Where can I a good 4 or 5 point saliva cortisol test at home
 

I've had a lot of physical and psychological stress in the last year. One side effect that I believe is tied to this is a few months ago I started waking up at 4-5am and am unable to get back to sleep. Before my sleep schedule was about 1230-8.

It doesn't really matter when I go to bed. If I am not able to sleep until 2am, I wake up at 4-5. If I go to bed at 9, I wake up at 4-5. I also started waking up usually once a night. Usually around 1-2, but I fall back asleep when I do.

I've dealt with it by trying to go to bed earlier, but the earliest I can fall asleep most days is 1030, which gives 6 hours of sleep (I am unable to nap during the day).

I've heard cortisol levels getting screwed up due to chronic physical and mental stress can cause this problem. I'd like to get a cortisol salivary test that tests for 4 or 5 times during the day.

Does anyone know a good company that makes one that I can order on my own w/o me having to go to a Dr (seeing a dr will cost many times more than doing this on my own).

I want to rule out cortisol as a potential cause of my insomnia. Anyone know?

Look at ZRT Laboratory

http://www.zrtlab.com

We've used them for hormone testing. They have multiple testing panels...saliva, blood and I think urine.

You may want to consider trying melatonin. You have to play with the dosing to find what works for you. They also have a time released one that may work better for you since you wake up too early.

I already take melatonin (I use both fast acting and time release), it doesn't seem to help much sadly. However I'm using 300mcg of each. On some nights I take 900mcg total (300mcg of fast acting combined with 300mcg of time release when I go to bed, plus another 300mcg of fast acting when I wake up around 1-2am).

I may need to experiment with higher doses, but when I was younger higher doses like 3mg caused me to stay up all night. I've read the lower doses work better.

I think ZRT labs sleep panel will measure the melatonin too.

Dear Pinochet,

There are several online labs from which you can order the test kit without the need of a physician's order. You pay the stated fee, they send you a test kit, you do the saliva test at home and mail it in. You get your results online. No physician involvement.

Walk In Labs is just one of many from which to choose. If you search online, you can view what tests are available from each and the cost. I was amazed at the differences I found in the cost for the exact same test by different online labs. Shop around. Prices vary.

Post Script: The need for a prescription for lab services depends upon state law. Some states allow it and some do not. Sorry my post implied that it is never needed. It is not needed in my state. It may where you live.