Query Basal Body Temperature Results

[Artemesia310]

Dear All

I have been taking my basal body temperature (10 mins under arm, upon waking with a mercury thermometer) and have obtained the readings below. I take 60 meg of T3 per day. Would these results below be seen as normal. I am thinking to write to my Consultant to ask him to raise the amount of medication. As for the past 19 years I have found it completely impossible to lose weight and crave sugar and coffee on a daily basis.

Could these results below be argued away by him or do they prove that my metabolism is not going to get better if my basal body temperature is at the levels below?

Date

Basal Body Temperature

16/6/19 96.6

17/6/19 96.8

19/6/19 97.4

21/6/10 97.00

24/6/19 97.00

27/6/19 97.3

12/7/19 97.00

13/7/19 96.2

14/7/19 96.7

15/7/19 96.2

16/7/19 96.2

18/7/19 97.2

20/7/19 97.3

21/7/19 97.1

[Judithdalston]

How old are you Artemesia, do you still menstruate / ovulate as that can change your basal temp over that time period? It’s equivalent to approx 35.6- 36.4C. I took my basal temp. most mornings ( mercury thermometer but by mouth as got too cold with upper body exposed for 10mins) when raising T3 dosing ( up to 75 mcg only) and hardly noticed any great variation in temp., certainly not the improvement in metabolic rate I was hoping for...went up to 36.2C couple of times but mostly stuck on the 35.9-36C mark. Wear extra layers and under a blanket when husband moaning about the heat! I seem to remember that underarm temperature was said to be on average a full degree C lower than mouth temp. (and different again from rectal)...that would make yours equivalent to straddling the ‘normal’ 37C or 98.4F. So worth checking this. Obviously I am no believer that basal body temp. is a useful tool in judging T3 dosing, but others do, and with your quite fluctuating temps. it might be difficult to ‘prove’ low T3 was the cause. I still take my basal temp. a couple of times per week, and had a jump of basal temp to 36.4C following introduction of b12 injections, but that subsequently reduced back to the 36C. Perhaps it’s just normal for me!

[Artemesia310 in reply to Judithdalston]

Hi I am 55 and think I am good way through menopause. I want to know wether these temperatures indicate anything.I have a problem as my metabolism is not working and I am constantly gaining weight.Craving sugar and coffee to keep going.

I am worried about this all of the time.

AX

[humanbean]

Your temperature range is similar to mine, although I am past menopause and hypothyroid.

Although it is well-known that hypothyroidism causes low body temperature doctors tend to dismiss this and say it isn't diagnostic of anything. There are, apparently, quite a lot of conditions in which body temperature is low, it isn't unique to hypothyroidism - although I have never seen a list of such conditions. And since doctors just love to dismiss patients if they can, they tend to wave away evidence of low body temp as being of no relevance and not diagnostic of a thyroid problem.

Another problem with using body temp to monitor anything is that if people are hypothyroid and are left untreated for a long time they may never have a normal body temperature again - it may stay low permanently even after being treated with roughly the right amount of thyroid medication.

And finally, people with thyroid problems tend to have low or high cortisol. Getting cortisol levels right is something many of us have to spend time dealing with if we want to to feel properly well. And both of these (low and high cortisol levels) affect temperature.

[Artemesia310 in reply to humanbean]

Hi thanks for your message .I have read Paul Robinson’s book ‘Recovering with T3’ .He has a section on body temperature and it is clear that low body temperature is a clear indicator of lower thyroid function and also lack of the right T3 dosage.It is also clear that whilst Drs do like to dismiss us that we do not have to accept the status quo.If any Dr is that dismissive we need to search for a new GP or Endocrinologist.

You mentioned about managing cortisol can you tell me how you do this? As you say it is important .

[Howard39]

Hi

You need a basal thermometer and 4 readings per day. I never do one when i wake up as i take my meds at 7 am.

You then take the average which should be circa 36.50 under the arm. Mine takes say 50 seconds.

If there is a wobble of more than 0.2/3 on any readings you’ve got adrenal issues.

If it’s below 36.50 usually indicates needing more meds.

See wwwdrmyhill.co.uk and in the search engine on the top right hand corner type in orchestra.

Fab article on how to obtain good health. Talks you through it all in great detail.

If you need anything else please let me know.

Helena

[Artemesia310 in reply to Howard39]

Hi Howard

Thanks so much the article is very good.Just half way through reading Paul Robinson’s book ‘Recovering with T3’ its a fantastic book.It charts his journey (the rubbish he had from some Drs etc.His fight to get an adequate dosage of T3.

I think I have a similar problem I take T3 it does help but I am being prescribed the optimal / appropriate dosage so still have thyroid symptoms.

[Mickeydooley]

My basal temp never goes over 36.0. It’s up and down all the time. (Anywhere from 35.4 to, very occasionally, 36.0). I tried to show the gp a chart I’d drawn over the course of a few months and was told it was useless to assess thyroid function and that it was only used for fertility problems. I’m going to an endocrinologist next week and don’t know if I should take this with me? Don’t want to have the same reaction. The endocrinologist isn’t a thyroid specialist but my GP referred me to him.

[Artemesia310 in reply to Mickeydooley]

Hi

Thanks for your message .I think you need to change your GP (as you probably know more than they do re thyroid (judging by your understanding of nasal body temp analysis).

I would also insist on seeing an Endo that has a specialism in thyroid issues.I think you can still choose and it might be worth travelling.Put out a call for who is good in your area.

Are you taking Any meds? Maybe they are not working for you.Liothyronine does not work for me (I take T3).Just reading Paul Robinson’s book ‘Recovering with T3’ its is very good and might help.

[Mickeydooley in reply to Artemesia310]

Very difficult to find a gp who has any in-depth knowledge of thyroid issues. I’ve been to at least 8 different gps in the practice over the past few years and have now given up. I asked to be referred to a thyroid specialist and was told by gp that they all did thyroid. Very difficult to argue with the gp as I still need him onside. I’m taking Levo 75mcgs and have been taking metavive too but wanted to explore T3, hence the referral to an endo. Thanks for the book recommendation. I’ll look into that.

[Howard39 in reply to Artemesia310]

Hi

Lio is t3.

[Howard39 in reply to Mickeydooley]

You could take a copy of Dr Myhill and Dr Rinds pages off the Internet.

They are closed to everything bar a tsh!

Hmm there’s specialists and there are diabetic bods.

If you are no where near you’re definitely under medicated. Also if there is a variety of readings it points to your adrenals struggling.

I swapped from t3 and t4 to ndt.

I was astounded how low my temps were despite being on fairly high doses of thyroxine with some t3.

Now my dose is far lower and more effective. I had to strike out on my own and try a few things.

( metavive and two ndts)

I really wish you luck.

[Mickeydooley in reply to Howard39]

Thank you. I’m not expecting much on Monday. My TSH is low (0.338) and t4 a bit high (80% through range) and t3 a bit low (34%) through range. Bp low. Basal temp slightly low and erratic. Pulse around 60-65. Currently reading a book by Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield. Very enlightening. Will take all the info with me.