Hi everyone,

I have a few questions about the ACTH stim. test.

When I was 14/15 (i’m almost 21 now) doctors started testing me to find out what was causing my hormonal and weight problems. I’ve had about a billion different answers but doctors have never followed through with anything. They finally gave me a diagnosis of PCOS (poly cystic ovaries). We stuck with that because I was starting to have heart problems as well and of course our focus went in that direction for the last few years. Now that the heart situation is sort of figure out (but then again maybe not!) we’re starting to look into my hormonal problems again.

Anyway, a few years ago one doctor actual started running tests on me to try and figure this all out. One of the tests was the ACTH stim. test. My first question is, has anyone every had an allergic reaction to the injection? I ended up in the ER with a BP of 30/25 for 5 hours. Thankfully they were still able to get the blood draws. My second question is about the results, my pre-dose 17-OHP level was 47 (which according to the ranges given by the lab i should be postmenopausal!) and my post-dose 17-OHP level was 310 (the doctor noted in my records that it was 6-7 times what it should be). My cortisol levels were in the normal range but something called Somatomedin-C was abnormally high. Other doctors also tested my testosterone and that has been high too. A lot of my symptoms seem to fit into the LOCAH category as well. Plus the fact that the doctor noted in my records that he thought I had CAH and wanted to repeat the ACTH test.

I’m going to a new doctor in a few weeks due to a 3.5cm cyst on my right ovary and to start dealing with the supposed PCOS diagnosis I have. But looking through all my old medical records, a few different doctors have said I don’t have PCOS. So I’m basically just wondering what others think about this situation. I want to go armed with as much info as I can get about everything. I hoping to avoid the ACTH stim. test though because of the awful reaction I had to the injection. Are there any other way they can diagnose CAH besides the ACTH stim. test?

Thanks for any help,

Grace