Low body temp.and T3 dosing query?

[Judithdalston]

just curious…I remember say a decade ago when still having various hypothyroid symptoms on levo.only coming across research/ theories suggesting low body temp.was a sign you needed some T3 too. My temp.used to be 34.4/.5 C, and did shift up a bit on adding T3. Now on combo 100/17.5 T4/T3. This last month caught the childhood disease hands, foot and mouth( is that the right order?), anyway got a fever so dug out my mercury thermometer….highs in 38 ish C, and now a few weeks later though feeling bit flushed it is 34.2/.3 mark. Should I go back to the ‘old’ idea that I am ‘under medicated’ on T3, and give it a boost? My frees are in the 40% mark, TSH 0.02 and have been for most last decade.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I'd be inclined to aim for 50-70% and see how that works for you

[Judithdalston in reply to TiggerMe]

I’m sure you can imagine that when both frees are remotely in that range TSH is 0.01 and sends even the most pro T3 endo.into a flutter! I have 20 years of blood tests for thyroid results and notice that if FT4 in that range then FT3 below, and if FT3 in, FT4 below…only once in all that time had both in range ( when my regularly low ferritin, was a poor 48). I have fairly recently risen my T3 by 2.5 so will test soon, after months on 3 Arrows heme.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Judithdalston]

Yep, my TSH has sat at 0.05 since I started T3 and never budged, fT3&4 50-70% after my initial NHS Endo meeting she insisted I lower my dose, 12 weeks later I can't get out of bed and my TSH hasn't shift! I went back to my previous dose and we don't discuss TSH any more just frees!

They really should be taking your symptoms into account too! Perhaps ask them to google it... "Low body temperature is most commonly associated with low levels of thyroid hormone (particularly thyroxine, T4 and triiodothyronine, T3), which is produced by the thyroid gland; this condition is called hypothyroidism, where the body's metabolism slows down, leading to a lowered core body temperature and a feeling of being cold all the time. "

[Judithdalston in reply to TiggerMe]

My endos.would have been happy with TSH 0.05 but I have recorded it that high 3 times in 20 years then one of frees in 30s%, or less, on combo T4/T3….so I always interpreted it as too little hormone replacement, so cycle of more T4 or T3 and TSH lowered..,

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Judithdalston]

You need to get them to focus on your frees and agree to take the consequences (non) of low TSH as being hypo is much worse for your health and wellbeing

[FallingInReverse]

Are you menopausal? Are you taking Basel temperature or throughout the day?

[Judithdalston in reply to FallingInReverse]

No, long past menopausal. I’m not doing the religious basal temp.measuring I did years ago when introducing T3….just the odd curious taking following a very obvious fever. I had thought it had settled upwards 9 years ago with my norm at c.36.5C, so surprised it was so low. I have had, still have, Long Covid for nearly 5 years which has messed up my cardiovascular system ( high BP and HR), but not obviously the thyroid…

[FallingInReverse in reply to Judithdalston]

“The curious odd taking” wouldn’t be reliable, eating, drinking, daily hormonal cycles, and lots of other things that fluctuate your temp during the day. Yes - your results are low… but wonder if you’d had anything to drink in the hour or so before, or if there was anything else impacting it.

In fact, even when taking Basel temperature or properly in the morning, if you take it multiple times in a row, the movement in your mouth can even change the result.

I’m a big fan of temperature taking, I do it every morning and the trends tell me a lot.

But also if not taken properly in the right conditions then as with any other measurement it isn’t really useful!

[Judithdalston in reply to FallingInReverse]

No not eaten/ drunk, nor up and dressed…just not very first thing I used to do on waking still flat on my back. Having had lots of other health problems going on I’d not been taking my temp.unless I felt feverish, so it’s possible it had gone down some years ago. Just odd, and me being curious as to what might make body temp.lower!

[FallingInReverse in reply to Judithdalston]

Totally agree… low temp can/is a tell that something is making you run cold : )

it doesn’t necessarily mean thyroid, but of course it’s a usual suspect for us hypo folks.

Post -virus can down regulate temperature, thyroid, adrenals, low iron, etc etc

Yours does seem quite low! If it was me, just because I love taking my Basel temperature : ), I would do a month of proper Basel temp taking.

I think that in the big picture of all your interrelated hpa axis issues that it would be helpful to track along with all your symptoms.

Low temp is definitely indicative of something!

[humanbean]

With a temperature below 35 C you have Stage 1 hypothermia :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypot...

Another possibility is hypovolemia - low blood volume.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypov...

I'm not sure what you can do about either of these yourself. I was mildly hypothermic too before thyroid treatment, but this is no longer true. The only things that I have done that have made a really noticeable difference to me are :

1) Optimised iron and ferritin - it took me several years because I absorb it poorly. I found that improving iron and ferritin didn't have much effect on my actual body temperature but it did make me feel warmer. I think it helped to increase my blood volume but have no proof.

2) Optimised my thyroid hormones.

3) Since the price of gas and electric shot up during the pandemic I have bought all sorts of extra clothes to keep me warm, indoors and outdoors e.g. thermal clothing. I don't need to use my heating as much as I used to and I stay wrapped up even at home. And I always have a hot water bottle in bed as well, which I sometimes tuck into my clothes during the day.

4) What is your diet like? One of my problems was that I ate poorly. I was always trying to lose weight (for decades) but it was never happening. Eventually I started eating more (including plenty of protein) and to my surprise I've actually lost weight as a result. I have theorised that the body hangs on to calories and body fat when people are living through a famine. And I was the one causing me to live through a famine. Nowadays I don't care about my weight that much. I never did myself any good by worrying about it.