If you have thyroid issues, are your basal body temps low? I ask because mine are always low, and it just now occurs to me that this might have been a flag for thyroid issues all along. My BBT temps are usually 96.9. The one cycle I actually O'd (like, a year ago.. sigh) my base temperature was a little higher - 97.4, and my Post-O temps were about 98.2. But, since then its been 96.9 +/- .2 degrees or so.
I just got back from a visit with my Endo (because the metformin isn't really working), and based on previous tests he is doing some additional follow up on my thyroid. The TSH number was normal (well, 2.9 which is in the mostly normal range), but he ordered some tests for thyroid antibodies and T3 and T4 or something. I have a family history of Hypothyroid, so its mostly just a precaution.
I have to wait a week for the results, so I'm busy trying to self-diagnose (ha). Is the low BBT numbers a warning sign of thyroid issues? or am i just always cold? ha.
A continuously low BBT is almost always a sign of hypothyroidism but it could also be other conditions (anemia, low B12) Also forget the TSH for now...it is strictly a pituitary hormone (from the pituitary gland located in the brain) and is generally useless . If you want to know how your thyroid is doing have your 'Frees' checked....Free T4 which is your storage thyroid hormone and FreeT3 which is the active one. And yes do follow through with the antibodies test and PLEASE demand the 'Free' T's 3 & 4, not just T3 & T4. Also make sure you ask for a copy of your test results, that is your right as a patient.
TSH is important...as long as it is looked at with your other levels. It is a hormone from your pituitary, but is telling your thyroid what to do in response to your Free T3 and T4 levels. So all together, the numbers are necessary. That is great your doc is running the tests, even if it is precautionary...some people have to beg to get a thyroid panel done!
Cynthia
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I second the statement that TSH is important. My PCP told me just this morning that she definitely looks at it as an indication of whether my brain thinks my thyroid isn't producing enough T4.
BTW, my BBTs have been a bit low all month (this is the first month I've been temping), but I didn't know it was related! I could have mentioned it to my PCP as a symptom I've been having.
I have Hashimoto's Disease(in case i didnt already say) . Yes TSH is important but especially if you have never been on any thyroid hormones. If you have thyroglobulin antibodies attacking your thyroid then you will more than likely end up being hypothyroid because your thyroid gland is then just about non-functional, however everyone is different, some folks lose just about all their thyroid function (me for example) and some only half and others in between. I was taking Synthroid for a little over a year. It is just synthetic T4. I did feel better but for short periods only and it was then that i had to keep increasing the dose. In the meantime my thyroid was slowly dying (this was starting in '05) In the end i was ill (around late October '06) Here is my thyroid test results from 10/27/06:
Free T3: 6.20 ( normal range 2.39-6.79)
Free T4: 3.24 ( " " 0.58-1.64)
TSH: 0.03 ( " " 0.34-5.60)
Thyroglobulin antibodies: 773 ( normal range is 0-40)
The above readings was a result of taking 150mcg Synthroid for around 3 months (started at 25mcg) One would look at these labs and render me hyperthyroid based on the low TSH and they would have been wrong. When you have high antibodies your labs swing back and forth and you go from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid to eurothyroid (in case no one knows this,eurothyroid is when your thyroid is in a normal state) and this is constantly 24/7 so this is where symptoms take precedence over lab numbers. .
I was switched to Armour Thyroid on 11/1/06. Here are my recent labs from 3/7/07:
As you can see i still have high antibodies so yes my TSH makes me look like i'm hyperthyroid but the antibodies paint a true picture of Hashimoto's. My Free T3 is still in the lower range which means i do need an increase in my Armour which i'm slowly doing , also the Free T4 is a little on the lower end, it wouldnt surprise me if i needed to add a little T4 (Synthroid) to my Armour regimen, a lot of people do that. Also my basal body temps (before Armour) were low, always 97-97.2-97.4, now they are 98.2-98.4-98.6. 19th century dr's used this an an indicator of thyroid function, i wish more and more endos would use this and not just numbers on a piece of paper.
I am not an expert and dont in any way claim to be. I am a person who has suffered long enough and wasnt getting any help from endos ( been through 2 within a year) I am not criticizing endos, for there are decent, qualified ones out there, i just happened to have had 2 who were not. I am a person who has done their homework and researched Thyroid Disease not from a dr but via the power of the internet. It should be the other way around. Best of health and well-being to you all. Stay well
I have Hashi's as well & my TSH is in the normal range 2.73(a couple weeks ago). My Dr. does a complete thyroid panel, but we have never really discussed the thyroid antibodies, because I assumed they weren't a problem, though I have read much info about antibodies(Shomon books). My level has been 2.79-2.73 on 150mcg Synthroid since Nov. '06 and I have slowly begun to feel better-more energy, less achy joints, more regular cycles, less constipation, etc. I just started temping a couple cycles ago & found it useless because my temp stays at 95, 96.4, & 97.4 is the absolute highest. I was told that since I have thyroid issues & my temps were all over the place that temping wouldn't really be beneficial to me, so I have stopped. Is my temp supposed to be normal if my TSH is in normal range, or is low temp still "normal" for me???? Does my constant low temp indicate that my thyroid is not working at its optimal level???? I did O for the frst time this cycle according to my CBEFM!!! so that's good news!!!
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It is possible that you have a low body temp anyway. I do, so my basal temps are lower too. You can chart your temps, but just be aware that they are at a lower level.
Cynthia
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Thanks Cynthia!! From other women I have talked to that are Hypothyroid & charting BBT, it seems that even though their thyroid is within normanl range, they still have lower temps than most do - I'm just glad to finally be getting better. Now if I could just get a BFP . . . . that would be fantastic!!
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Thyroid issues and low basal temps 
I have Hashimoto's Disease(in case i didnt already say) . Yes TSH is important but especially if you have never been on any thyroid hormones. If you have thyroglobulin antibodies attacking your thyroid then you will more than likely end up being hypothyroid because your thyroid gland is then just about non-functional, however everyone is different, some folks lose just about all their thyroid function (me for example) and some only half and others in between. I was taking Synthroid for a little over a year. It is just synthetic T4. I did feel better but for short periods only and it was then that i had to keep increasing the dose. In the meantime my thyroid was slowly dying (this was starting in '05) In the end i was ill (around late October '06) Here is my thyroid test results from 10/27/06:
