Hi - I was reading another post here and it mentioned temperature.

My temp has always run lower than the average 98.6. But, from what I understand, 97.6 to 99.6 is considered normal?

I have had mine run as low as 95. I didn't google to see if that was a symptom of anything, because, frankly, I didn't want to send myself into a tizzy.

Anyone else here have a lower-than-normal body temp?

My husband has 96 and I barely reach 97. Thought thyroid at first but when tested a few years back, it was fine. I guess the only thing to remember is when we get fever, it will register 98+ for us which is the usual norm for the general population. Never really gave this much of a thought.

My temperature runs around 97. I've seen lower. Not relating to menopause, just have always been that way.

Check out the Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_human_body_temperature

Don't forget that 98 deg is an average - there's a variation on top of that. Also, note that the chart shows a 2 degree (F) change over one day.

My temp normally runs from about 96.7-97.8 - always has. I think some people just normally run a lower body temp, while others run a little high. Of course, activity will affect it, as well as recent eating and drinking. I think as long as you feel fine otherwise, it is no big deal.
Di

Yes I know it's an average. I was just wondering if anyone else ran more than 2 points lower than that.

I also heard somewhere that lower body temp equals longer life?

Hey...now that is worth noting. Maybe there is some good out of all this.

My nutritionist has asked me to keep an eye on my temperature prior to my next visit. I did this a little while ago, but only for a few days, and she wanted to see how it was going, with thinking that some of my problems may be connected to an under-performing thyroid. I recently had my bloods taken and the thyroid levels were 'normal' but my Basal Body Temperature, taken under the armpit, has hardly even reached 36 degrees C, which is quite low. This morning it was 35.6C (just over 96F) Apparently, this test should not be relied upon alone as indicative of hypothyroid problems.

I did a little googling and found that researchers have done studies on mice / low body temperature. The mice with the low body temps had longer life spans (translated to 8 human years). That is interesting, and I would like to think it's a fact, but you never know .

I know I have quite low blood pressure, I thought that also related to low body temps...I guess not, as I have just taken my temp and it is spot on at 97.7...shame, I like the idea of living 8 years or so longer!

..
^ !

oops...I guess 97.7 is considered at the low end?!...then I'm good!

If you think about it, before the TSH test was available (pre1950s) if a patient had symptoms of peri, fatigue, depression, dry skin, wieght gain, headaches or migraines, irritability, memory loss, digestive issues and low temps she most likely would have been treated for hypothyroidism. Makes you wonder.

I have been on BHRT for 8 months now, with some relief in depression, but none with sleeping or fatigue and am looking at hypothyrodism because of an adult life of low body temps, cold hands, feet, dryskin, coarse hair, continuing irritability, trouble losing weight, can't fight infections.

I had my TSH in May .90, in Dec it was 2.83, tests show its fine. What caused it to drop 3x in 7 months. I'm begining to feel the labs should be regarded the same as the sex hormones, esp since TSH is actually a hormone made by the pituitary and sends signals to the thyroid, signals can get crossed. Also you should have Free t3 and free t4 checked if you suspect a thyroid problem.

KareBare

Don't forget to throw in a check for thyroid antibodies. It's the only definitive test for Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

I had my antibodies checked and the results were in the normal range
one was <20 range <20, other <10 range <35. So do I hashimoto's? that's what I'm trying to figure out.

If it's in the "normal" range, then it should be OK. Mine were out of way out of normal, which resulted into regular trips to an endocrinologist. My thyroid went "hyper", now it's in the normal range. Just waiting for it to go "hypo". There are a number of posts on the topic (including mine), just do a forum search.

Since my hard-core symptoms started last October I've been running a body temp of 96 - 97 degrees, which is abnormal for me - I've always been a solid 98.6 kind of girl. My TSH is fine.

I recently tried a dose of OTC progesterone cream and within 2 hours my freezing hands and feet were warm again and my body temp was back to normal.

I did a bunch of research on it and it appears that estrogen and progesterone can affect how the thyroid hormone is utilized - even if enough of it is being produced it may not actually be getting where it needs to go without the help of the right hormone balance.

So, I'm warmer now but the prog cream sent me into a crashing depression so I've traded one set of symptoms for another .

LQ