Hello All,
On pred. 5mgs for over 12months. As I am over 90, I am steady and not reducing.
Some of us suffer from 'steroid night sweats'. I just wondered if anyone has occasional body temperatures as low as 35C, but more usually around 36.2. If so, do you do anything about it, or are there any recommendation ?
regards, petros31
firstly I would check your thermometer, it is possible that your temp is low because of sweating but your core temp should be normal. I have invested in a tympanic thermometer one that shines a light in your ear, that would be the most reliable. But if you have confidence in your reading don't be too quick to blame your meds. How do you feel in yourself ? can you take your blood pressure and pulse ?I work as an out of hours clinician and use a tool called the NEWS2 score to help in my evaluation of patients. If you are interested I will paste a link here.
rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/ou...
For safety though I would say if you are worried I would speak to a clinician, perhaps get an appointment ?
Many thanks Travs.
I had double checked the temperature on two digital thermometers, which read within 0.2 of each other, so 35 plus 0.2 would be highest.
Thanks for the evaluation project which I shall study with interest. My BP is Ok, still same as 2020 when I was in a post-covid twice daily checkup project. Currently, 3rd and 4th readings identical at 128/59/61, which is OK. I have a f2f appointment mid-week, so hope to get good info.
Many thanks for your info,
Petros31
I only mention it because I have been caught out myself and I should know better being a clinician. There is something known as confirmation bias where we blame something and look for evidence to support our diagnosis, it leads us down a blind alley at best or leads to a miss diagnosis at worse.
My worry was that a low temp could at worse signify cold sepsis, especially in a vulnerable immune suppressed patient. Its very unlikely with you I would say though because if you were septic I very much doubt you would be able to comment here in this group you would be too ill.
This is why we use tools such as NEWS2 and GCS so that we dont miss something important.
Good luck at your appointment.
Plus worsen bleeding in response to any trauma I suppose. Very relevant at present with the choice of eating or heating for so many.
Thanks again Travs for your interesting comment.
I have checked the parameters you have used in the past. I am pleased that they are all OK, with oxygen at 98%, so only the temperature is there to be questionned. PMRpro has just given me new stats to digest to give me re-assurance.
Regards, petros31
Mine is never above 36.6C and usually less. I have been down to 35.8C overnight. And I'm 20 years younger than you ...
"Older people are unable to regulate their body temperatures to the same degree as young adults because their responses to changes in body temperature are altered. Several published reports suggest that body temperature decreases with advancing age and has a greater variability in older populations."
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/187...
Probably not much you can do about it - except maybe get fatter! 
But do make sure you are not getting colder if the temperature falls - wrap up warmly and don't get too exposed to low temps and wind.
Hello PMRpro, many thanks for the very wise advice. Yes I used to be 3 stone heavier but understand your advice to keep well wrapped up. I seem to need an extra layer to others
even in today's sunshine
No-one ever said that aging was simple - we learn to be thankful and make the best of it!
Regards and happy weekend, petros31
My husband was the same - skinny as hell and always cold even in the house! The one positive is that my fuel bill now can't be as bad as they were before! He had the central heating in his room on full blast and when it was off for the summer (dictated by the condominium) he had an electric radiator on 24/7 in his room. I couldn't go in there dressed as I dress for the rest of the flat.
When we were having to have our temperature taken when we went anywhere, my temperature was around the 35 degree mark, when I went swimming for example. The girl would just say it was fine, presumably because they were looking for a high temperature and Covid. I feel fine, my brother thinks that I was meant for a different planet, presumably a colder one! My hairdresser did say one person who came in had a temperature of 34 degrees.
Indeed, the checkers at the door were happy if everything was not more than 37C. But, for us colder people, 37C is red-hot fever, so the check is only worthwhile for "normal persons". It does seem to be important to include your normal temperature zone in your steroid card.
I’m a nightmare - 35’C is not uncommon for me & have made several places check their thermometer 😂I’m unusually around 36’ on a good day - it’s always worth having a baseline.
Regards
MrsN
So pleased to hear that there are "35C"s going about their lives in good spirits. Looking at Google could make you think of being in a potentially dangerous situation.Three cheers for our forum where we learn important new facts every day.
I have always been told by my GPs that this lower temperature is normal for older people, and accepted that. I bought the same , or very similar ear thermometer that my doctor uses!
Not that they are reliable! My husband's medical physics department did a study before their trust introduced them and warned it was a poor choice. Bit of wax, pointed in not quite the correct direction and the temp it is supposed to be measuring, isn't ...
I certainly echo that! (Petros31 “3 cheers for this forum, learning new facts every day “)
Perhaps we were both meant for another planet!
Me too. Told at my GP practice that lower temperatures are normal for older people. Accepted that!
I had a low temperature in my twenties. Dr Google says ‘Normal body temperature does not change much with ageing’. I think doctors say these things just to make us feel everything is OK.
Me too - I’m usually around 35.6 and certainly can’t blame it on being skinny! Thanks for the info everyone x
Yes…36 norm for me, but often 35. Makes it difficult for hospital staff to understand that at 37/38 I have a fever that may need treating, as they call that norm, or very slightly elevated!
My temperature often falls to 34 .6 usually after exercise like going for paper in morning. That takes about 10 mins. I’ve queried it and had blood tests (especially low thyroid) but everything came back ok and I feel alright, so now I don’t check anymore. My normal temperature is around 35. Hope this helps.
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate all the responses detailing so many different experiences. They certainly prove that one size doesn't fit everyone.
Coping with extremes of temperature and pmr/gca
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Feeling scared and low
pmg, tapering and feeling low
For those at a low ebb
