Low body temperature

[EllaView]

I’m sorry for reposting this from the Health topic, but I‘m just a wee
bit worried. I’ve been feeling under the weather for a few days. My temperature keeps dropping below 34c and seems to hover around 34.2c except after I’ve eaten. When I have a meal, my temperature returns to around 36c. What’s going on? How can I be ‘hypothermic’ and not feel cold? Any advice would be gratefully received!

How are you taking your temperature ? Try a rectal thermometer.

Why are you taking your temperature?

Are you unwell? Is your thermometer working properly?

If your temp is low you’ll feel warm, but check the thermometer first

Crap thermometer.

Get your thyroid checked. Ask for a full panel including antibodies.

Hypothyroidism causes a low body temp.

I’ve checked the thermometer and it’s registering normal for my husband and daughter. I checked my temperature originally because I was feeling unwell and wanted to check whether I should take paracetamol.
unfortunately I don’t have a thermometer that would allow me to check rectally.

And that’s a sentence I never thought I’d write! 😂

If you feel unwell then take some paracetamol.

My Mum has this issue along with lots of medical issues. When she is unwell she ends up with a temperature which hypothermic by but she doesn’t have any other symptoms of hypothermia. It has worried a number of junior doctors.

I would never use a thermometer to decide whether to take paracetamol. It would be because I felt I'll I'd had a headache or whatever.

My friend has this is. She has EDS and thinks
It is something to do with that.

An interesting fact is that the "normal" body temp of 37 was established in the 19th century as a result of a large population study. There is a theory that as this would have included large numbers of uncontrolled infections and therefore higher range of body temps (pre antibiotics), the average is actually quite high for the modern age.

I promise I’m not a drama Queen. I only took my temperature because I was feeling dreadful. The low temp took me
by surprise, that’s all. Particularly as it has been persistent for the last couple of days.

That’s really interesting, and makes so much sense.

A low body temperature was one of my symptoms when I was diagnosed with hashimotos thyroid disease.
I'd keep an eye and try and get a thyroid blood test if it continues.

Two possible causes that you should at least consider are sepsis and hypothyroidism, with the former being an emergency.
How ill are you feeling and is there any chance that you have an infection that could be developing into sepsis?
www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/body-temperature-96-feel-sick

@MetalDog beat me to the sepsis reference - have you been unwell or had any infections?

I’m feeling very tired and poorly, but nothing I can put my finger on. We’ve had colds swirling around the house though, so it might just be that.

My normal temperature never gets above 35.5, I have EDS & ME/CFS.

Is this new? My temperature has always been low (low normal they say) I have to explain it every time I have a high temperature (for me) that looks fairly normal. My pulse rate is always low too, no health problems that I know of.

A low body temperature can also be an indicator of an infection or sepsis.

I have low temperature as I found out when ttc. Rarely above 35 except after ovulation. Very odd.

Used the same thermometer when I had a covid and the it made I fun h noise that I later found out was the fever alarm. That kicks in at 37.5.

Did read about the thyroid thing but didn't pursue it

Do you regularly check your temperature, or just recently?
At the start of covid, I bought a thermometer and an oximeter and started a spreadsheet (never a reason not to have a good spreadsheet😁).
The first thermometer went back, because it consistently indicated I had hypothermia, with my body temperature a couple of degrees lower than it should have been. The second more expensive thermometer gave similar readings.
When things started opening up, but with temperature checks on entry to places, a few took my temperature several times, and a couple tried to refuse entry because my temperature was too low (including at the dentist).
I had the same issue when in hospital for a routine operation last week.
If I feel that I have a high temperature, it will be high for me, but a regular or even lowish temperature compared to the medical norm.
I was working with medical researchers thru covid - when I asked, none of them were particularly surprised, or thought it was anything to be concerned about.

You need to know your base temperature when you're feeling fine.

DH has a low temp all the time - usually 34c, so in the hypothermic range (below 35c). Even when we were both clearly feverish with Covid the other week, his temp remained low at 35c, but he was shivering and shaking whilst sweating.

Some people are just built differently. Maybe monitor it again when you're better and get a baseline for you.

If you're not feeling impending doom and you're not too unwell, I'd just monitor it. If anything changes, contact a Dr.

Thank you all for your posts. You have all been so helpful.