Wilson's temperature syndrome & your thermometer - Thyroid UK

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Wilson's temperature syndrome & your thermometer

Cooper27 profile image
10 Replies

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.

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Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27
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10 Replies
Tinacros profile image
Tinacros

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

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply toTinacros

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 profile image
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 profile image
Cooper27 in reply tolondon81

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 profile image
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 profile image
Cooper27 in reply toBadHare

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 profile image
BadHare in reply toCooper27

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 profile image
Tinacros

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

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply toTinacros

Are you hypo?

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

Tinacros profile image
Tinacros in reply toCooper27

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

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