If all you want to do is burrow into your couch and hibernate when winter comes around, check your body temperature. It’s possible that you have low thyroid hormone function.
Low thyroid hormone function causes low metabolism, which leads to low body temperature–consistently below 98.5 F., or 36.94 C, but typically lower than 97.8 F, or 36.56 C.
Low body temperature due to low thyroid hormone activity can cause many of the symptoms you might blame on chilly winds and dark days such as dry skin, cold hands and feet, fatigue, weight gain and carb cravings, leg cramps, poor immunity and lack of motivation, even depression.
You can have low thyroid hormone function even when you have normal levels of the most common measure of thyroid function (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)). However, if your thyroid function is low, you will always have lower-than-normal body temperatures, so this is a more accurate way to actually assess thyroid hormone function. For detailed instructions for how to take body temperature correctly, see “How are body temperatures measured?” on my website.
You can help your body get back to normal by taking supplemental T3, the active form of thyroid hormone and a prescription drug. Taking T3 may help normalize metabolism and body temperature, and improve other symptoms.
Your doctor can call us at 800.420.5801 to get more information about how to use T3, along with nutritional and herbal support for both thyroid and adrenal problems, and to discuss your individual case. You can also use our website to find the health care practitioner closest to you who is trained in T3 treatment.
REFERENCES
Hage, MP, Azar, ST. The Link between Thyroid Function and Depression. J Thyroid Res. 2012;2012:590648. doi: 10.1155/2012/590648. Epub 2011 Dec 14.
Heymann WR, Gans EH, Manders SM, et al. Xerosis in hypothyroidism: a potential role for the use of topical thyroid hormone in euthyroid patients. Med Hypotheses. 2001 Dec;57(6):736-9.
Jabbour SA. Cutaneous manifestations of endocrine disorders: a guide for dermatologists. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4(5):315-31.
i don’t have low metabolism, but have anxiety and depression problems. i did the average temp – 2 thermometers 4 times a day for 3 days and my average is 96.9. is this cause for concern for Wilson’s or is it usually people with slow metabolism ? i’m skinny and can never gain weight. lol. Could this be adrenal gland problems more than likely or thyroid?
Low temperature can certainly cause anxiety and depression. Not everyone with low temperatures gains weight. Some have trouble keeping weight on, possibly due to malabsorption. Very often when people have low temperatures they are experiencing adrenal fatigue as well as Wilson’s. They can benefit from both thyroid and adrenal support.
Dr. Wilson, My 22 year old daughter just completed her first T3 protocol and the results have been nothing short of amazing. She is like a new person. We couldn’t be more thrilled. Where do I even begin besides saying thank you! I do have a question for you though. She used a glass thermometer during the whole treatment and it wasn’t until she was at the top of her cycle that she realized she was using the thermometer wrong. She was only leaving it in for two minutes instead of three. One day, she put the thermometer back in her mouth after two minutes and it went up some more and she realized she had been doing it wrong. When she was at the top of her cycle she was averaging a 99 temp with great fluctuations, anywhere between 97 and 99. As she was cycling down, her temp did not drop, so we assume she captured her temp. Here is my question. She has been off the T3 for three days and her temps are averaging 97.8 when she wakes up, and in the daytime 98.6 to 99.
Do you think 99 is too high and should we be concerned or do anything different? In other words, when she was cycling up, I wonder if she took too much T3 based on the false readings of her temp and now I am wondering if I should be concerned or what we should do!
Your advice would be so appreciated!
Debbie
Hi Debbie :)
I’m so glad to hear that your daughter did well with T3 therapy. I can’t offer any medical advice over the internet so I can’t say what your daughter should or shouldn’t do in her particular case. I’d be happy to discuss her case for free with her doctor though. Her doctor can call 800 420 5801 to make arrangements. I’m most interested to know the temperature when a person is having symptoms. If a person is not having symptoms then I’m not so curious about the temperature. For temperatures to average 98.6 then some of the temperatures will be above 98.6 and some will be below. It’s normal for temperatures to be lower in the morning and higher in the afternoon. Two things that can lower high temperatures are stress and fasting. Dieting can lower body temperatures. Best regards, Dr. Wilson