Posted by Chris O on March 29, 2005, at 1:27:29
In reply to Re: Answer » Chris O, posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 1:07:10
Sarah:
I'm up late doing some writing work, so I can respond to these posts immediately.
Let's see, about the saliva cortisol test, I just took one with a naturopathic doctor I saw in San Diego last year (Dr. Mark Stengler at La Jolla Whole Health Clinic). His books are very impressive, but...I was not impressed by my experience with him. Anyway, that's another story. He gave me (I assume he does this w/everyone) this little packet to do the night and morning cortisol readings. The company was called ZRT Laboratory, located in Beaverton, Oregon. The results said my DHEAs were high (12.2H, normal range 3-10H), my morning cortisol was in range (3.5H, normal between 2 and 8H), and my night cortisol was high (2.0H, normal between .5 and 1.5H). Anyway, I've never done the 24-hour urinary free cortisol tests. I don't know where to get that done--is it something a regular doctor does? My HMO referring doctor, whom I've seen several times in the past year due to my anxiety, is just about "tested out" with me. I kept asking him for blood tests at the beginning of last year, to check my liver function, kidney function, blood sugar level, blah, blah, blah. He now has my pegged as a hypochondriac (rightly, I might add), so, if I want to do further tests, I'll probably have to change doctors. No biggie, I guess.
Anyway, back the circadian rhythms/cortisol: There is definitely something going on during the night that makes me more tense/anxious, wheras in the morning to noon, I feel physically more relaxed. It's probably the cortisol. Seems to be getting worse for me as I get older. Annoying. I wish I could take a magic pill that would just normalize everything.
Sincerely,
Chris
poster:Chris O
thread:472304
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050323/msgs/477052.html