for those that temp

Halfbaked · #1 August 20th, 2010, 01:29 PM

I tried to temp before but it was a long time ago and I can't remember things. I decided to try temping just to verify O but my temps are really low. Today it was 95.7 doesn't that mean something? Can I still temp with really low numbers?

MeganMomof5 · #2 August 20th, 2010, 02:23 PM

I don't see why not, maybe your temps are just low?...I'm not an expert at temping, i've only had to do it 2 cycles...I hope someone else is more help

T_Mommy · #3 August 20th, 2010, 03:26 PM

I don't think it matters what your temp is, it is more of the pattern of your temps you want to look at. You want to make sure to temp at the same time every morning, give or take 20 minutes and after 4 hours of consecutive sleep. You also want to make sure to take your temp before moving much, talking or getting out of bed.

With that said. 95 degrees sounds a bit low since normal body temp is about 98 degrees. Either way though, I'd focus on the pattern of your temps and once you see your temps are consistently up for a few days you will know that you O'd. Are you using Fertility Friend? That is what I use.

Halfbaked · #4 August 20th, 2010, 06:26 PM

I am waking up just to temp so it's at the same time. I know my temp is normally low. 97 is regular for me and 98.7 means I have a temperature but 95 just seems really low. The first night it was 95.85 and I thought I must have been half asleep and didn't read it right but it was low again. I'm using a program on my phone to track everything and have an old copy of Taking Charge of your Fertility that I cant find. I just thought that I'd read somewhere that if your basal body temp is low, it could point to certain health problems.

ohnicole · #5 August 20th, 2010, 07:21 PM

Is your thermometer old? It's just one thing to check if you get temps that are consistently below 96. I think that you can continue temping, you should still be able to see a shift when you ovulate. I have read that low temps can point to thyroid issues, but I don't know if that's true or a myth. My own pre-O temps are on the low side too (between 96.5 and 97).

Halfbaked · #6 August 21st, 2010, 09:25 PM

Brand new thermometer. I've often wondered about my thyroid. It's borderline high but they never do anything about it. I also have CFS so I wonder if that has anything to do with my temps. Today it was 96.0 so I guess I'm still alive.

NutMeg76 · #7 August 21st, 2010, 11:29 PM

By borderline high, do you mean your TSH is borderline high? Did they ever tell you the numbers? Borderline high could mean that you need treatment. In 2003 I was borderline high with a TSH of 5.9, well they changed the standards in 2003 and now it is considered high at 3.2. It was almost 3 years before they found out I was pretty sick and started me on meds.

Then even after Iw as being treated I had perfectly normal numbers at 2.75, but I was having symptoms. It turns out I needed my meds increased again, because my body does best when my TSH is suppressed. I had been TTC for 12 months and was about to ask to see a specialist. Then the PA upped my meds and guess what? I got pregnant the next cycle.

If you can find your labs, or have the doc give you the results and OM them to me I can help you interpret them. Most doctors don't know what they are doing when it comes to thyroid issues, which leads to it being grossly under diagnosed.

To answer your question, yes you can still benefit from temping, and yes your low temps could indicate a problem. When I was first learning NFP back in 2000 my instructor commented on my temps and said it could be thyroid and I insisted I was fine. I should have listened to her!

Halfbaked · #8 August 22nd, 2010, 01:05 AM

I can't remember what my tsh was last but it's always been borderline hyperthyroid. I was nursing and told it was unsafe to treat so nothing was done. A while ago I saw a Dr. for something else and he was convinced I actually had hypothyroid. He put me on meds that made me feel like I was having a heart attack. After reducing the meds down to almost nothing, I just stopped because I was shaking so much all the time. That Dr moved and I haven't had my thyroid checked since then. I go in to my endocrinologist in Dec so I'll ask about my thyroid again.
Still temping but I think I'll use opks just to make sure.

~InHisHands~ · #9 August 22nd, 2010, 04:41 AM

My temps are commonly around 96 pre-O & yes, it can mean hypo. That was my first indication of hypo actually. I pushed for some testing & in fact, I'm hypo. Feel free to drop by the Thyroid Disorders board if you need any advice but I will say that when you get your thyroid tested it is best to get your Free T3, Free T4, & TSH all tested. Most endo's only test TSH. Plus get a copy of the lab report (this is VERY important). Most labs & endo's alike use the OLD normal range of 0.5-5.0 but the updated range for TSH is 0.3-3.0 so they could say you're normal but your TSH may be 5.0... this is NOT normal. You would be hypo & would need meds, especially if TTC. GL! I hope you get it figured out!

NutMeg76 · #10 August 22nd, 2010, 12:08 PM

If you are often borderline HYPER and a doc was treating you for HYPO, you may have Hashimotos. That is where your body is fighting your thyroid. It make make you fluctuate between hyper and hypo, which would be why you reacted the way you did to the hypo meds.

When you see the endo ask them to also test your thyroid antibodies, they probably won't want to do it, unless they are natural minded, so you will have to be very persistent. You may also need to be persistent just to get them to do all the blood work recommended above. A lot of endos are not too savvy about the thyroid and focus more attention to their diabetic patients.

If the endo refuses to do the right tests and you are in the U.S. there is a website where you can order your own labs and take it to a local lab to have the blood drawn.