Cortisol test result. Scarily low

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I'm having an abundance of issues and just had a cortisol test back by checking NHS app and it's come back as 11 nmol/L

I'm either reading that wrong or that is extremely low. I've seen other people's results in the 100s.

I don't have my follow up appointment until December so worrying a little unless the low result brings it forward.

Was it taken around 9 am and are you on any hormones or biotin as that can affect it .

8am but yeah first thing. I took a steroid called Dexamethasone the night before.

Not sure what you mean by biotin sorry but I'm not on hormones like contraceptive pill?

Just removed the Drs names but this is what I have.

so it's a dexamethasone suppression test not a bog standard cortisol level?

Yeah, you'd only give dex before a cortisol test if you were testing if it did suppress the level as expected.

I have no idea what the difference is, but I'm assuming so. The Dr said it was testing for cortisol levels. Does it make a difference?

Based on my symptoms they thought I had high cortisol but things aren't adding up if this is a low cortisol outcome so I'm confused.

But you would expect dexamethasone to give you low cortisol.

I don’t think The image showed if it’s in or out of range or the reference range?

dexamethasone is supposed to make the cortisol level drop. If it doesn't then you're producing too much cortisol.

Hang on, just twigged (oops) that you seem to be using different units to our lab. Not convinced that is low. So maybe you are making too much cortisol.

Thankyou both, so that seems like the expected result if it is low then?

Although could there potentially be an issue that it's reduced it too much?

Now that's confusing things 🤣 there's no ranges which isn't helping, all my other results have ranges and if it's normal or not.

the test is easily googleable ('overnight dexamethasone suppression test) - if you look at any of the NHS based hits that come up it'll explain the results.

That looks like a normal result for a dexamethasone suppression test .

Ok thankyou. I have googled and only found comments on high cortisol and not low cortisol.

If I am normal it looks like it's back to the drawing board on what's wrong with me 😔😔