A question about body temp

[Guest guest]

I know this has probably been posted many times but I just can't find

the answer I'm looking for. What is considered a low temp and how does

it affect the thyroid? I have just recently begun testing mine. It

never seems to go much over 96 degrees. I am waiting to see my doc to

dicsuss my last thyroid results. The horrrible insomnia is really

starting to set in again. UGhh...I'm not on any thyroid meds right now.

I do take Effexor which I am trying to wean myself off of. I have a

feeling that they will put me back on the Levothyroxine.

Thanks for your help.

Lois

(Sleepless in Wisconsin)

[Guest guest]

Low temp isn't causing the thyroid problems... low thyroid hormone levels are causing you to have a low metabolic rate which in turn prevents your body from producing enough heat to maintain a healthy working temp....

Low body temp affects many body processes.. one of the biggies is digestion. If we can't maintain the proper temperature the little bacteria that live in our intestines and help us to digest and breakdown our food can't survive and do their jobs.

How you take your temps effects the results that you get.

That means the type of thermometer and how you take it.... I don't know if you've read this yet.... so I'll just throw it in to be sure.

The fancy new digital thermometers are junk when it comes to checking for basal body temp, which is what we need to do to determine how we are doing metabolically. They are designed to check for ABOVE normal temps, not below normal AND are not accurate enough to measure the slight changes that we need to do.....

You need either a basal thermometer, the ones sold for women checking for ovulation work good, they are accurate enough to measure very slight changes..... or a good old fashioned mercury thermometer.

It's best to take the temp orally, some folks don't like to and prefer to take in under the arm. If you do it under arm you have to leave it there longer and, for a good many people the under arm temp is up to a degree less than the oral temp. You'll have to figure out which one you are if you are going to be checking in the arm pit.... and add accordingly.

For us, we're monitoring basal body temp.. the temp that our bodies are able to maintain without the added heat of muscle movement... so you need to have the thermometer ready and at your bedside when you go to sleep at night.. then, the next morning.. the FIRST thing you do is put your thermometer where it's supposed to be to check your temp... You dont' sit up... you don't go to the bathroom first.... you just reach for the thermometer and tuck it in position and wait for the time to be up.... usually 3 minutes for oral and 5 minutes for underarm..... (If I'm off on that timing for underarm, somebody jump in...)

When the time is up, record your temp... that, along with pulse rate and respiration is what we put on our charts.....

If you are unable to maintain 97 degrees orally, during sleep... you are having significant problems.... Ideally it should be 98 or maybe a tad above.

Checking waking temps and pulse rates was how they monitored before all the fancy blood tests that are used now... and happens to be how I've been doing it now for three and a half years.... I did run labs last February... and found that I was heading in the right direction.... still in need of a higher dose but in no danger of underdosing or over dosing.....

I'm self treating... no money, no insurance... so I'm on my own with this... and I MUST add, doing a LOT better in the last three and a half years than I did for the ten years that the docs were taking care of me!

So..... we'll wait to hear how you're taking your temp and then go on from there, okay?

Topper ()"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO what a ride!"

On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 22:07:04 -0000 "kitasha59" writes:

I know this has probably been posted many times but I just can't find the answer I'm looking for. What is considered a low temp and how does it affect the thyroid? I have just recently begun testing mine. It never seems to go much over 96 degrees. I am waiting to see my doc to dicsuss my last thyroid results. The horrrible insomnia is really starting to set in again. UGhh...I'm not on any thyroid meds right now.I do take Effexor which I am trying to wean myself off of. I have a feeling that they will put me back on the Levothyroxine.Thanks for your help.Lois (Sleepless in Wisconsin)

[Guest guest]

Low temp isn't causing the thyroid problems... low thyroid hormone levels are causing you to have a low metabolic rate which in turn prevents your body from producing enough heat to maintain a healthy working temp....

Low body temp affects many body processes.. one of the biggies is digestion. If we can't maintain the proper temperature the little bacteria that live in our intestines and help us to digest and breakdown our food can't survive and do their jobs.

How you take your temps effects the results that you get.

That means the type of thermometer and how you take it.... I don't know if you've read this yet.... so I'll just throw it in to be sure.

The fancy new digital thermometers are junk when it comes to checking for basal body temp, which is what we need to do to determine how we are doing metabolically. They are designed to check for ABOVE normal temps, not below normal AND are not accurate enough to measure the slight changes that we need to do.....

You need either a basal thermometer, the ones sold for women checking for ovulation work good, they are accurate enough to measure very slight changes..... or a good old fashioned mercury thermometer.

It's best to take the temp orally, some folks don't like to and prefer to take in under the arm. If you do it under arm you have to leave it there longer and, for a good many people the under arm temp is up to a degree less than the oral temp. You'll have to figure out which one you are if you are going to be checking in the arm pit.... and add accordingly.

For us, we're monitoring basal body temp.. the temp that our bodies are able to maintain without the added heat of muscle movement... so you need to have the thermometer ready and at your bedside when you go to sleep at night.. then, the next morning.. the FIRST thing you do is put your thermometer where it's supposed to be to check your temp... You dont' sit up... you don't go to the bathroom first.... you just reach for the thermometer and tuck it in position and wait for the time to be up.... usually 3 minutes for oral and 5 minutes for underarm..... (If I'm off on that timing for underarm, somebody jump in...)

When the time is up, record your temp... that, along with pulse rate and respiration is what we put on our charts.....

If you are unable to maintain 97 degrees orally, during sleep... you are having significant problems.... Ideally it should be 98 or maybe a tad above.

Checking waking temps and pulse rates was how they monitored before all the fancy blood tests that are used now... and happens to be how I've been doing it now for three and a half years.... I did run labs last February... and found that I was heading in the right direction.... still in need of a higher dose but in no danger of underdosing or over dosing.....

I'm self treating... no money, no insurance... so I'm on my own with this... and I MUST add, doing a LOT better in the last three and a half years than I did for the ten years that the docs were taking care of me!

So..... we'll wait to hear how you're taking your temp and then go on from there, okay?

Topper ()"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO what a ride!"

On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 22:07:04 -0000 "kitasha59" writes:

I know this has probably been posted many times but I just can't find the answer I'm looking for. What is considered a low temp and how does it affect the thyroid? I have just recently begun testing mine. It never seems to go much over 96 degrees. I am waiting to see my doc to dicsuss my last thyroid results. The horrrible insomnia is really starting to set in again. UGhh...I'm not on any thyroid meds right now.I do take Effexor which I am trying to wean myself off of. I have a feeling that they will put me back on the Levothyroxine.Thanks for your help.Lois (Sleepless in Wisconsin)