Re: Question to Patty about blood cortisol level

[Guest guest]

~

The cortisol you had done, that was normal.........

means only that the one you had that day, at that

particular time was within their normal ranges.

That does not mean that for you it was normal.

Nor does it mean that 2 hours later it was normal.

Cortisol in Blood - [Medical Test] - Quest Diagnostics Patient Health Library

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/kbase/topic/medtest/hw6227/results.htm

Cortisol in Blood

Free Cortisol Test, Hydrocortisone Test

A cortisol test is done to measure the level of the hormone cortisol in the blood. The cortisol level may show problems with the adrenal glands or pituitary gland. Cortisol is made by the adrenal glands. Cortisol levels go up when the pituitary gland releases another hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

Cortisol has many functions. It helps the body use sugar (glucose) and fat for

energy (metabolism), and it helps the body manage stress. Cortisol levels can be affected by many conditions, such as physical or emotional stress, strenuous activity, infection, or injury.

Normally, cortisol levels rise during the early morning hours and are highest about

7 a.m. They drop very low in the evening and during the early phase of sleep. But if you sleep during the day and are up at night, this pattern may be reversed. If you do not have this daily change (diurnal rhythm) in cortisol levels, you may have overactive adrenal glands. This condition is called Cushing's syndrome.

Two blood samples may be taken: one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Why It Is Done

A cortisol test is done to find problems of the pituitary gland or adrenal glands, such as making too much or too little hormones.

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

Having physical or emotional stress.

Being pregnant. This can cause urine cortisol levels to be high.

Having low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Eating, drinking, or exercising before the test.

Taking medicines, such as birth control pills, estrogen, amphetamines, or corticosteroids.

Having a radioactive scan within 1 week of a cortisol test.

What To Think About

A 24-hour urine test is used more often than a cortisol blood test to diagnose Cushing's syndrome. For more information on cortisol in urine, see the medical test Cortisol in Urine.

Other tests that can help determine if the pituitary gland or adrenal glands are functioning properly include the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test and dexamethasone suppression tests. The ACTH stimulation test may be done when 's disease is suspected. For more information, see the medical tests Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test.

Results

A cortisol test is done to measure the level of the hormone cortisol in the blood.NormalNormal results may vary from lab to lab.

Adult Morning 5–23 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or

138–635 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L)

Afternoon 3–13 mcg/dL or 83–359 nmol/L

High values

A high level of cortisol in the blood can mean Cushing's syndrome, a disorder that can be caused by overactive adrenal glands, a pituitary or adrenal gland tumor, some types of cancer, or long-term use of corticosteroids.

A high cortisol level can happen with Cushing's disease, a condition caused by a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland (adenoma). An adenoma causes the pituitary gland to make too much of the hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn causes the adrenal glands to make too much cortisol.

A high blood cortisol level can be caused by severe liver or kidney disease, depression, hyperthyroidism, or obesity.

Pregnancy or birth control pills can also cause a high blood cortisol level.

Conditions such as recent surgery, illness, injury, or whole-body infection (sepsis) can cause high cortisol levels.Low values

A low level of cortisol in the blood can mean 's disease, which is caused by damage to the adrenal glands. If the pituitary gland is not working well, it can cause low levels of the hormone ACTH, which in turn causes low levels of cortisol. Conditions that can damage the adrenal glands or pituitary gland include some infections, head injury, and some autoimmune diseases.

A low level of cortisol can be caused by internal bleeding that leads to shock. For example, severe bleeding during childbirth that causes damage to the pituitary gland of the mother (Sheehan's syndrome) can cause a low level of ACTH, which then leads to a low level of cortisol.

Great adrenal/thyroid sites and opinions !

Adrenal fatigue – the effects of stress and high cortisol

http://www.womentowomen.com/adrenalfatigue/effectsofhighcortisol.aspx

ADRENAL FATIGUE

http://www.drlam.com/articles/adrenal_fatigue.asp

Adrenal Fatigue / Adrenal Exhaustion

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/endocrinology/a/adrenalfatigue.htm

Matrix of Signs and Symptoms of low adrenal and thyroid function

http://www.drrind.com/scorecardmatrix.asp

Those durn Adrenals!! | Stop The Thyroid Madness

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/

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[Guest guest]

~

I agree....the blood test for it is bunk in my eyes

that is why I posted all that earlier....and how the

blood cortisol was only for that moment and that sample.

Patty, was it you that had read that the saliva cortisol

tests tell more about how it is bound and the blood doesnt

it only shows what is flowing in there, and not bound to cells ?

You had some really good posts about adrenals........

Hugs ~ D**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1218550342x1201216770/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=febemailfooterNO62)

[Guest guest]

~

You will have to treat your symptoms and just

consider yourself unique......that is me, I am not

in ranges in many tests.....so.....

I bet your saliva tests are gonna be enlightening

for you ! !

I say, if you have symptoms, then follow your gut !

Hugs

Dede**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1218550342x1201216770/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=febemailfooterNO62)

[Guest guest]

,

Here's my opinion on the whole blood test for cortisol, and remember,

I have no medical background...this is from my reading and research

associated with these types of tests. So, for what it's worth...

Of course, most doctors will not accept saliva testing as credible,

and hold the blood test as the gold standard. The problem with doing

a blood test the way doctors do it is that they take a one time draw

of your blood at a point in time, and make a judgment based upon that

one time draw, which can completely miss a subclinical condition.

Cortisol cycles. Your highest levels should be in the morning (it's

what wakes you up), and then gradually it decreases throughout the

day. With a blood test, you could conceivably have a blood draw in

the middle of the day that comes back within the normal range for that

time of day, but have a completely abnormally low cortisol reading in

the AM, and it would remain undetected.

You could also have an abnormally high reading in the later evening,

when it should be low, and this also would be undetected through a one

time blood draw in the middle of the day. You could have any number

of scenarios, based upon the variations that could occur that may be

undetected by only testing one time in the cycle. It is wrong to

assume that if it is normal at one point in the cycle, it will be

normal at all points in the cycle.

The other problem I have seen with doctors is the way that they

interpret test results. It is the same as when they fail to

accurately diagnose a subclinical thyroid condition...by not taking

into consideration what the " normal " is for someone based on past history.

Let me explain it this way:

Let's say that I am healthy and I have a thyroid test that shows my

TSH is at 1.0. Let's say that normal range is 0.0 to 5.0. So, I feel

great at 1.0.

Now, let's say it is 5 years later, and I am feeling terrible. I am

sluggish, gaining weight, and just feel lethargic. I go to a

different doctor because I've moved or whatever. This doctor tests my

thryoid. The TSH comes back as 4.5. The normal range is 0.0 to 5.0, so

he is going to tell me that my thyroid is normal. However, for ME,

that 4.5 is clearly not normal compared to my 1.0 test result 5 years

earlier.

Most people have no idea what their normal thyroid test result is, and

so they won't question the doctor when he says their thyroid is

normal. They just look at the range and if it is in range, they think

you are good to go.

An astute doctor is going to recognize that there may be a bigger

story behind that 4.5 reading...and may want to consider that the 4.5

reading may indicate that a subclinical hypothyroid condition exists

and that supporting the thyroid with hormones may be called for.

The adrenal gland may be the same...I am not certain...but I do

believe that the adrenals are greatly overlooked in today's stressful

culture, and there are many **Stressed** people running around with

exhausted adrenal function that is completely undetected. The reason?

Because doctors haven't been trained to look for it or treat it.

Dr. wrote a book about Adrenal Fatigue that offers

helpful hints that you can do at home to strengthen your adrenals.

There are also many, many websites that deal with this and offer help.

It's hard when you have 2 fields of medicine that will not work

together to find the answers. I wish modern medicine would get off

it's high horse and start embracing the wisdom that is found in

natural medicine and some of the tools that they use to help us find

answers that will heal us.

Let me know how your result turns out. By all means, get a copy of

your blood test result from your doctor and look at it yourself.

Patty

>

> Hi Patty,

> I did my cortisol saliva test. But also about a week ago while at the

> doctor's office he did a one-time blood cortisol level. I just got the

> result (on a voicemail) and was told it was normal, though as usual

> they didn't leave any info on the exact number or range of what is

> normal. Anyway, do you know if this one-time blood cortisol level is a

> worthwhile indicator of adrenal functioning. I battle so much fatigue

> (and I was very fatigued that day the the blood was drawn) that I

> thought the result would have come back saying my adrenals were hardly

> functioning or something. I suppose I will learn more with the saliva

> results, but was just wondering how much weight to put on the blood

> result as a valid indicator?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dede,

Thanks so much for sharing this good info. I've always wondered if I had

a major adrenal drop of some kind when I first got sick because I

remember two things very clearly...I had NO energy at all, and I felt

like my brain kept saying " eat sugar, get glucose " . It was like my

brain felt totally starved of nutrients.

That second paragraph just speaks volumes to me.

Adrenal conditions can be healed....but it takes about 2 years...which

is why some women just take a very long time to get better.

Patty

>

> ~

> The cortisol you had done, that was normal.........

> means only that the one you had that day, at that

> particular time was within their normal ranges.

> That does not mean that for you it was normal.

> Nor does it mean that 2 hours later it was normal.

> Cortisol in Blood - [Medical Test] - Quest Diagnostics Patient Health

> Library

>

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/kbase/topic/medtest/hw6227/results.htm

> Cortisol in Blood

> Free Cortisol Test, Hydrocortisone Test

>

> > A cortisol test is done to measure the level of the hormone cortisol

in the

> > blood. The cortisol level may show problems with the adrenal glands

or

> > pituitary gland. Cortisol is made by the adrenal glands. Cortisol

levels go up

> > when the pituitary gland releases another hormone called

adrenocorticotropic

> > hormone (ACTH).

>

> Cortisol has many functions. It helps the body use sugar (glucose)

and fat

> for

> > energy (metabolism), and it helps the body manage stress. Cortisol

levels

> > can be affected by many conditions, such as physical or emotional

stress,

> > strenuous activity, infection, or injury.

>

> Normally, cortisol levels rise during the early morning hours and

are

> highest about

> > 7 a.m. They drop very low in the evening and during the early phase

of

> > sleep. But if you sleep during the day and are up at night, this

pattern may be

> > reversed. If you do not have this daily change (diurnal rhythm) in

cortisol

> > levels, you may have overactive adrenal glands. This condition is

called

> > Cushing's syndrome.

>

> Two blood samples may be taken: one in the morning and another in

the

> afternoon.

>

> > Why It Is Done

> >

> > A cortisol test is done to find problems of the pituitary gland or

adrenal

> > glands, such as making too much or too little hormones.

>

> > What Affects the Test

> >

> > Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may

not be

> > helpful include:

> > Having physical or emotional stress.

> > Being pregnant. This can cause urine cortisol levels to be high.

> > Having low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

> > Eating, drinking, or exercising before the test.

> > Taking medicines, such as birth control pills, estrogen,

amphetamines, or

> > corticosteroids.

> > Having a radioactive scan within 1 week of a cortisol test.

>

> > What To Think About

> >

> > A 24-hour urine test is used more often than a cortisol blood test

to

> > diagnose Cushing's syndrome. For more information on cortisol in

urine, see the

> > medical test Cortisol in Urine.

> > Other tests that can help determine if the pituitary gland or

adrenal glands

> > are functioning properly include the adrenocorticotropic hormone

(ACTH)

> > stimulation test and dexamethasone suppression tests. The ACTH

stimulation test

> > may be done when 's disease is suspected. For more

information, see the

> > medical tests Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Overnight

Dexamethasone

> > Suppression Test.

>

>

> > Results

> >

> > A cortisol test is done to measure the level of the hormone cortisol

in the

> > blood.NormalNormal results may vary from lab to lab.

>

> Adult Morning 5†" 23 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or

> 138†" 635 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L)

> Afternoon 3†" 13 mcg/dL or 83†" 359 nmol/L

>

>

> > High values

> > A high level of cortisol in the blood can mean Cushing's syndrome, a

> > disorder that can be caused by overactive adrenal glands, a

pituitary or adrenal

> > gland tumor, some types of cancer, or long-term use of

corticosteroids.

> > A high cortisol level can happen with Cushing's disease, a condition

caused

> > by a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland (adenoma). An adenoma

causes

> > the pituitary gland to make too much of the hormone

adrenocorticotropic

> > hormone (ACTH), which in turn causes the adrenal glands to make too

much cortisol.

> > A high blood cortisol level can be caused by severe liver or kidney

disease,

> > depression, hyperthyroidism, or obesity.

> > Pregnancy or birth control pills can also cause a high blood

cortisol level.

> > Conditions such as recent surgery, illness, injury, or whole-body

infection

> > (sepsis) can cause high cortisol levels.Low values

> > A low level of cortisol in the blood can mean 's disease,

which is

> > caused by damage to the adrenal glands. If the pituitary gland is

not working

> > well, it can cause low levels of the hormone ACTH, which in turn

causes low

> > levels of cortisol. Conditions that can damage the adrenal glands or

pituitary

> > gland include some infections, head injury, and some autoimmune

diseases.

> > A low level of cortisol can be caused by internal bleeding that

leads to

> > shock. For example, severe bleeding during childbirth that causes

damage to the

> > pituitary gland of the mother (Sheehan's syndrome) can cause a low

level of

> > ACTH, which then leads to a low level of cortisol.

>

>

> Great adrenal/thyroid sites and opinions !

>

> Adrenal fatigue †" the effects of stress and high cortisol

> http://www.womentowomen.com/adrenalfatigue/effectsofhighcortisol.aspx

>

> ADRENAL FATIGUE

> http://www.drlam.com/articles/adrenal_fatigue.asp

>

> Adrenal Fatigue / Adrenal Exhaustion

> http://thyroid.about.com/cs/endocrinology/a/adrenalfatigue.htm

>

> Matrix of Signs and Symptoms of low adrenal and thyroid function

> http://www.drrind.com/scorecardmatrix.asp

>

> Those durn Adrenals!! | Stop The Thyroid Madness

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> **************

> A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy

> steps!

>

(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1218550342x1201216770/aol?redir\

=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%2\

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> bemailfooterNO62)

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Patty and DeDe for the opinions on blood cortisol. I did

nevertheless call the doctor's office today and ask for the exact

number of my one-time blood cortisol level. I spoke to a nurse. I was

told my number was .13. I asked what the range was and the nurse said

she didn't know as no range was given with the result on the Quest Labs

report. So now the number means even less. The nurse went on to say

that if the doctor was concerned he would have let me know. However, my

doctor is an internal med doctor and only ordered the test because I

asked him to, so I doubt he would know, especially if no reference

range is given. In any case, the saliva test, which I sent out should

provide more useful info. I do have that book that Patty mentioned

about adrenal fatigue, but have not yet read it. I do know that in

general when I have read about the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, they

seem to describe how I feel to a tee.

Thanks again,