Low Temperature

[sidneymark70]

I have a constant temperature of 36. I have underactive thyroid. Is this a symptom please?

[shaws Administrator]

Yes, it is a symptom. The following are also symptoms but thankfully that we don't get all of them.

As your dose is slowly raised, we should have no symptoms at all.

thyroiduk.org/signs-symptom...

What are the symptoms?

There are many signs and symptoms of an underactive thyroid, the main ones being: 13,14,15,16,17,18

fatigue/lethargy

weight gain, even though you eat less

cold intolerance

muscle weakness, arthralgia, myalgia

constipation

menstrual problems

depression

impaired concentration and memory

hair loss body, scalp and eyebrows

hoarse voice/deepening of voice

goitre, difficulty swallowing

delayed relaxation of deep tendon reflexes

loss of libido

fertility problems

raised cholesterol

breathlessness

dry/gritty eyes

See Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism for full list.

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Can see from previous posts you are only taking 75mcg/100mcg alternate days...is that correct?

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine?

Always take levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. No other medication within 2 hours. No iron, calcium, vitamin D, or magnesium within 4 hours of levothyroxine

Just testing TSH is inadequate

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with Hashimoto’s

Can see you supplement vitamin D, how much.

Low B12 is very common as we age

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Come back with new post once you get results

[LAHs]

Yes. As Shaws mentioned you can increase your dose which should generate more T3 and your temperature should rise to "normal" (98.4 dogs F where I live). However, if this does not work out I wouldn't worry too much about your temperature. Mine is constantly 97 degs F, which is about 36 degs. C and I function just fine. I do worry if I ever get a fever due to an illness (not that I have been very ill for a few decades) and the doc tells me that I am not running a fever therefore, "go home, take two aspirin and call me in the morning". Being sick and feeling miserable is not the right time to start explaining how a dodgy thyroid behaves to a doc who will not believe you anyway.

Maybe start educating your doc right now and make sure this phenomenon gets written up in your notes. However, try increasing your dose first, it might all work out.