What is the Cortisol range? Addison's Disease?

May 28, 2008

The Endocrinologist I see for my Hypothyroidism decided to test for

's Disease as I'm on such high doses of Thyroid medication yet

my blood levels are consistently low with a supressed TSH. My 9am

Cortisol came back at 130 nmo1/L, which the Endo says is low and could

indicate 's Disease. Within the next couple of weeks I will be

having a Short Synacthen Test to check whether or not this is indeed

s, though she indicated it's quite likely; after the results

come through, if it is 's she will start me on hydrocortisone

tablets with a couple of days.

I am currently taking 150mcg Thyroxine and 90 mcg Liothyronine daily

(and still have hypo symptoms much of the time).

I have chronic muscle weakness (including repeated tears in calf

muscle), find it difficult to do the simplest of things such as

brushing my own hair (my arms ache so much), also have significant

joint problems (locking and cracking joints), hair loss, chronic

fatigue, depression. I can't walk very far at all. At the moment I

have a cough which just won't seem to clear up (I find all illnesses

take so much longer to get over these days).

Here are my latest blood test results:

TSH <0.03 (.03 - 4.3)

fT4 10 (9 - 24)

fT3 4 (3.5 - 6.5)

Cortisol (9am) 130 nmo1/L

I asked if I can raise the Thyroxine dose by 25 mcg to 175, however

the Endo said no, she wants to wait for the 's test to be done

first - she said I don't need a raise in thyroid mecication (how can

that be so, when I have symptoms (cold, constipated, depressed) and my

fT4 is bottom of the range.

Firstly could anyone give me some idea of what the range would be for

the 9am Cortisol blood test? Is 130 nmo1/L bottom of range or actually

below the range?

Secondly the Endo has even indicated that she will reduce my thyroid

medication once I'm started on Hydrocortisone - has anyone else

experience this and if so did it leave them feeling undermedicated or

did the Cortisol help things. Has anyone had their thyroid medication

stopped completely once Hydrocortisone is started (under the guidance

of it actually being an Adrenal problem rather than Thyroid one)? I

was initially diagnosed with Hypothyroid in 2004 with a TSH of 32.

Thanks for reading through all this, sorry it's so long.

Regards,

Recommended Posts