How low can your body temp be safely?

[OldFatChick]

I was diagnosed hypothyroidal late last year and my body temperature is really low.  Most of the time it hovers around 95.5 and occasionaly gets up to 97.5, but the other evening it was 93.7.  At what point is it dangerous?

[gimel]

When you go to see your new PCP, make sure you are well prepared to discuss  your previous TSH results, plus all your many symptoms. Take some notes with you to be sure you cover all the points that need to be discussed.  You should insist on a full panel of thyroid tests, especially free T3 and free T4, along with TSH and others.  Don't let the doc talk you out of any of these tests.  In my opinion free T3 is the most important.

Assuming that the tests will confirm your hypothyroid  condition, you might also initiate a discussion about  what meds the doc will prescribe and what test result will be used to determine your dosage.  It is not in your best interest for the doc to use TSH as the measure of whether your dosage is correct or not.  It would be much better to use free T3 and target the upper third of its range.  This should give you the best result as far as alleviating symptoms.
Please let us know how things go with the doctor and if we can be of any further help.
Best to you.

[OldFatChick]

Thank you so much for the info on lymphedema!  I have an appointment with my new PCP on the 30th.  I will be sure to ask about that.  I am tired all the time. I am at about 210 now, heaviest I have EVER been before was about 180.  Generally I am around 145-165. My appetite is really poor.  I have to force myself to eat sometimes, so I knew soemthing was wrong well before they tested my thyroid.  They put me on levothyroxine, but at a very low dose and so far I haven't noticed any difference.  I also have bad brain fog, muscle spasms, heck I have so many symptoms I have had to start keeping a list.  And I am never sure which symptoms go with which disease, lol.

[gimel]

Your TSH was 8.65, with no reaction to that by the doctor?  Even the old range for TSH was .5-5.0 (now .3-3.0).   You need to have a serious discussion with your doctor about your hypothyroidism and the need for treatment.

I don't know if this relates or not, but I have an acquaintance that had hypothyroidism that went untreated for many years.  She ended up with cholesterol problems, weight problems, extreme fatigue, the beginning of sugar problems, and leg lymphedema.  For the leg problem, which her doctor said was water retention, she got prescriptions for diuretics, which of course never helped.    It seems that the excess weight problem interferes with proper functioning of the lymphatic system and can result in the edema problem.

Here is a quote from a Russian study on lymphedema.  
"the examination covered 1191 lymphedema patients (635 primary and 536 secondary disease cases). Hypothyroidism-like thyroid dysfunction was found in 80% of patients with primary lymphedema. Measurements of thyroid hormones confirmed the above findings. It is held that lymphedema patients should undergo the thyreoidin test and combined treatment including thyroid hormone therapy."

[OldFatChick]

My TSH was 8.65 last time they tested.  I'll have to look up the other results, I don't remember what they were.  I do know that the fluid retention is ridiculous.  If I sit with my legs under me and my heel is against the shin of the other leg, after a couple of minutes I have a divot the size of a baseball on my leg.

[gimel]

Low body temp. is a good indicator of low metabolism and possible hypo t.  What thyroid tests were done for you that resulted in diagnosis for hypothyroid?  Are you on medication now?   I suggest that you probably need to have your current thyroid levels tested.  Suggest that  you start with free T3 and free T4, as well as TSH, to find out your current status, and then post the actual numbers and their ranges.