______________

I am less productive in my work _______________

I seem to have decreased in cognitive ability _______________

My thinking is confused when hurried or under pressure _______________

I tend to avoid emotional situations _______________

I tend to shake or am nervous when under pressure _______________

I suffer from nervous stomach indigestion when under stress _______________
I have many unexplained fears/anxieties _______________

My sex drive is noticeably less than it used to be _______________

I get light-headed or dizzy when rising suddenly
from a sitting down or lying position _______________

I have feelings of greying out or blacking out _______________

I am chronically fatigued: a tiredness that it not
usually relieved by sleep * _______________

I feel unwell much of the time _______________

I notice that my ankles are sometimes swollen, often
worse in the evenings _______________

I have one or more other chronic illnesses or diseases _______________

I usually need to lie down or rest after periods of psychological/
emotional pressure/stress _______________

My muscles sometimes feel weaker than they should _______________

My hands and legs get restless - experience meaningless
body movements _______________

I have become allergic/have increased frequency/severity
of allergic reactions _______________

When I scratch my skin, a white line remains for a minute or more _______________

Small, irregular dark brown spots have appeared on my face,
forehead, neck and shoulders _______________

I sometimes feel weak all over * _______________

I have unexplained and frequent headaches _______________

I am frequently cold _______________

I have decreased tolerance for cold * _______________

I have low blood pressure* _______________
_
I often become hungry, confused, shaky
or somewhat paralysed under stress _______________

I have lost weight without reason while
feeling very tired and listless _______________

I have feelings of hopelessness and despair _______________

I have decreased tolerance. People irritate me more _______________

The lymph nodes in my neck are frequently swollen _______________

I have times of nausea and vomiting for no apparent reason * _______________

TOTAL:
Energy Patterns:

I often have to force myself in order to keep going,
everything seems like a chore _____________

I am easily fatigued _____________

I have difficulty getting up in the morning (don't
really wake up until about 10 am) _____________

I suddenly run out of energy _____________

I usually feel much better and fully awake after the noon meal _____________

I often have an afternoon low between 3 and 5 pm _____________

I get low energy, moody or foggy if I do not eat regularly _____________

I usually feel my best after 6 pm _____________

I am often tired at 9 - 10 pm but resist going to bed _____________

I like to sleep late in the morning _____________

My best, most refreshing sleep often comes between
7 am and 9 am _____________

I often do my best work late at night (early in the morning) _____________

If I don?t go to bed by 11 pm I get a second burst of energy
around 11 pm, often lasting until 1 or 2 am _____________


TOTAL:



Frequently Observed Events:

I get coughs/colds that stay around for several weeks _____________

I have frequent or recurring bronchitis, pneumonia
or other respiratory infections _____________

I get asthma, colds and other respiratory
involvements two or more times a year _____________

I frequently get rashes, dermatitis or other skin conditions _____________

I have rheumatoid arthritis _____________

I have allergies to several things in the environment ______________

I have multiple chemical sensitivities ______________

I have chronic fatigue syndrome ______________

I get pain in the upper part of my lower back
and lower neck for no apparent reason ______________

I get pain in the muscles in the side of my neck ______________

I have insomnia or difficulty sleeping ______________

I have fibromyalgia ______________

I suffer from asthma ______________

I suffer from hay fever ______________

I suffer from nervous breakdowns ______________

My allergies are becoming worse (more severe,
more frequent or diverse) ______________

The fat pads on the palms of my hands and/or
tips of my fingers are often red ______________

I bruise more easily than I used to ______________

I have a tenderness in my back near my spine at
the bottom of my rib cage when pressed ______________

I have swelling under my eyes upon rising that
goes away after I have been up for a couple of hours ______________

I have increasing symptoms of PMS such as
cramps, bloating, moodiness, irritability, emotional
instability, headaches, tiredness, and/or
intolerance before a period (only some of these
need be present) ______________

My periods are generally heavy but they often stop,
or almost stop, on the fourth day, only to start up
profusely on the 5th or 6th day ______________





Food Patterns:

I need coffee or some other stimulant to get going
in the morning _____________

I often crave food high in fat and feel better with
high fat foods _____________

I use high fat foods to drive myself _____________

I often use high fat foods and caffeine-containing drinks
(coffee, colas, chocolate) to drive myself _____________

I often crave salt and/foods containing salt
I love salty foods _____________

I feel worse if I eat high potassium foods (like
bananas, figs) especially if I eat them in the morning _____________

I crave high protein foods (meats, cheeses) ______________

I crave sweet foods (pies, cakes, pastries, doughnuts, dried
fruits, candies or desserts) _____________

I feel worse if I miss or skip a meal _____________


TOTAL:




Aggravating Factors:

I have constant stress in my life or work ______________

My dietary habits tend to be sporadic and unplanned ______________

My relationships at work/home are unhappy ______________

I do not exercise regularly ______________

I eat lots of fruit ______________

My life contains insufficient enjoyable activities ______________

I have little control over how I spend my time ______________

I restrict my salt intake ______________

I have gum and/or tooth infections or abscesses ______________

I have meals at irregular times ______________

TOTAL:




Relieving factors:

I feel better almost right away once a stressful
situation is resolved ______________

Regular meals decrease the severity
of my symptoms ______________

I often feel better after spending a night out with friends ______________

I often feel better if I lie down ______________

Other relieving factors ______________

TOTAL:





CALCULATING THE SCORE



Note that there are no entries for the first section - Predisposing Factors. This section is dealt with separately and is not included in the summary below. Therefore, your first entry into the summary boxes will be for the Key Signs and Symptoms section.

1. Count the number of questions in each section that you answered with any number other than zero. Enter the total in the appropriate box for each section of the Total Number of Questions answered scoring chart below.

2. After you have finished entering the number of questions answered in each section, sum all the numbers for each column and the total in the Grand Total - Total Responses boxes on the bottom row of the scoring chart.

3. All the boxes in the Total Number of Questions answered chart should now be filled.

Then go to the next part of the scoring.




Total Number of Questions Answered


Name of Section Total Responses

Key signs & symptoms
Number of questions - 31

Energy patterns
number of questions - 13

Frequently observed events
Number of questions -
20 for men 22 for women

Food patterns
Number of questions - 9

Aggravating factors
Number of questions - 10

Relieving Factors
Number of questions - 4

Grand Total - Total Responses










TOTAL POINTS:
This part of the scoring adds up the actual numbers (0, 1, 2, or 3) you put beside the questions when you were answering the questionnaire. Add these numbers for each section and enter them into the boxes below. Then, sum each column to get the Total-Point-Now score. Enter this total in the bottom box to complete this part of the scoring.


TOTAL POINTS Number:

Key signs and symptoms
total points possible ? 93 _____

Energy patterns
total points possible ? 39 _____

Frequently observed
Events _____
total points possible
60 for men
66 for women

Food Patterns _____
Total points possible - 27

Aggravating Factors _____
total points possible - 30

Relieving Factors _____
total points possible - 12

Grand Total - Total Points _____


TOTAL RESPONSES = Severity



Interpreting the questionnaire
The questionnaire is a valuable tool for determining if you have adrenal fatigue and, if you do, the severity of your syndrome. Of course, the accuracy of its interpretation depends upon you completing every section as accurately and honestly as possible. Because there is such diversity in how individuals experience adrenal fatigue, a wide variety of signs and symptoms have been included. Some people have only the minimal number of symptoms, but the symptoms they do have are severe. Others experience a great number of symptoms, but most of their symptoms are relatively mild. That is why there are two kinds of scores to indicate adrenal fatigue.


Total Number of Questions Answered
This gives you a general Yes or No answer to the question, "Do I have adrenal fatigue?" Look at your Grand Total - Total Responses scores in the first scoring chart (total Number of questions answered). The purpose of this score is to see the total number of signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue you have. There are a total of 87 questions for men and 89 for women in the questionnaire. If you responded to more than 26 (men) or 32 (women) of the questions, (regardless of which severity response number you gave the question), you have some degree of adrenal fatigue. The greater the n umber of questions that you responded to, the greater your adrenal fatigue. If you responded affirmatively to less than 20 questions, it is unlikely that you have adrenal fatigue. People who do not experience adrenal fatigue may still have a few of these indicators in their lives, but not many of them. If your symptoms do not include fatigue or decreased ability to handle stress, then you are probably not suffering from adrenal fatigue.







Total Points
The total points are used to determine the degree of severity of your adrenal fatigue. If you ranked every question as 3 (the worst) your total points would be 261 for men and 267 for women. If you scored under 40, you either have only slight adrenal fatigue or none at all. If you scored between 44-87 for men or 45-88 for women, then overall you have mild degree of adrenal fatigue. This does not mean that some individual symptoms are not severe, but overall your symptom picture reflects mildly fatigued adrenals. If you scored between 88-130 for men or 89 - 132 for women, your adrenal fatigue is moderate. If you scored above 130 for men and 132 for women, then consider yourself to be suffering from severe adrenal fatigue. Now compare the total points of the different sections with each other. this allows you to see if 1 or 2 sections stand out as having mores signs and symptoms than the others. If you have a predominating group of symptoms, they will be the most useful ones for you to watch as indicators as you improve. Seeing which sections stand out will also be helpful in developing your own recovery program.

Severity Index
The Severity Index is calculated by simply dividing the total points by the total number of questions you answered in the affirmative. It gives an indication of how severely you experience the signs and symptoms, with 1.0 - 1.6 being mild, 1.7 - 2.3 being moderate, and 2.4 on up being severe. This number is especially useful for those who suffer from only a few of these signs and symptoms, but yet are considerably debilitated by them.

Asterisk Total
Finally, add the actual numbers you put beside the questions marked with an asterisk (*). If this total is more than 9, you are likely suffering from a relatively severe form of adrenal fatigue. If this total is more than 12, and you answer yes to more than 2 of the questions below, you have many of the indications of true Addison's disease and should consult a physician in addition to doing the things in this book. Be sure to read the Section: Approaching Your doctor, as well as other appropriate sections in this book before consulting a physician.

Additional Symptoms
The areas on my body listed below have become bluish-black in colour

- inside of lips, mouth
- vagina
- around nipples
- I have frequent unexplained diarrhoea
- I have increased darkening around the bony areas, at folds in my skin, scars and creases in my joints.
-I have light coloured patches on my skin where the skin has lost its usual colour.
-I become easily dehydrated.
-I have fainting spells.


Interpretation of the Predisposing Factors Section
This section helps determine which factors led to the development of your adrenal fatigue. There may have only been one factor or there may have been several, but the number does not matter. One severely stressful incident can be all it takes for someone to develop adrenal fatigue, although typically it is more. The list is not exhaustive, but the items listed in this section are the most common factors that lead to adrenal fatigue. Use this section to better understand how your adrenal fatigue developed. seeing how it started often makes clearer what actions you can take to successfully recover from it. this section also leads into a following section that explores in more depth how your adrenal fatigue developed.

I know this is an OLD thread, but I just found this test and I flunked it. I wanted to bump this as there a lot of interesting information here.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Zollner EW, Lombard CJ, Galal U, Hough FS, Irusen EM, Weinberg E. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Suppression in Asthmatic School Children. Pediatrics 2013;130(6):e1512-e9. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Suppression in Asthmatic School Children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression (HPAS) when treating children with corticosteroids is thought to be rare. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of and predictive factors for various degrees of HPAS.

METHODS: Clinical features of HPAS, doses, adherence, asthma score, and lung functions were recorded in 143 asthmatic children. The overnight metyrapone test was performed if morning cortisol was >83 nmol/L. Spearman correlations coefficients (r) were calculated between 3 postmetyrapone outcomes and each continuous variable. A multiple linear regression model of ?postmetyrapone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and a logistic regression model for HPAS were developed.

RESULTS: Hypocortisolemia was seen in 6.1% (1.8–10.5), hypothalamic-pituitary suppression (HPS) in 22.2% (14.5–29.9), adrenal suppression in 32.3% (23.7–40.9), HPAS in 16.3% (9.3–23.3), and any hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction in 65.1% (56.5–72.9). Log daily nasal steroid (NS) dose/m2was associated with HPAS in the logistic regression model (odds ratio = 3.7 [95% confidence interval: 1.1–13.6]). Daily inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) + NS dose/m2 predicted HPAS in the univariate logistic regression model (P = .038). Forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity <80% was associated with HPAS (odds ratio = 4.1 [95% confidence interval: 1.0–14.8]). Daily ICS + NS/m2 dose was correlated with the postmetyrapone ACTH (r = ?0.29, P < .001). BMI (P = .048) and percent adherence to ICS (P < .001) and NS (P = .002) were predictive of ?postmetyrapone ACTH (R2 = .176).

CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of children on corticosteroids may have hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction. In one-third, central function had recovered but adrenal suppression persisted. Predictive factors for HPAS are NS use, BMI, and adherence to ICS and NS.

 

[MarkHolland]

Thanks for this magnificent post.

Mark Holland

 

[jasonhoutx]

I am stoked to find this thread. I have low T, but also had cortisol saliva test done and it shows low AM levels. I don't handle stress well and own a successful business that taxes me daily. Anxiety, depression, low sex drive, brain fog, light headed. The mornings were/are the worst. Very tired even after sleeping throughout the night. Hard to get up in the morning.

test date: 9.22.13
3.5ng/mL (reference-7.0-10)
3.4ng/mL (reference-3.0-6.0)
2.1ng/mL (reference-2.0-4.0)
1.4ng/mL (reference-<1.5)
DHEA 412.5 pg/mL (reference-63.0-644)

Back in 2011 I was put on a low dose (5mg) of cortisol that worked wonders, and I responded well, but I ended up in the hospital with afib after taking it for a year. My cartiologist said it could have been from the cortisol, but I also lost my father a month prior and my stress levels were through the roof. I stopped taking it at that time and have fell back into feeling like crap again. But the afib has not returned.

Is there any correlation to heart arrhythmias from cortisol issues? Does it sounds like I have adrenal fatigue?

 

[Johnny Trackmarks]

Jasonhoutx,

I had your same symptoms. What worked for me was supplementing with B5 (2 X 500 mg once per day), B12 sunlingual (2000 mcg 2X per day), Magnesium Glycinate (120 mg pills - I took 6 per day usually 3 am and 6 before bed - helps you sleep), plus Zinc. Ihad my Zinc tested and I had almost none in my system.