Re: ACTH levels--distorted when on Cortef?

[Guest guest]

TY, Jan. Yes I know I should have taken the Stimm test before going on adrenal

meds, but the doctor wouldn't agree to do it, he said to just trial the cortef

and see how I felt on it. Since I felt no different any other side effects, I've

been on it now a year. I'm going to wean off in another month or so and see what

develops. Maybe then I'll do the stim test.

> >

> > My recent lab showed ACTH as 8, cortisol 28. The doctor told me to take the

10mg Cortef dose as usual prior to test, no other hormones. Does taking cortef

distord ACTH?

> >

> > My original ACTH prior to any adrenal/thyroid hormones was 9 and also low,

but cortisol was 17.

> >

> > A moderator on the hypotituitary board said the low ACTH with lot Ft4 and

low cortisol of 17 meant I would need good doses of Cortef for life.

> > Is this true, Val/Nick?

> >

> > Another time the ACTH was at 42 and that was good, but I was extremly

anxious during the blood draw, so maybe that was why it was higher then?

> >

> > So what about this still low ACTH? Does cortef distort it?

> >

>