chronic low body temperature: any doctors around?

[NumptyNameChange]

Hi - i took my temperature when ill last week to see if i had a fever but had a temperature of 33.4 degrees which seemed really low. i've been taking it daily over a week now and it ranges from that as a low to 35.8 as a high.

looking at the 'facts' that is allegedly hypothermia. i know it's not the thermometer as my son's temp comes up as between 36.4 and 37.4 on it.

should i be worried? what kind of things can cause this (i haven't been exposed to cold particularly and the heating is on and i'm not immobile or anything)? should i tell my doctor?

it just seems weird that i would have a temperature that allegedly equates to a serious condition on a daily basis.

OK - don't panic. Start by taking your temperature in the morning, before you get out of bed. Don't nip out for a pee, take your temperature first. Keep a written record of where it comes out.

If it's below 36.5 and you're not drinking heavily on a regular basis, the chances are you have something going on with your thyroid or your adrenals, all of which can be fixed.

Do you have any other symptoms?

thanks rockin. this morning on awakening it was 34.5. i have had lots of symptoms that you'd associate with thyroid but in the past blood tests have come back as normal - worth getting it tested again i guess and adrenals would be good.

lots of my health stuff points to pituatory dysfunction of some kind - i have epically long cycles as standard and can have hideous pms and symptoms around ovulation, aura migraines and vertigo/sensory overload attacks, problems with energy and mood, etc and my sister had something wrong with hers whereby it was effecting her sex hormone production (she had different symptoms to me - very heavy periods, fertility issues, weight gain and testosterone stuff). she also out of the blue had a bout of overactive thyroid recently which i hadn't pieced together with the other stuff but might be connected i guess.

recently i've been really tired and cold, gained some weight, i have dryer even than usual skin and have had a bout of aura/sensory stuff going on as well as a feeling of pressure in my head and eyes. i sound like a right loon! it does sound like thyroid but gut feeling is the test would come back normal again.

Never accept ‘normal’ as a response from a doctor. A lot will try to tell you that because a result comes back within the reference range then it is ‘normal’, but this is not the case. Results need to be optimal.

With your history, I would suggest you have a look at the ThyroidUK forum on www. healthunlocked.com where you will get very good advice on how to approach this.

thanks - will do. forgot to say i also have really low blood pressure which i'm always told is a good thing unless it starts to cause problems but in the fuller picture it just seems like everything about me is sluggish.

If you are taking your temperature rectally that is low, but if it under your arm or in your mouth that is 'within normal range'.

Medically normal and abnormal do not mean things are perfect and things are wrong, just a measure of what most normal people have/are/measure.

So I'm 5ft 0, that is abnormal in medical terms but not an actual health condition.

My temp is always low too, the only time it gets near 37 (orally) is if I have a fever.

Most healthy people are 'within normal range' on most parameters, but a few are outside that range.

See your Dr for reassurance but if you are not getting any other symptoms it is probably just you.

I've always had a low oral temperature. It's normal for me.
Also thermometers are not always accurate, so try not to stress. :)

as i said there are other symptoms.

Obviously, you should get the symptoms checked out but you may find the low temp is unrelated, so don't stress too much about that.

first thing she thought of was thyroid and i have to have some blood tests for that and sex hormones and apparently adrenals are tested by default as kidney function would be out if there were issues there. now the challenge of getting an appointment for blood tests. all they could offer me was 4pm on christmas eve which with a 6yo is not happening. have to call next week and see what's available in the new year.

If they're testing your thyroid, make sure your blood is drawn as early in the morning as possible, to catch your TSH at the highest point in its circadian rhythm.

thanks rockin. will try to ensure that.

honestly if it was just the temp alone i obviously wouldn't think much of it - it is the scatterfuck of symptoms i've been dealing with for years that makes it seem potentially relevant and i must confess probably inclines me towards wanting a simple answer that would give a clear 'that's the problem and here's how we fix it'. as it is it seems like all these separate issues to be treated but never 'fixed'.