thoughts about body temperature | Arthritis Information

 

My entire adult life, my temperature has ranged from 96 to 97 degrees F. I could be deathly sick with the flu, a cold - it stayed right there no matter what. In fact, if I ever had a fever I would probably have made a beeline for the emergency room. Well, since being DX with RA, I've taken it a few times just for fun, and it's normal! 98.8, right on the mark.

In considering this, it makes a certain amount of sense due to the fact that RA has your immune system all cranked up all the time - in essence fighting imaginary infection. Inflammation and infection aren't the same thing, and I don't really have an infection even though my body appears to think so. Is it the work of the immune system that raises body temperature or the presence of actual germs? Maybe I'm oversimplifying. But I wonder if anyone has noticed an uptick in their body temperature with RA, and I also wonder if that has anything to do with feeling so very run down. Yes, I am finally at the "normal" temp, but I am used to being two or three degrees lower.

Lynn49, have you ever run across anything about this during your extensive travels through the World of Science?It's not abnormal for many folks with autoimmune diseases to have a rise in temperature.  I run a low grade fever whenesver I'm in a flare It's  Ihe way the body reacts to inflammation.

AnnFirst... WOW

I have this and so do many people I've talked to.  My norm temp is 97.3 and since Fibro/RA my temp has often been up to 98.5-100.5.  I have also heard of this being a potential thyroid issue, although I also test normal on thyroid.Mine was always 97.  It has come up to between 97.6 and 98.  I am like you Blue, if I run say 99 to 100, I am really ill. 
I have Hashimoto's and I figured that was why my normal body temperature is always 97.  When I'm in a flare, it hovers around normal too.  So for me, a temp of 98.6 isn't normal for me.  I run about 99F, unless I'm sick. [QUOTE=waddie]Mine was always 97.  It has come up to between 97.6 and 98.  I am like you Blue, if I run say 99 to 100, I am really ill. 
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Exactly like my daughter.  99.3 is the worst for her!  I can almost know it before the thermometer stops.  But she actually feels better sometimes if it goes higher.  I've thought it must have gone back down, and it will be 102.
How interesting that so many other RA people have had low temps originally that are now "normal." I have never had my thyroid tested, and actually this is the first time that I realized there were so many others that had low body temp. Yet another reason why I'm dragged out so often now - I actually didn't know what it felt like to be feverish till now! Thanks everyone, for the information.exactly, snow!!!  like the furnace (internal) is just a might too high.... i'm normal at 95.? to 96.? -  When I'm feeling like crap, I'm 98.?  Weirdmy normal runs about 97..maybe a hair lower. If I get to 98.6 I KNOW I'm sick.  This past bout with pneumonia I had a fever of 103.  Mine went the other way.  it was always normal until RA and now runs in the low 97s.  again if i get to 99 i know i really have something going ojnOnce..... for ten days I did my basal waking temp..... in the hopes that my endo would feel this is indicative of "something" before being told it was just my RA about basal charting: mine is always normal in the morning but if I have a stressfull day at work and I am not feeling well it is usually in th 99's. I guess stress=flaring for me.
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