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Cortisol deficiency, but with weight gain
Has anybody experienced unexplained weight gain when your cortisol levels are low? I recently had a two day stem test, which resulted with low cortisol levels that my adrenal glands are not producing correctly.. but I have unexplained weight gain. Usually when your cortisol levels are low, you lose weight.
I went back to all my test results from 2016 when I started to gain weight and feel drained and just sick. They gave me so many tests, and they claimed everything was normal. I did not have MyChart at the time, so I never could see the test results until recently when I scrolled all the way back to that time and seen my cortisol levels were extremely low. I don’t understand why nothing was ever done.
Last year, I started getting the same exhaustion and fatigue and weight gain for no reason and then I got Covid at the beginning of this year and then everything became severe. 24/7. That’s when I went back to the endocrinologist and thought it was my thyroid because I do have Graves’ disease, which is supposed to be in remission right now, but they said everything looked good in the normal levels, except my cortisol levels were low for that time of day and that’s when I took the stem test.
When I ask why I’m gaining weight, nobody knows. They want me to take steroids for the low cortisol levels, but I know I’m going to blow up once I start taking them.
I am also having muscle and joint pain and weakness in my whole body which I think might be related, but I don’t know… I just know I’m getting very frustrated.
Does anybody know or have any autoimmune disease that causes low cortisol levels, but unexplained weight gain instead of weight loss with fatigue and muscle and joint pain?
I’m getting tired of going from doctor to doctor when all they do is take blood tests and come into the room for less than five minutes to say blood tests are fine, nothings wrong. Ughhhhh I need answers!!!
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@karenjjames67 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I’m glad that you found us. Maybe you could tell us a little more about yourself. Now, we are unable to respond to lab values because no on at MCC is a health professional. But, I’ll bet those with a similar problem will definitely be able to help you!
The doctor who wrote the script for the blood work—what were they looking for?
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2 Reactions@karenjjames67
Hi. My cortisol levels were consistently around 1.0 for years, and no one could pinpoint why.
It wasn’t until I underwent an ACTH stimulation test that we finally identified the underlying issue. Since then, I’ve been taking hydrocortisone, which has made a significant difference in helping me maintain a more stable hormonal balance.
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3 ReactionsI have the exact symptoms you have but my blood work is all over the place. Silvia test showed low on the chart! Like you instead of losing weight I gain weight! So, I also would like answers to what is happening to my body!
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3 Reactions@mh10 did you get a thyroglobulin antibody test for Hashimotos?
The regular thyroid test, T3 & T4 doesn’t show hashimotos.
I also have low cortisol but gained weight.
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2 Reactions@nannad A TgAb blood test can help diagnose Hashimoto’s disease by detecting thyroglobulin antibodies. In addition, a thyroid scan (scintigraphy) uses a small, harmless amount of radioactive iodine to create detailed images of the thyroid gland’s size, shape, and function.
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2 Reactions@joriv6 How much weight have you gained, and where is most of it located? Have you noticed any accumulation in your face or at the back of your neck as well?
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2 ReactionsI too gained 20 lb in 8 weeks.
Went to Metro Endocrinologist in Dearborn had stim test done and found out my Pituitary isn’t function - started Genotropin every day plus, adrenals aren’t working—failed pills and now on cortisol pump since Sept 2025. Anyone else on a pump?
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1 Reaction@ncrn185
"Pituitary isn’t function"
Did you have an ACTH test or an MRI in addition?
A "stim test" is a type of medical test that measures how well a specific gland in the body responds to a stimulating hormone. Different types of stimulation tests exist, such as the ACTH stimulation test for the adrenal glands or a growth hormone stimulation test for the pituitary gland. These tests are used to diagnose conditions like adrenal insufficiency, Cushing's disease, or growth hormone deficiency.
https://swaresearch.blogspot.com/2023/10/cortisol-endocrine-system-hypothalamic.html
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1 Reaction@swalex
Yes, I had stim test completed and they discovered my pituitary isn’t functioning as well as my adrenals. I’m on Genotropin subcutaneous every day.
I failed the cortisol pills after months and they now have me on a continuous cortisol pump since Sept.
It has been life changing but I’m having a few side effects with the generic hydrocortisone . And still haven’t lost any weight.
For those on genotropin what is your dosage ?
Appreciate the feedback so I can take back to my doc .
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1 ReactionYou just described me all the way. I was a completely healthy gym going guy with an above average physique and eat very healthy. Then it happened. No matter what I had to eat my body stored everything and I ballooned from 198lbs to now almost 300lbs and all I gained was pure fat. Everyone I know has had a comment including that I should not have gotten so lazy and yet I haven’t! Because of the weight gain I now have insanely high blood pressure and the more blood pressure meds I take, my body quickly adjusts and I’m right back to a startling high blood pressure. I never did steroids or anything unhealthy and I dont even drink. Especially not now. One other thing I have is an extremely distended belly. At first my dr thought I was taking steroids. I was in excellent shape with a visibly out of place painful gut. I went through a battery of tests and the only thing I have is very low cortisol and a high sedimentation rate. It also showed low carbon dioxide and high anion gap. My thyroid levels are on point perfect (both labwork and my fiancé is an ultrasound tech and after she scanned me said I have the most beautiful thyroids.) My gastroenterologist gave me an endoscopy and colonoscopy and cultures and everything checked out great. I’m narcoleptic and medicated for it. I am fatigued but awake. Zero motivation and zero interest in ANYTHING but oddly not depressed. (Although heading there quick) Just existing with gut and my body fat percentage has completely changed the way I look. No one recognizes me and now it’s getting very serious because I just keep gaining. My gastroenterologist said he wants to test me for Sibo as a last resort because he’s out of any ideas as to what it could be. So bizarre. And this condition has caused all of my specialists to fight with one another. Symptoms are persistent with the most troubling being that despite a calorie restricted diet, I look like I eat unhealthy food all day every day. So, I have an alarming unexplained weight gain with insane painful trunk of my body inflammation and spasms in my muscles and back with low cortisol despite weight gain and a very stressful life. All of my other labs except low vitamin d are all perfect. All auto immune results were negative despite having a spinal mri that revealed arthritis. Inso, I am awaiting a visit with a rheumatologist and endocrinologist. Otherwise my primary suggested I lose weight. I nearly lost and he admitted he thought I wasn’t being honest about overeating. ?! So now I’m doing every test known to man since Feb and it’s now November. I gain about 5 lbs every two weeks and it’s not stopping, I am in distress and frustrated. Thank you for This post, it’s relieving knowing I’m not alone.