Here is what I posted last week...

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=252720

Chris - I did get this book (Adrenal Fatigue The 21st century Stress Syndrome) and I could have WRITTEN the damn thing.

Okay, so here is the problem.

They did the ATCH level test, an a.m. cortisol level test, and a 21 hydroxylase antibodies test last week. Guess what, they all came back NORMAL!!!! He is going to call me back with a series of test later today to see what is going on. He said that he is NOT ready at this time to say that it is Addison's or any level of adrenal insufficiency. The only value he gave me was the cortisol level which was 14. And I thought that this was the same test they did way back then, which was 7.5 at that time (pre-prednisone).

My concern, once again is...Could coming off the prednisone within a few days of the test make the tests come back normal? After the cosyntropin test, he put me right back on the prednisone and I felt a little more normal. However, I am now getting such pain in the side of my head that it feels like it is going to burst!!!

Anyway...So now what??? I thought that I finally had a diagnosis and now he is taking it back?

HELP!!!! I am not sure what to do at this point. I feel like crap, nothing is getting better (my head or my arm), some days I can barely function! Now what? Any ideas?

Thanks!
Lisa

Chris -

I am on 5mg in the morning and 2.5 in the evening. I used to be on 4 in the morning and 3 in the evening. I think that upping the morning dose has made it easier to get through the day. I am not sure about the evening doses though, other than I can't sleep.

Is it possible for you to list out what the normal ranges are on a the common tests to test for Addison's? I would like to take them to my dr. to look at. I am sure that he will probably say that it is off the Internet so you can't trust it, but I totally trust this board more than the drs at this point.

BTW - Can you tell me your background?

Thanks much!
Lisa



Your cortisol test is still not normal in my opinion. Being off the prednisone helped you own cortisol come up and that is likely why your level come up. What was the acth serum level? If not in the upper 3rd of the range, that indicates a problem.

14 is still low and cortisol does fluctuate hour to hour. 15 is the most common number I see on this board and others. I like to see it in the 20's. The range is that messed up.

The author of Safe uses of Cortisol (Jefferies) and my own doctor has participated in running trials on healthy people to see what normal levels or cortisol really are. They both found that normal healthy levels can reach into the 30's and stim to the 70's.

How much prednisone are you on? Maybe you are on to much.

Chris