Low body temperature - causes??

zzzLazyDaisy

I have been ill for some time with undiagnosed fatigue and am seen by my doctor regularly. PLease note, I am NOT asking for medical advice, just some pointers so I know what to ask my GP on my next visit.

I have low body temperature - it rarely goes above 36.5 and is often around 35.9. I am wondering if this might account for some of my symptoms.

It is true that I do feel the cold a lot and have difficulty coping with changes in temperature (my partner jokes that I have a faulty thermostat).

I have private medical cover and my GP is very helpful and as keen to find a reason for my condition as I am. She is willing to refer me to a specialist, but is at a loss where to refer me to.

(For the sake of completeness, I have type 2 diabetes, it is very well controlled, and my doctor is certain that isn't the cause of my problems)

Does anyone else have low body temperature? Any idea what MIGHT cause such a thing? (I am not asking for a diagnosis, just a pointer so my GP can carry out tests or refer me, or at least rule some things out)

Thanks

zzzLazyDaisy

Hi, thanks for this. I was tested for Vit D deficiency by my rheumatologist in July and levels were normal - well they would be, I'd been outside every hour in the day drinking in the sunshine!!

Might be worth having it checked again.

thanks

GeorginaAlexi

has glandular fever been ruled out?

zzzLazyDaisy

No. I don't have a fever and haven't had swollen glands, so that hasn't been tested.

cattie

An under active thyroid can cause low body temperature & cause you to feel cold even in a sweltering room. Another symptom is severe fatigue.

Has your doctor tested you for thyroid disorder? One of the tests is a simple blood test & there is a further test carried out at hospital that measures the speed of reflex actions.

zzzLazyDaisy

I was tested for thyroid disorder 5 years ago and it came back normal, might be worth having that checked again too.

I am thinking of asking to be referred to an endocrinologist, as I was on quite high doses of steroids for about 20 years due to crohn's disease. The steroids stopped after I had surgery, and the condition is now stable. I see a consultant annually and I am sure the problem isn't crohn's related. But am wondering if my adrenal glands could have suffered from the prolongued use of steroids.

The diabetes and the possibility of thyroid problem also would fall under the remit of an endocrinologist.

hmmmm

zzzLazyDaisy

cattie wrote:

An under active thyroid can cause low body temperature & cause you to feel cold even in a sweltering room. Another symptom is severe fatigue.

Has your doctor tested you for thyroid disorder? One of the tests is a simple blood test & there is a further test carried out at hospital that measures the speed of reflex actions.

Just re-read your message. Interestingly my GP commented on my poor reflex response

sleepymy

Do you have any other symptoms besides the fatigue & low temperature?

superflygal

I have a really low basal body temperature as well. I was charting my temps for a while, and my lowest was 35.18c! pre ovulation and 36.60c (highest) post I thought i was clinically dead!!

I haven't done anything about it though, as i feel generally well (Although I am pregnant and feeling sick!).

I did google low body temp at one point and think underactive thyroid was one of the causes.

Good luck. Worth seeing doc if you are worried!

Superflygal x

zzzLazyDaisy

sleepymy wrote:

Do you have any other symptoms besides the fatigue & low temperature?

I do, but I have fibromyalgia, crohn's disease, and diabetes. I also have a spinal injury from a car accident. However all the conditions are well managed, and this extreme fatigue and low body temp appears to be something new.

However, the other symptoms I have (which may or may not be related to the above conditions) are:

Short term memory loss / poor concentration
balance problem (I bump into things, and sometimes lose my balance)
Feeling cold 'from the inside out' even when the room is warm
muscle tenderness (probably the fybromialgia)
severe facial sweating when I eat starchy carbohydrates (may be connected to the diabetes, but I avoid starchy carbs, so it isn't a great problem)
Also, recently I have been getting really bad headaches, which is also a new development

Suppose I should have mentioned the other conditions, but the common reaction is to assume ALL symptoms are related to the above conditions, when in fact this is something that I haven't experienced before - especially the low body temperature

sleepymy

zzzLazyDaisy wrote:

I do, but I have fibromyalgia, crohn's disease, and diabetes.

Short term memory loss / poor concentration
balance problem (I bump into things, and sometimes lose my balance)
Feeling cold 'from the inside out' even when the room is warm
muscle tenderness (probably the fybromialgia)
severe facial sweating when I eat starchy carbohydrates (may be connected to the diabetes, but I avoid starchy carbs, so it isn't a great problem)
Also, recently I have been getting really bad headaches, which is also a new development

Suppose I should have mentioned the other conditions, but the common reaction is to assume ALL symptoms are related to the above conditions, when in fact this is something that I haven't experienced before - especially the low body temperature

You're right there is a trend of putting new symptoms down to existing illness which is why your gp needs to do through checks, especially the headaches and balance problems, just to rule out anything sinister.

Some of your symptoms sound like ME symptoms but may be symptoms of fbromyalgia syndrome (is it fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia syndrome you have?) as the two can be very similar in symptoms leading to misdiagnoses at times.

Do you suffer from migraine? They can often change pattern & symptom and cause balance problems.