I don't know why they even do this without the proper protocol .

Does anyone else know more? What I've read and hear is that test is not very accurate if not handled or done incorrectly (time & fasting of draw).

I have type 1 diabetes and when I had to take the test, I was told not to fast! Test results still accurate, but it is frustrating when one tells you one thing and one another! Go figure!

Tanya

There is no real reason to fast for an ACTH stim test. You should have it done first thing in the morning, when your cortisol level should be high and your ACTH level low. That gives them a good idea of your baseline adrenal function. Then they give you a huge jolt of ACTH and check an hour later for the adrenal response. Food will have no effect on this. If you are 'normal' your cortisol will shoot up. If you have Addison's, your cortisol won't budge. That's all there is to it.

Vanyel

Opps! ~ I realize I read the question wrong now.

I thought it was regarding measuring just ACTH. Not the stim test. My mistake. sorry! My response was regarding testing for ACTH level only.

Vanyel,

My one ACTH stim test in 2007 had me at a base level of 5 (10-20) that went to 16 (20-40)after 60 minutes. The Dr. said that showed secondary Addisons but she was concerned because secondary AD doesn't have low aldosterone. Mine is low :

Silk,
I don't know all your history and such, but your test results seem to indicate your adrenal glands are functioning, albeit not fantastically. I don't think they would diagnose you with Addison's based on those results. What else was/is going on? Just curious........

Vanyel

I did not fast for mine, although I just read the NIH protocols which states fasting for six hours prior to testing " may" be required.
I had mine in early morning although it took 2 1/2 hours to find a vein ....not so great blood pressure in those days. My results were 5, 6.5, 5. Yikes.
Good luck with all of this.
Why are they doing one again ?

Vanyel,

My low blood pressure and high potassium started in 2007. My aldosterone levels were below range and potassium above range. That was when they did the first acth stim test. My general Dr put me on Florinef because I kept going into shock and blacking out from low blood pressure. I was exhausted and weak before Florinef.
My 2nd acth stim test was 3 weeks ago. I went from 13 (range 10-20) to 31 (20-40). I checked online and saw that Florinef can affect this test so asked for a redo after a week abstaining.

My 3rd test had my Cortisol, at 8 (range 10-20) and stim'd to 22 (20-40) at 60 minutes. The Endo says that my level isn't ideal in the morning but I don't have Addisons, either Primary or secondary because I'm in range now..

I wanted the tests redone because I'm only on 1/2 tab of Florinef and I'd like to go to a whole one but my General Dr wanted an Endo to take care of it. This Endo won't. She doesn't treat low aldosterone, only Addisons. I'd like to be on some Cortisol replacement too. I was a very hyper person until age 43, when this started in 2007. I had to watch my caffeine intake because it affected me so greatly. I used to drink 2 cups a day then and now drink 6 cups a day and I feel nothing from the coffee! It used to make me sweat and my heart would pound and my sinuses would open. Nothing happens now when I drink it:(

The only time I have felt like my 'old self' was when my GP gave me some type of prednisione for poison ivy in 2009. For 1 week, I felt 100% like my old happy self.

I'm just tired of being a shadow of what I used to be. That's why I asked them to retest me. I hope I can talk my GP into raising my Florinef, at least in the Summer. I had 2 shaking episodes last summer when I was working in the garden. It was hard walking to the house because my garden is 150 feet from the house. I was fine once I got some salt in me. I used to have a couple shock episodes a week until I started the Florinef so a couple a year is wonderful:)

I'm gonna order some things I have found on Amazon- some Adrenal Glandulars. I'll know if my coffee starts to make me feel perky that I'm on the right path. I'll just keep trying different things. If my blood pressure miraculously goes back to my usual 110/70 on it's own, I'll know I've hit the bullseye:) It was 87/60 this morning before Florinef :(