I am interested in finding out more about the cortisol, free 24-h urine, my result below reportable range and 5-hiaa urine 24-h? h=hours. Thankyou for any input, Kim

Hi there Kim! I can answer that one... I'm sort of a worlds authority on endocrine matters (loud sigh). Anyhow, in a normal person the Cortisol levels Start high in the early morning, the dip low in the afternoon then real low in the night hours.
If they take a reading it doesnt give a good picture. It can spike up from just being in a low stress environment.
It would be like checking the heart rate after running. So the 24 hour Cortisol is used.
Anyhow not to bore you.... I checked out very low morning, I was dizzy, weak, seriously strange feeling every morning. my 24 hour was ok but the Guy who is Cool knows Fibromyalgia is serious So now I take 20 mgs of Hydrocortisone a day.
This DOES help,rarely dizzy,appetite is improved, stamina is stronger.Plus its a "safe" dose being psyologically 1/2 of a normal days worth
Side Effects. YES take it on an empty stomach and your blood sugar drops FAST, Youll start stuffing that potato salad and donuts standing at the refrigerator. its bizarre. After a big meal, this doesnt happen (THank God).
I think it worth a "trial" iF you suffer from unbelievable weakness, and the other stuff I mentioned. Hope it shows UP bigtime for you!

Originally posted by missinglynx:
Hi there Kim! I can answer that one... I'm sort of a worlds authority on endocrine matters (loud sigh). Anyhow, in a normal person the Cortisol levels Start high in the early morning, the dip low in the afternoon then real low in the night hours.
If they take a reading it doesnt give a good picture. It can spike up from just being in a low stress environment.
It would be like checking the heart rate after running. So the 24 hour Cortisol is used.
Anyhow not to bore you.... I checked out very low morning, I was dizzy, weak, seriously strange feeling every morning. my 24 hour was ok but the Guy who is Cool knows Fibromyalgia is serious So now I take 20 mgs of Hydrocortisone a day.
This DOES help,rarely dizzy,appetite is improved, stamina is stronger.Plus its a "safe" dose being psyologically 1/2 of a normal days worth
Side Effects. YES take it on an empty stomach and your blood sugar drops FAST, Youll start stuffing that potato salad and donuts standing at the refrigerator. its bizarre. After a big meal, this doesnt happen (THank God).
I think it worth a "trial" iF you suffer from unbelievable weakness, and the other stuff I mentioned. Hope it shows UP bigtime for you!

Thank you for replying, Somedays I can't even get going and I feel like a slug. Take care and Thanks again, Kim Ps. Tonight I have a sleep study done and also all day till 6 http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/redface.gifo pm.