I will try to be brief here: I went to the endocrinologist and had an extensive workup done for polycystic ovarian syndrome because I am fat, hairy, have bad skin and have a mom and sister with PCOS. The doctor kept scheduling me six weeks in advance and would always schedule me for afternoon appointments when I had worked all night the night before so I had to reschedule my appointment three times (to avoid sleep deprivation induced auto accidents), after which his receptionist informed me that I was no longer his patient. I had no idea there was an upper limit on the number of times you could reschedule an appointment, but I digress...
Anyway, my lab results were sent to my but now I have no doc to help me interpret them. All appear normal, except my 24 hours urinary cortisol level, which is WAY elevated. A normal result is supposed to be 105 or less; mine is 693! Aside from an adrenal tumor, what could cause this? And moreover, what the hell do I do to fix it? I have an appointment with another endo doc next month, but meanwhile I am stressing over this. Anyone shed any light for me? Thanks in advance!
Yeah, I thought the same thing. I asked to speak to a nurse when I called and the nasty receptionist told me, "We don't have any nurses here," and I thought, well, THAT explains a lot right there! I have an appointment with a new endo doc for 12/29, so I will see. Meanwhile, my hands are out of sight swelling and now my feet and hands are randomly tingling bizarrely. My PC doc ordered me some HCTZ, so we'll see if that helps.
If it were me, I would call my primary doc NOW and describe the symptoms, including the recent lab result. He/she may very well want you to come in, or may advise some other action.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Yeah, I thought the same thing. I asked to speak to a nurse when I called and the nasty receptionist told me, "We don't have any nurses here," and I thought, well, THAT explains a lot right there! I have an appointment with a new endo doc for 12/29, so I will see. Meanwhile, my hands are out of sight swelling and now my feet and hands are randomly tingling bizarrely. My PC doc ordered me some HCTZ, so we'll see if that helps.
Was your Calcium level high? Did you have a Dexamethasone suppression test done with your urine cortisol?
It is normal to have backward cortisol levels when you work night shift, let your new doctor know you sleep days and work nights, then he/she will interpret the results properly.
Was your Calcium level high? Did you have a Dexamethasone suppression test done with your urine cortisol?
My calcium was fine, and no, they did not do a dexamethasone suppression test. I know that cortisol levels can be elevated at different times of the day and that these times will be different than normal for night workers, but this is the overall 24 urinary free cortisol, so shouldn't that total out the same?
It is normal to have backward cortisol levels when you work night shift, let your new doctor know you sleep days and work nights, then he/she will interpret the results properly.
I understand there are many lab tests measuring hormones, etc. which fluctuate cyclically. However, I'm confused - this test was a 24-hour urine test. Even for a night-shift worker whose body processes are affected by odd hours, shouldn't a 24-hour test result "even out" and have a normal result? I could see the results of a single UA or blood specimen being affected by the time of day of the collection of the specimen ...
Altra, BSN, RN
6,255 Posts
If it were me, I would call my primary doc NOW and describe the symptoms, including the recent lab result. He/she may very well want you to come in, or may advise some other action.
Hope you get some answers soon. Take care :)