Cortisol levels POST cycle

[Wayacrucis]

I just had a 24 hour urine cortisol test about 2 weeks after my cycle and the levels came back high? Is this normal? does cortisol spike up post cycle?

[SlimmerMe]

Hawaiian Pride has a great thread on cortisol....might help if you have not seen it

[HawaiianPride.]

If T-levls are not brought back to normal in a short period of time post cylcle, a significant loss in size and strength may occur (obviously). This is due to the fact that without test (or other AAS) to impart an ongoing anabolic message, the catabolic hormone cortisol becomes the dominant force affecting muscle protein synthesis. Often referred to as the post-steroid crash.

[Wayacrucis]

If T-levls are not brought back to normal in a short period of time post cylcle, a significant loss in size and strength may occur (obviously). This is due to the fact that without test (or other AAS) to impart an ongoing anabolic message, the catabolic hormone cortisol becomes the dominant force affecting muscle protein synthesis. Often referred to as the post-steroid crash.

I understand taht cortisol is a catabolic hormone. However, this is my question: When T levels drop do cortisol levels actually increase? or does the body go catabolic because test levels drastically drop while cortisol remains the same.