Low BBT

[Starla]

Hi, I checked my basal body temperature this morning and it's 35.9 degrees Celsius - but I don't feel cold! I can't help but feel that's a bit low but is that typical of hypothyroid? Am I right in thinking that it could be adrenal? Thanks

[shaws Administrator]

Did you take your temp before you got out of bed? It is usual for hypo to have a low temp, it is a clinical symptom, and should rise when on optimum medication. Sometimes it doesn't come back to what is normal but we do vary slightly anyway.

[Starla in reply to shaws]

Thanks for reply. No, I took the temp in the late morning. Maybe when I'm on more medication it will rise more. But the doctor may not increase my medication if the TSH is normal.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Starla]

Doctor's should increase your medication if you still have symptoms. He should aim for a TSH of around about 1 or even lower if patient still has symptoms.

You can help the conversion of levo by taking Vitamin C along with it. Also these vitamins are helpful for us in general and the last 3 minerals are vital.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[Starla in reply to shaws]

Thanks, I hope that my T4 will be increased with the mixture of symptoms I have. The doctor I spoke to on Monday said 50mcg of T4 was a reasonable dose. Does this doctor seem to be one that just goes on TSH? If so would it be an idea to change doctors? (not practices)

[shaws Administrator in reply to Starla]

The doctor is hopeless and knows nothing. 50mcg is not a 'reasonable' dose. Maybe for a child not for an adult.

You have to get a copy of Dr Toft's article in Pulse Online, email [e-mail] and look at question 6 and discuss with your GP. It recommends what your GP should be aiming for.

PS. a low dose can cause you more problems just by being too low.

[shaws Administrator in reply to shaws]

This is another link and go the the question dated November 20, 2002 to read what happens on a low dose. Print a copy for your GP too as it appears to me he has a lot to learn so he may as well keep up with you. If you read all the other questions/answers you will learn even more. This is an extract:

It's possible that the paltry amount of T4 you’re taking, by lowering your TSH level, has reduced your thyroid gland’s release of T4 and T3. The T4 you're taking may be far too little to compensate for your thyroid gland’s reduced thyroid hormone output. As a result, the small dose of T4 you’re taking may actually be worsening some harmful effects of your hypothyroidism. The Physician’s Desk Reference contains an important statement largely ignored by conventional doctors: "Inadequate doses of Synthroid [and by extension, any other brand of T4] may produce or fail to resolved symptoms of hypothyroidism."[1,p.1500] (Italics mine.) Doctors currently restricting their hypothyroid patients to small doses of T4 would do well by their patients to read and seriously consider the implications of this quote.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[Starla in reply to shaws]

Thank you.

[Coastwalker in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws just adding to statistics, I am supposedly optimal, my last bloods - TSH 0.05 and T4 18.7 but I have never warmed up, I have been freezing cold lately, due to weather and have been already wearing gloves or keeping hands deep in my coat pockets and don't laugh, but I have been wearing socks to bed even in summer.

Still on the Levothyroxine T4

[shaws Administrator in reply to Coastwalker]

Email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of Dr Toft's Pulse Online. Read and highlight question 6 to discuss with your GP. re some having the need to have a suppressed TSH or/and the Addition of some T3. This might help to boost your metabolism and I hope it does.

I am fortunate now when I awake I am nice, warm and cosy. Don't have freezing feet etc.

Re Dr Toft's article. Ignore the last sentence as it is typical of what they really think about us and it is extremely arrogant and insensitive. Never mind that though if it gets us an increase or, better still, the addition of some T3.

[Coastwalker in reply to shaws]

Thank you shaws, I will email Louise.

So it was the T3 that actually warmed you up shaws ? I did think it was only by taking NDT that warmed us up ? I learn something new every day.

Silly Questions now :-

* With my TSH 0.05 & FT4 at 18.7 won't my Doctor say that my T4 Levo is converting to T3 anyway ? and I am optimally medicated ?

* So why isn't the T3 I'm getting from being optimally medicated, (my T4 must be converting to T3 if I'm optimally at good levels,) still not warming me up now, my fingers are freezing as I write this, Brr!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Coastwalker]

Theoretically levothyroxine at an optimum should drive your metabolism, making you warm. T3 and NDT make me warm. GP wont prescribe NDT but does T3 so I go with T3 and luckily it works for me. NDT, my personal opinion, is best as it is not synthetic like T4 and T3 and has all the thyroid hormones we would have naturally, i.e. T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin (calcitonin helps in keeping osteoporosis at bay).

Dr Toft says that some of us need not just a low TSH but a suppressed TSH and also recommends some T3 added if patient still complains.

[Coastwalker in reply to shaws]

Thanks for quick reply shaws, silly question again (sorry,) does 'suppressed' mean keeping your TSH low ?

My TSH is now 0.05 is 0.05 low enough to be called suppressed ? or does suppressed mean keeping it at my 0.05 level if I'm feeling good at that level ?

Learnt something new again today (thanks shaws,) that calcitonin helps keep osteoporosis at bay.

Doctor put me on vitamin D3 1000iu, as I was D deficient, (due to removal of pre cancerous spots and told to keep out of the sun,) but now as my D blood is very good and Doctor is pleased, but that was only due to me being self medicated on D3+K2 5000iu, Doc has put me down to 400iu I'm too scared to mention my D3 +K2 5000iu to Doc and also feel guilty being prescribed the specially ordered expensive D3 which I still get.

I have just had a horrible thought that probably my Doctor is now thinking that giving patients only a small amount of D3 will get other's D bloods up as quick as mine.

Doctor has now dropped my D3 down to 400iu.

D3 has helped strengthen my bones as I can feel the difference in my strength now of lifting and walking quicker without pain.

So calcitonin for bones might be another brownie point towards me asking for NDT due to my bones, but if not I will ask for T3 to see if it warms me up. (Must remember to email Louise.)

No wonder so much is being wasted by NHS, maybe TUK could point out to NHS how to cut spending by millions more.

Just give those of us wanting to try NDT or T3 a trial run and if it works we won't need to keep coming back to see our Doctors every 5 minutes, less blood tests too.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Coastwalker]

Most doctors believe (wrongly) that having a suppressed (below normal level) will give us heart attacks. The best way to judge if you are on the optimum dose is how you feel. If well you are on the right dose. TSH is irrelevant really, as it is from the Pituitary gland and varies hour by hour throughout the day.

You are right about the cost to the NHS by prescribing additional meds for 'symptoms' or being thought of as being a hypochondriac as we keep appearing at the surgery - only because we don't understand why the hormones don't make us feel better.

[Coastwalker in reply to shaws]

Clearly put shaws, thank you again. (Suppressed = below normal level.)

Have done email to Louise.

[Starla in reply to Coastwalker]

I'm the opposite. I've been warm in the wintry weather and hardly shiver so that and my low body temp don't correlate. I'm getting my thyroid blood test done on Friday so maybe I'll know more then.

[Coastwalker in reply to Starla]

I would be most interested in your blood results Starla as my Daughter has all thyroid symptoms, apart from like you she is hot mostly, not cold, but no idea about her temperature levels, hadn't thought of that, she had thyroid bloods done, they were 'within range', but on the lower end, she is waiting for two more Hashimotos results soon.

Apparently I have been told 10% each of both Hypothyroids and Hyperthyroids have cross overs with their symptoms.