low body temperature

[Myown]

Are there any other members that have a normal thyroid function, YET always have a low body temperature? If you are SVR did the temperature go back to normal? My thyroid is fine, yet the low temp seems to be a problem. Just curious if anyone else has had this problem or ever took their temp in the morning to see. My temp is always low at the doctors and thats when I started to check it daily again.

I just can't figure out why it stays so low.

Thanks,
MO

[jdwithhcv]

I agree HCV has as-yet undiscovered relationships to many medical problems but it is disingenuous to attribute every single symptom to HCV.

I know for a fact that I have medical problems and issues that are unrelated to HCV.  In my case I can directly attribute some of my symptoms to the aftereffects and squlae of high-dose radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.

As Deb so astutely put it, "think, look at all angles."

[ponyshel]

Hey it is normal to run low so don't fret...8 months post 72 and finally my thyroid is normal ( at least for now)..takes time and not all of us return to normal. Hang in there :) shelly

[Myown]

Wow!  Very well stated, and 100% accurate!  Everyone should read your post and internalize the message.  We need to get our doctors to listen, and to be REAL doctors in diagnosing difficult problems, doing the due diligence, and following up with labs, referrals, and whatever is necessary, in order to fully address the patient's needs and problems.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DD, thankyuh! Its true we do need to get our doctors to listen. This seems to be a very big problem. Plus the kicker is, its a deadly disease and many doctors aren't even involved, instead they hand off patients to the NP's. I only see this happening in Hepatology. Many people don't even know if their NP is consulting with the doctor about their case. One member told me she travels 4 hrs and rarely sees the hep doc. When you really think about it, that is another thing that proves we are not getting the attention that this disease needs to get,,not from the government, media, nor even doctors who are supposed to be treating the disease and instead its NP's who may not be seeing you thru the same lense that a Hepatologist would.. Well we just have to keep on voicing our concerns to our doctors and hope that it will make a difference.

----------------------------------------------------
Hi Elaine,!, I haven't started tx yet, but hope to be starting soon. Keeping you and Nick in my prayers.
_________________

Hi jd,
I hope all is well with you.
I agree with the answer that DD gave you. I really don't have anything to add to it.

Seeya's
MO

[Deb_c430]

I would agree that many who are HCV may be prone to other long  lasting sides, these are serious drugs.  I would also say that  this virus is not good news at all!

As is Chemo and radiation.

But I have to say also I wonder how many would of gotten  some of these dieseases anyway.

I think family history, weight, genetics,   diet,  age, all have to be factored in to all this also.  

If you look at many of the profiles, a lot of us are over 40, this is an age people start to change anyway. bodies wear out.  I am sure the virus does not help it!

I do not doubt that the virus can change your body,  my accident did also,   but I think also at some point you have to recognize   all things I mentioned above.  

Not all heavy people have bad thyroids, some just eat to much.  (no offense)    

While this forum is based on HCV, and all things related, I still think that all things need to be factored into  non recognized HCV diseases.

SO I suppose I agree with both you,  but think  look at all angles.

Deb

[DoubleDose]

And I have to say that for a good number of them, it may WELL BE related directly to the HCV!  Don't ever underestimate the potential for this virus to play havoc with all sorts of systems and functions in many people.  If you look at a list of possible extra-hepatic symptoms, on many of the comprehensive HCV websites, the list goes on, and on, and on.  And they are still discovering heretofore unknown relationships with HCV and a variety of maladies and syndromes.  I would never be one to say quickly that something could NOT be connected to HCV.  I have seen, read about, and heard of too much damaged caused by this virus.  

DoubleDose

[jdwithhcv]

While I agree that we must participate diligently, I can't help noticing that some DO attribute everything that happens to them to Hep C.

[DoubleDose]

Wow!  Very well stated, and 100% accurate!  Everyone should read your post and internalize the message.  We need to get our doctors to listen, and to be REAL doctors in diagnosing difficult problems, doing the due diligence, and following up with labs, referrals, and whatever is necessary, in order to fully address the patient's needs and problems.

We need more interdisciplinary conversations among the doctors in a variety of fields, especially as it relates to HCV, which seems to affect many systems and organs, as well as psychological function in patients.  We must be assertive, and push the issues until they are heard!  Then the doctors must do their part, and find the answers....or we need a new doctor if they don't.

Very well stated, and from the heart.  I am sure that most of us felt some of what you related, from our own past experiences.

DoubleDose

[Myown]

Early on, when I was first dx or actually I think it may have been just prior to dx - yeah I think so,,,it was when I was trying to figure out what was wrong and going to a holistic doc, she said I was slightly hypothyroid and put me on Armour thyroid. Eventually my thryroid seemed okay, and I weened myself off and it has been fine ever since, except for the constant low body temp,,so I said to one of my docs, I bet the low temp is from HCV somehow. But I think that most of our doctors think that we think EVERYTHING that is wrong with us we blame on HCV. When I was told that by one of my doctors I said, "well now I can agree with you about that," cause I do think all my problems ARE HCV related.

Because we deal with specialists they don't know much outside of their territory and if they haven't a clue of how to connect the dots, nor an interest in connecting the dots, then its left up to us lay people and yes we are in over our head at times, but what are we supposed to do, just sit around and not try to piece things together? So we come here and try to piece the puzzle together, but of course should always keep in the back of our mind, we are not doctors,,and to run everything by them before taking it as gospel.

I remember several years back watching something on 60 Minutes or one of those shows. A woman was not well, gaining weight like crazy. She had gone to many doctors and had lots of blood work and no one could figure out what was wrong. They kept telling her she was eating too much and thats why she was gaining weight. She kept telling all these specialists - no I am not eating alot. Well she kept blowing up - like balloon.. So winds up, she went back to all the doctors and asked for all her labs. She sat down and looked for something that was out of line with her blood work. She saw that on ALL her labs her cortisol was high.Not one doctor had ever mentioned that! She got on the computer and googled and found out about Cushings Disease. Bingo! This was after 6 YEARS of going to experts, being accused of eating too much and no one ever mentioned or even considered Cushings....

So now she makes an appointment with this new doc and she is in the room waiting for him to come in......In he walks, glances at her blood work and says "well it looks to me like you have Cushings Disease. She broke down and cried, so relieved someone diagnosed her correctly. Can any of you relate? I certainly can. Some of you may have seen that story, if I left anything out, let me know, but that is what I remember.

Thank God for doctors. I bow at the feet of anyone who can go to school that long, but sometimes we as patients get revelation here and there and we are not that far off track in our self dx AND sometimes we are even 100% correct in our self dx. It's certainly still important to listen to our doctors,,,,BUT they have to learn its important to listen to us too!! - we know our bodies and we know when something is not right. My Neurologist said that to me too. Thats why I like him. He said, its very important for a doctor to listen VERY CLOSELY to a patient. He kept stopping me every few sentences and would question me. By doing that, he was the one who was able to piece together that my ear noise could have been from the chronic stress - which caused the disorder or syndrome I should say...and all because I said, this noise started while I was under really bad stress due to a situation in my family. I told that same thing to two ENT's and they blew it off - probably just thought to themselves - yeah, all Irish redheads are neurotic, how come all of them don't have ears that buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Kidding, but not really, sorta though:)
But anyhow, in gathering together on forum, letting each other know what symptoms we all are experiencing, is a way to find common denominators between us and in doing that we can them take that info to our doctors and say " doctor, I know 10 other heppers that have this same symptom,,, come on, please listen to what I am saying." For those that are shy about talking to their doctors - time to break out of your shell and speak up and let him know about your extraheptatic manifestations if you have them. They all talk to each other at these meetings and if they start hearing that their patients are all complaining about the same thing, it may help us to get them to look a little deeper and listen a little bit more closely to us. I mean really, once someone is considered SVR, they pat you on your rear end and say have a good life. I think we need a little bit more follow up than a once a year visit.

Gotta run, seeya's all later,
MO

[pigeonca]

I also have a low body temp - 96 to 97 most of the time.  But so does my sister-in-law, and she doesn't have hcv or any autoimmune disease other than type 1 diabetes.  I don't think low temp occurs with greater frequency in diabetics, but really don't know for sure.  Interesting topic.

[copyman]

i asked HR about the low body temp awhile back but can't seem to find the thread. LOL i forgot what he said about it. i will try and find it and post his answer to me. i have boarderline HIGH BP along with my low body temp not low like others have posted.

[seabean]

For many years, I've had a low body temp. I am 2 years post tx (svr) and it's still low.

[sldb]

Low body temp started during tx. lasting throughout.  T3. T4.& TSH have been normal during and post tx.  18 mths post tx ( svr )  I become very cold towards the end of the day.. Thyroid checked every 6 mths and continue normal.

[Deb_c430]

Actually I never minded it lol! Ok sometimes :)) As long as pg tips were available!  A good cupper!  

Centre Parcs was marketed as "The British Holiday, the weather can't spoil"  Till it burnt down!  

They rebuilt bigger and better tho!

[dointime]

jdwithhcv -
"You are in the UK, yes?  Which part?  I used to work for a company with HQ in Croydon so I'd get to London quite a bit - love it there."

I used to live in London but glad to be up north now.  Glad you like it over here.  I sure like it over there and get over whenever I can.  I have family in LA.  Back in the day, southern cal. was my idea of bliss.    

Deb_c430
"I worked in the UK also! at Cente Parcs in eleveden forest!  "

Another Anglophile, makes me feel right at home.  Howdidya like our weather?

DD -
"There has to be some answer to this issue, and I do not think the researchers have really noticed this problem enough yet.  I have to wonder how many others with HCV, or who have treated, have noticed abnormally low body temperature over the years.  "

I think you are right on the button DD.  This is a great thread.  I think we really learned here that this metabolism thing bothers some of us a lot.  I guess the medics are just so focused on clearing the virus that there's not much attention paid to the complications of this disease unless they are life-threatening.    

dointime.    

[dointime]

jdwithhcv -
"You are in the UK, yes?  Which part?  I used to work for a company with HQ in Croydon so I'd get to London quite a bit - love it there."

I used to live in London but glad to be up north now.  Glad you like it over here.  I sure like it over there and get over whenever I can.  I have family in LA.  Back in the day, southern cal. was my idea of bliss.    

Deb_c430
"I worked in the UK also! at Cente Parcs in eleveden forest!  "

Another Anglophile, makes me feel right at home.  Howdidya like our weather?

DD -
"There has to be some answer to this issue, and I do not think the researchers have really noticed this problem enough yet.  I have to wonder how many others with HCV, or who have treated, have noticed abnormally low body temperature over the years.  "

I think you are right on the button DD.  This is a great thread.  I think we really learned here that this metabolism thing bothers some of us a lot.  I guess the medics are just so focused on clearing the virus that there's not much attention paid to the complications of this disease unless they are life-threatening.    

dointime.    

[DoubleDose]

A website that I just looked at listed some of the possible causes of low body temperature.  Here were several listed:

Endocrinologic disorders
–Hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism, hypoadrenalism

Neurologic and neuromuscular disorders
–Central dysfunction of thermoregulatory control
–Immobilizing conditions
–Intracranial hemorrhage or infarction
–CNS tumors
–Congenital absence of the corpus callosum

Others listed included various drugs, eating disorders, exposure to cold (duh!), etc.  The above listed may have some relevance to our cases.

DoubleDose

[Deb_c430]

I can understand the thyroid and pituatary concerns,  but have you all thought about things like body weight?   My family is all small framed, our bodies do not have to work as hard to stay cool.

No Thyroid concerns ever from anyone, in my family.   That is not say they will show up while i am txing, but so far no.


There is no denying the concerns of txing and thyroids.   But actually like low blood pressure (not dangerously low)  lower body temps are a good thing.

DD awesome you are SVR

[ladywhy]

MO:Yes, everytime I get temp checked at dr...for many years now...it's been low. Also, blood pressure a bit low....which they all say is a good thing.


jd: I just watched this home remedy program (these 2 sisters..twins I think, have some incredible info). Anyway, they swear by this one.: Cut a lemon and rub on forehead. Then used slice lemons..place on forehead, scalp and wrap head in scarf....worth a try!

[Myown]

Maybe we should look at the experience of patients who have had long term Lupus, Sjogren's, etc, to determine if abnormally low body temps are a part of their general clinical profile.  That might translate into our having an autoimmune-driven temperature problem.
--------------------------------------------
Thats a good idea. Maybe post in the Lupus forum?
MO

[DoubleDose]

Maybe we should look at the experience of patients who have had long term Lupus, Sjogren's, etc, to determine if abnormally low body temps are a part of their general clinical profile.  That might translate into our having an autoimmune-driven temperature problem.

Also, if we check out those with severe Pituitary deficiency, both child cases, and adult, maybe that would signal whether the Pituitary is chiefly responsible for governing the body temperature, even when the Thyroid tests normal.  There has to be some answer to this issue, and I do not think the researchers have really noticed this problem enough yet.  I have to wonder how many others with HCV, or who have treated, have noticed abnormally low body temperature over the years.  

DoubleDose

[Myown]

Thanks for your responses. It does seem alot of us have this low body temp thing going on, even those like DoubleDose who is SVR. I definitely think its virus related cause the virus both active and occult I believe (IMO) does affect our body in many ways. The hormone imbalance alone that it causes would cause "thryoid type of a syndrome". I don't know what else to call it, being many of us our thyroid is normal, yet we have low body temp just like those who do have reall thryroid problems.

Dointime, thanks for your kind words and I hope you feel better soon.

MO

[HeeBGBz]

That's weird.  I just went through some sort of episode that felt like flu.  All the symptoms of the flu, but my temp stayed around 96.8.  My average temp seems to run somewhat lower than normal.  Have had bp on the lower side for years.  I haven't done tx yet.

[copyman]

my temp is low, usually around 96-97. like DD posted i think this has to do with HCv & the immune system.

[Deb_c430]

Me to lately, Have always been so active.  Now  walking around the mall this weekend i spent most of my time looking for the next bench  and not in the windows.

I worked in the UK also! at Cente Parcs in eleveden forest!