Mercury thermometer

[Lindabennie1951]

Hi, my ear thermometer jeeps reading 35 to 36.8. I'm looking for a more accurate Mercury thermometer. Can anyone help.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

You can't buy mercury thermometers for medical use now, they were withdrawn from sale a few years ago.

Why not buy a digital thermometer for oral use rather than an ear thermometer.

[cjrsquared]

Aural thermometers are accurate but if you have wax in the way or the tip isn't placed far enough into the ear canal, the tip cannot scan the ear drum and you get an inaccurate temperature.

[helvella Administrator in reply to cjrsquared]

The best ones, used properly, can be very accurate.

If, however, Lindabennie1951 still wants one that is like an "old-fashioned" mercury oral thermometer, there is an alternative, the Geratherm. Reports suggest that it is slow to measure (the listing below says four minutes, which seems like an eternity when you have one stuck in your mouth - I remember the days...), and it is more difficult to shake down after use.

thermometersdirect.co.uk/ge...

Always remember that an ear thermometer measures a different value to a mouth thermometer. And mouth thermometers have their own problems if you have been drinking hot or cold drinks.

[silverfox7]

I take my temp every morning before I get out of bed and use a digital from a well know high street chemist. However I leave it in until it switches itself off as that means no more increase. The bleep goes far too early, I feel it is timed rather that it being static then as sometimes it's something g silly like 34 but leaving it in I'm very happy with how it is working. Years ago I still had a Mercury thermometer and it was accurate with that them but I kept replacing them each time the battery dies rather than changing the battery.

[Lindabennie1951]

Ok thanks guys. Those brauns are supposed to be good for ear use. So I'll save my pennies. Lin

[SilverAvocado]

I have the same problem. I've been through about 4 thermometers since I've been taking my temperature, and I feel they're all a little bit different. It's obvious that not all are good. But I haven't been able to find any advice about height quality ones

[Barb1949]

Lindabennie ,I am wondering if your basal temp is actually normal for you in the region 35- 36.8. Are you taking your temp at the same time each morning? I ask because I have been taking my temp for over two years now, along with my BP and mine is always between 35-36 and my resting BP is between 125/80 to 130/80 . This temp is considered low by the medics but seems to be fine for me. I am 67 and have been hypo most of my life.

[Lindabennie1951 in reply to Barb1949]

Hi barb1949

Maybe but it isn't normal for anyone to be running on such a low temperature I don't think. My gp says it's 37.1 when she took my temp in ear so maybe my ear thermometer isn't working properly. Thanks anyway.