got my salivary tests back...

I've been away, went on the road with hubby for a week, so am behind on posting and am probably never going to catch up since you folks post so much!

I got my salivary test results.

My morning cortisol is nearly non-existent. This might explain why I'm not a morning person! However, what I found significant was not so much that my cortisol is apparently low, but that my testosterone is ALSO high.

My sister has Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. This means she can't make an enzyme needed to produce cortisol, so she makes NONE. The pituitary sees there's no cortisol and sends out ACTH which stimulates the adrenals, which still can't make cortisol, but since they're constantly stimulated, they overproduce testosterone. Females born with CAH have weird "intermediate" genitalia that has to be corrected surgically.

Not having been born with CAH, I'm currently not masculinized, but apparently I have potential with all this extra testosterone floating about. I am not up-to-date on CAH, but I did a graduate seminar on it back in grad school and as I recall there's a late-onset form of CAH that siblings are prone to, so it looks like I may have that.

The treatment is low-dose Cortef, because while my cortisol is low, it's unlikely that my adrenals are suppressed, but rather overstimulated else I'd not be making all this testosterone.

And on to other news... it wasn't enough to test funky for an adrenal disease, no I have to get thyroid problem also! I tested positive for thyroid antibodies and had very low T4 levels also. So... it's looking like Hashimito's. Treatment for that would be Synthroid (my T3 is not low, so Armour doesn't make sense).

Both Cortef and Synthroid raise bg, which means insulin adjustments also.

You guys may recall I had already gotten gungho about Symlin and had planned on asking my internist for that. I'm pretty sure when I walk in and tell him I want to try Cortef AND Synthroid AND Symlin, he's gonna insist on sending me to an endo, which kinda makes sense as it's looking like I'm quite a case for an endo.

Apparently, diabetes and heart disease just wasn't enough for me.

Anyone know a good endo in central PA?

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http://www.ornery-geeks.org/consulting/
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Low cortisol and low testosterone
    ... I've had low testosterone for at least two years. ... My urine and saliva cortisol tests showed very low cortisol. ... adrenals be OK if I used the testosterone and arimidex that he prescribed? ... Giving T3 promotes serotonin production. ...
    (sci.med)
  • Re: Low cortisol and low testosterone
    ... I've had low testosterone for at least two years. ... My urine and saliva cortisol tests showed very low cortisol. ... adrenals be OK if I used the testosterone and arimidex that he prescribed? ... Giving T3 promotes serotonin production. ...
    (sci.med)
  • Re: got my salivary tests back...
    ... My morning cortisol is nearly non-existent. ... sees there's no cortisol and sends out ACTH which stimulates the adrenals, ... Females born with CAH have weird ... The treatment is low-dose Cortef, because while my cortisol is low, it's ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: got my salivary tests back...
    ... My morning cortisol is nearly non-existent. ... sees there's no cortisol and sends out ACTH which stimulates the adrenals, ... Females born with CAH have weird ... The treatment is low-dose Cortef, because while my cortisol is low, it's ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: got my salivary tests back...
    ... However, what I found significant was not so much that my cortisol is apparently low, but that my testosterone is ALSO high. ... The pituitary sees there's no cortisol and sends out ACTH which stimulates the adrenals, which still can't make cortisol, but since they're constantly stimulated, they overproduce testosterone. ... Not having been born with CAH, I'm currently not masculinized, but apparently I have potential with all this extra testosterone floating about. ... I'm pretty sure when I walk in and tell him I want to try Cortef AND Synthroid AND Symlin, he's gonna insist on sending me to an endo, which kinda makes sense as it's looking like I'm quite a case for an endo. ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)