Can someone clarify the following: Is it the case that our morning temperature - before we get out of bed remains the same and that if it drops below this particular level that our thyroid is struggling and that gives us a good indication of that.
Maybe I have picked this up wrong.
As only recently joining this site, I am trying to do everything I have been advised to do to get on top of my thyroid problem. I'm still up and down with mine at the minute - mood, energy etc. Some days I feel great and other days I drop down to the point I have to go to bed when I get home from work. I'm still only on 50 mg of Levothyroxine and am due back to my doctors in October. I have gone gluten free which is a bit of a struggle at times - never realised that there was gluten in so many things. My vitamins are all good - as per previous post except for Folate which I am supplementing for with a B complex with folate and have reduced my Vitamin D as the level was too high. My TSH is still a bit high but T4 is okay.
If I could grasp this temperature thing I would have another indicator of my thyroid health. Sometimes I think I am imagining all the symptoms and maybe am depressed as the doctor keeps saying that I am, but if I had another indicator - say my temperature - it would be useful.
It's awful that doctors makes us feel this way - when they should be the ones reassuring us and helping us.
Thanks in advance.
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Sunflower535
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Hi, I took my temperature for approx 7-10 days.As far as I can gather if its continually low during that period it can point to hypothyroid.Best to keep it on bedside table and test immediately on waking.50mcg Levo is only the starter dose.How long you been on current dose?
When first starting on Levo you should be getting regular bloods taken every 6 weeks or so and then the meds increased accordingly in increments of 25mcg until symptoms disappear.What was your T4 result and range? Was T3 tested?
Sorry to jump in, but where is this mentioned? Most GPs insist it is 3 months. And, unfortunately I don’t think NICE guidelines cover it and also mention 3 months too.
With results like this you need to request a referral to an Endo as a GP won't give you more T4 when you are at the top of the range but your TSH is still too high so you need someone with more knowledge and ability
Have you done a private test to see where you fT3 is? Worth getting in the swing of doing this else you'll never really know where you are with there lack of proper testing 🤗
I've just ordered a Medichecks thyroid one so will get an idea what my T3 is before my next blood tests in October. If these tests aren't great I will try and get my bloods checked before then. Thank you for your reply.
Suggest you get full private testing done BEFORE GP appointment
or at least TSH, Ft4 and Ft3
all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
List of private testing options and money off codes
I am on Mercury Pharma since June this year - can't remember exact date but mid June I think. I have just ordered the Medichecks test so will get it done before I go to GP again. I would like to see if my Antibodies have reduced since going Gluten Free to see if that is helping any.
Sometimes I think I am imagining all the symptoms and maybe am depressed as the doctor keeps saying that I am
Well, it wouldn't be surprising if you were depressed on only 50 mcg levo. Depression is a hypo symptom. It's not a disease so wouldn't be causing other symptoms: it's a symptom itself.
Well I can’t comment on the reliability of testing temperature BUT I have been keeping an eye on it. Mine works between 35.5 and 36.3. Sometimes it’s been lower 34.5 but so far never above 36.3. As I have just (with great difficulty) started T3, I am keen to use temperature as a guide to possible over medicating, until I can get a blood test in another few weeks.
Dr Peatfield was an advocate for daily temps and used to give out graph paper to his patients. Take your temp upon waking and before moving, eating or drinking.
I remember reading that the low temp was the common denominator for all further hypo symptoms. Not sure who wrote this but suspect it was Broda Barnes. Also temp effects the performance of certain enzymes and speed of chemical reactions, and bone marrow & RBC’s as explained by Dr P in his book.
Also ‘cold agglutinins’ which are auto antibodies that target RBC’s causing them to clump together when a person is constantly cold. The ongoing repercussions of hypo!
I think its great you are recording your daily temps as will give indication into how your thyroid meds are performing or whether they need more help.
Not menstruating for about 10 years - I'm nearly 60!!!!!! I will start checking the pulse too. All this is very interesting - pity I couldn't find a doctor with thyroid problems themselves - maybe then they would find it useful and take more interest! Thank you so much.
Every woman who ovulates will have a fluctuating basal temperature. Before I did IVF (many years ago) I had to keep temperature graphs for several months and my basal temp would drop dramatically then shoot up when I ovulated.
Do a search for "basal temperature ovulation chart"
My understanding of the effect of hypothyroidism is that it pushes the temperature results down during the entire month. I can't remember with any precision now but I think my "normal" lowest temperature was barely over 95 degrees F (35 degrees C) and would sometimes be lower than 95.
I've often read of hypothyroid women having a lowest temperature during the month even lower than that e.g. under 94F.
I wasn't diagnosed or treated for hypothyroidism at the time. That took roughly another 25 years.
This link has a section on basal temperature in hypothyroidism and how to measure it :
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