Basal Body Temperature? Post your results!

[jeff0246]

I just started taking my Basal Body Temperature and have an average 0f 96.6 F in the morning. I am wondering how low that is compared to other people on line? It would be interesting to know what other people got for readings when they first used the BBT test to help diagnose undetected hypothyroidism...if you care to it would be neat to know what your lowest readings were?

Also, what is the best way to tell a doctor that your BBT results are lower than you think they should be? They all seem to just disregard it and order the usual tests...

thanks!

[lynnhopes]

Before thyroid treatment, I had BBT temps as low as 94.4 in the follicular phase of my cycle. The lowest they hit now in the follicular phase is 96.8; but they are more typically around 97.1. Still working on getting them up.

My daily temps are good, being between 98.0-98.6.

[Sunshine67]

Do you have to take your temp during certain cycles? I haven't had a period in almost 3 years due to hormone imbalances and thyroid issues. My basal temp is normally 97.6. I used to always be 98.6 before all this trouble.

[Birdlady]

When I first started taking my temps for birth control purposes (about 5-6 years ago now) it was very low around 95.9 during the first part of my cycle. Those were the exception though and it normally ran between 96.3-96.8. After ovulation it would go up anywhere from 97.2-98.0.

Nowadays it's more consistent to see my follicular temps around 97.0 and then after ovulation I've seen as high as 98.2. Personally I don't focus on temperatures much.

[Rainbow Brite]

Ya'll are making me feel much better! I was worried that mine were too low (as low as 97.1 in the follicular and only as high as 98.04 during the luteal)...but compared to some of yours, mine are awesome! lol

What's weird is that mine were higher (between 97.5 and 98.4) up until 3 months ago when I started weaning off of HC. Ah well. I've felt awesome overall for the past 3 months, so I shouldn't complain

[IHateDoctors.]

And I thought my 97.2-97.7 was bad.

[bcopi]

When really hypo symptoms are going on, my temps are usually like 97.1-97.3 before ovulation and barely 98.0 after. I'm not quite optimized as I had to tweak things after my surgery and then ear infection (which made me think my meds were off from dizziness). So with that in mind, my temps before ovulation are now usually 97.5-97.7 before ovulation and 98.1-98.3 after.

Bree

[jeff0246]

Wow, my Basal temp today and yesterday was 94.9 and 95.0!

Thanks for all the input everyone. It is really interesting to see what others' temps are...

Jeff

[SantaFe]

This is regarding daytime temps---A nurse practitioner who just retired told me that after 30+ years of taking a zillion people's temps everyday, she said that having a 98.6 temp or above was the exception not the norm. Most people fall somewhere between 97.5 and 98.3. She thought it was good that thyroid people monitor their temps, but she feels too much incorrect emphasis is put on reaching 98.6. ( She said even Broda Barnes admitted in a later interview that people can normalize their thyroid without having perfect temps)

[Harpy]

My partner is Hyper & on ATD's (3.5yrs)
Not much conversation in the hyper section so I'm here.
She takes her temp & pulse morning & evening to track symptom changes, doing this for 6 months now.
Her range is generally 97F to 98.2F and has had odd peaks down to 96.6F and up to 98.4F.
From all the reading I've done this is pretty normal. For women it's difficult to set absolutely precise figures because of normal daily temp variations and also monthly cycle variations and just pure genetic differences. There are obviously extremes that are not right for everyone, but for the finer nuances it must be a question of is this right for that particular individual.
She records everything in a diary, temps, pulse, period, symptoms etc. and I chart all the results in excel this gives an excellent visual indication over time of trends and to also determine if you should be slightly up or down on temp, depending on your symptoms & perceptions as compared to you're temp at that type of your cycle.
I did look at Dr Brodas temperature ranges and when compared to temp range expectations on fertility sites (there wasn't 100% agreement here as well) would put nearly all women in a technical Hypothyroid state, so I feel his range was a bit on the narrow side, but well intentioned never the less.

[crystal lyn]

My morning temp is now 98.0-98.2 and reaches 98.6 during the day. For a long time, 96.6 was the norm for me but I felt awful...sometimes my temps dropped to 94 and 95 degrees. Once it dropped to 92-93 and my legs turned blue. I think symptoms are everything. If you feel good, who cares what your temperature is. I think temps are good to determine if symptoms are from true hyper(not adrenal). When I've been on too much, my temps are about 99 most of the day.

[jeff0246]

That is good to know! Mine keeps varying. This morning it was 94.9 again. That is 4 days in a row. During the day it is in th 95-96 range....Anyone have any ideas what that may mean? Thanks so much

[crystal lyn]

Jeff, you're clearly hypo with those temps. How are you doing the temperature readings? It's best to put under the armpit and wait 10 minutes. If you're using a digital, wait 10 minutes and then turn it on. I don't know how your adrenals are....

[Birdlady]

Today was temp was 97.9 and that is after ovulation. I'm okay with those temps because my day time temps can run high and change depending upon the room temp. /sigh

[jeff0246]

Thank you Crystal for replying.

I only have a digital thermometer and the way I am taking my temperature is by taking it first thing in the morning before I get up or move and then waiting with the thermometer under my arm for a minute or so before I take it again. I am not waiting ten minutes, but I do take it multiple times and the thermometer is always the same, or it may go up by .1 over 4 or 5 readings. I will try taking my readings after 10 minutes though and see. Will my adrenals get "better" if I treat the hypo with medication, or do I need to treat the adrenals separately? I am new to this and am still learning...I have not even seen a doctor yet because the only one I called who I know works with type 2 hypothyroidism (since my bloodwork always shows normal) is $495 for the initial visit... I have no insurance, and he does not take it anyways. My wife and I just started as teachers here in Florida and will not have insurance for 90 days...

Regardless of what happens I am so thrilled and happy to finally (over ten years suffering) be looking in the right direction. It feels wonderful to know that there are such kind and giving people on this site. I am so happy to be here...

Thanks again Crystal. You are helping me more than you know