Dear Chris -

Thank you so much for responding to my post. You have no idea how troubled i have been that none of the docs can tell me what any of this means (stim test results).

After my last thyroid levels, my T3 dose was raised. i am now on Levoxyl 150mg (i used to be on synthroid but was switched a few years ago when i saw richard shames, md) - i also am taking cytomel 25mg.

can you tell me a little bit more what my stim test results mean in light of the fact that i had just been off HC 24 hours and still had some in my tissues -

Additionally, my baseline cortisol was 23.5 - this seems pretty normal? why is this in the high end of normal range if i am suppost to be Addison's?

Again, thank you so much. I appreciate your point about the estrogen - i didnt know that DHEA reflected estrogen levels - i thought it was a adrenal hormone.

i will increase my soy (whoops - this isnt good for the thyroid)

by the way, should the endo gotten levels on my renin or other adrenal hormones?

Looking forward to hearing back from you and anyone else.
Ramie

Hi Chris,

thanks for responding to my last post. I'm really glad you picked up on my thryoid stuff. Almost 3 years ago i saw Dr. Richard Shames (he wrote the book on thryoid power) and he switched me from synthroid to levoxyl - not sure why - but at that time, i was under replaced and as you pointed out, i still am not up to par yet!

Thanks for commenting on my base cortisol of 23 and that it was higher 24 hours previous to the stim test - i agree. I think my baseline cortisol is closer to 5.3 as was measured previous to the stim test.

i only went and got the stim test because i had started HC and was talking with people on another addisons board and they all told me that taking HC before having a stim test and proper diagnosis was dangerous - now i cant get a proper diagnosis because the endocrinologist i saw for the stim test i dont believe knows anything about addisons disease - for instance, he didnt measure my aldosterone or renin levels - and when i asked about an adrenal antibody test for autoimmune, he told me there was no such thing. I also found out from NADF that i didnt need to be taken off the HC in the first place as the ACTH test could have been done while on the HC as long as the endo gave me dexamethasone as cortisol relacement while i was being tested. Apparently dexamethasone allows ACTH stimulation testing without affecting or interfering with the measurement of serum cortisol levels.

Anyway, thanks for your feedback on all of this. It has been very helpful to me as it confirms my own perceptions.

Stay Well,
Ramie -

ps - do you have addisons?