How Important is Body Temperature?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 2:32PM Lizzy Hi friends,
The short answer...really really important. The long answer...
Body temperature is such a simple idea, isn't it?! Before getting thyroid treatment I was always amazed that my body temperature was so low -- 95.5 degrees at it's worst! And how so many doctors never noticed it. Even when I said: "Hey Doc, Isn't it odd that my body temperature is so low?" They just passed it off and said I was fine. Dr. Brummer was the first and only doctor to say: "Yes, your body temperature is low. And no this isn't right." Finally, something that made sense!
So here is the thing... it might even seem like a temperature of 96-97 isn't too far from normal, right? I mean it's only one or two degrees different? But what happens when our body temperature is only one or two degrees higher than normal? Say, 99-100 degrees? Right! We have a fever and we feel pretty darn awful! So what happens if our body temperature one or two degrees below normal? It seems logical that we would also feel pretty awful; like tired, sluggish, foggy, cold, and all the other hypothyroid symptoms.
When I hear stories like "...my doctor said it's okay to have low body temperature, but I feel really awful..." I pretty much want to go ape on these doctors. I mean, I'm no doctor, but how can anyone be so quick to rule out body temperature! Especially when doctors like Broda Barnes wrote about the connection between low body temperature and hypothyroidism over forty years ago. Sheesh!
Okay, getting down from my soap box.
For me, tracking body temp is the cheapest, fastest way to know how my body and thyroid are doing. Granted, I don't track all the time, who can remember to do that? But every so often, I will track my temperature for a few days just to make sure my thyroid is doing okay. If you want to know this week whether you might have a thyroid problem start tracking your temperature now! So you're wondering...
Here are super simple instructions from Broda Barnes.... Men, children and woman who are past menopause can take this test anytime. Women who are still in child-bearing years should track temperature on the second or third day of their period.
1. I prefer to use a glass thermometer under the armpit (no clothing) because it gives me the most accurate results.
2. Shake down the thermometer the night before, and place on your night table. First thing in the morning before getting out of bed tuck the thermometer in your armpit and lay quietly for 10 minutes.
3. Record your temperature (here is a nice PDF chart from the Wolfe Clinic).
4. Repeat for several days to see if the temperature changes. Keep in mind, a big fluctuation is common and could be a sign of adrenal fatigue! So one day it might be 97.8 and then next 97.0, this is important information to note.
5. According to Dr. Barnes the morning (basal) temperature should average 97.8 to 98.2 to indicate normal thyroid function.
If you have low body temperature take these results to your doctor! If your doctor doesn't believe in the body temperature-thyroid connection find another doctor.
xxoo
Lizzy
