Wilson's temperature syndrome & your thermometer

[Cooper27]

I thought my thermometer might have been broken, as I was consistently registering a near hypothermic body temperature (hypothermia = <35C). I replaced my thermometer yesterday, but later noticed the temperature ranges on the box (picture)

I know many here stumble upon Wilson's temperature syndrome, and thought I should share this so you know:

Oral temperature can be below 37C normally, and that's fine.

Underarm temperature is typically 0.5C lower than oral temperature.

[Tinacros]

I’ve just got a basic chemist thermometer.. my morning temp is 95.4 and it says 95 is hypothermic 💁🏻‍♀️

[Cooper27 in reply to Tinacros]

My underarm one was typically about 35.2C... which is absolutely fine when you check the box.

Wilson's temperature syndrome says temperature consistently below 37C is a problem, but that's practically a fever depending on where you measure.

[london81]

I am guessing that what the box means is those are average normal temperatures. given the amount of us who are walking round under medicated/undiagnosed I don’t pay much attention to ‘normal’ or average ranges given by generic sources. My temp was35.4 when i was at the height of hashimotos and is now around 36.5. my daughter is newly diagnosed hashimotos and her temp is 35.1- she’s freezing and symptomatic.

my recollection of wilson’s is that you measure your temp over a week or two and where it’s low that indicates hypo? there is a more detailed explanation in Dr P’s book

[Cooper27 in reply to london81]

Well my result of 35.2-35.4 is based on being stable and non-symptomatic, if that helps.

While you're right that the range may include a few people who actually weren't well, the oral temperature upper limit is 37.3C (and that limit could also include people who were unwell and didn't know it), so a temperature above 37C just seems like a very high starting point. Not much scope before you're technically burning a fever.

[BadHare]

I bought a second thermometer when my temperatiure hadn't been above 35.2 for two weeks. I then used both with the same low results. Mine only went up to 35.3 a couple of times in 4 months. I feel better with regard to warmth when my TH intake is good, & my new normal is a full degree higher. It's marvellous being able to produce body heat after 40 years of being told to put on another jumper.

[Cooper27 in reply to BadHare]

I guess it's about establishing what's normal for you, but unfortunately we never seem to think about it until we get ill.

[BadHare in reply to Cooper27]

I'm sure read a suggestion a while ago re taking thyroid hormone levels when people are younger &/or euthyroid to compare with levels when they become ill. I don't ever remember feeling normally warm (relative to people I was with) before I started taking thyroid hormones. I clearly remember how utterly miserable being cold made me feel!

[Tinacros]

I’ve got low temp but I can’t stop sweating... xx

[Cooper27 in reply to Tinacros]

Are you hypo?

Hashimotos can be funny, giving hypo and hyper symptoms at the same time.

[Tinacros in reply to Cooper27]

Yes I’m hypothyroid but haven’t got Hashimoto x