I thought I would start a new thread to ask the difference between core temperature/fever and MY confusion. When I feel horribly hot, I take my temperature. I do not have a fever. Does this mean that I cannot experience heat stroke or am not as long as I am not running a fever, AND when I get hot (cannot sweat) is this dangerous? I know I am kinda stuck on this issue. I admit my worry is at the forefront of things right now. It is such a terrible feeling. I remember telling a friend, "You cannot get THIS hot or feel this HOT and not die." And although that sounds ridiculous, even to me, I hate how it feels and I am trying to understand and know the facts about my safety.
I see a Rheumy on the 17th, and that is temporary until our new one comes on board late August. I WAS to see someone sooner, but circumstances out of my control changed that.
(sigh) Thank you all for your patience on this matter.
Anyway..thank you again.
I hope everyone has a good Sunday.
EllaBlue
My "normal" body temperature is around 97. When my temperature gets up to 98.6, which is so called normal, I feel awful. The doctors don't think I am sick. I am not sure if it's a sjogrens thing or just me. Technically my rheumatologist is calling mine sicca. I do have the diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease.
My normal body temperature is 97.6, so I am feverish with any temperature above 99. I run fevers frequently and they seem to come out of the blue - I'll be feeling fine, but can tell my body is hot and if I hold my hand over my abdomen, for example, I can feel the heat coming off it. Otherwise, I don't feel sick - just HOT. It goes away on its own without taking medication for it, and I know it's just part of the inflammatory process. My rheumy knows about my fevers and isn't too concerned about them - just has me watching for high fevers that might indicate infection.
My normal body temp is 97.2, sometimes lower. I think the hypothyroidism and the plaquenil/anti-inflammatories contribute to the lower temp. When I am sick my temp gets up in the 99-100 range, occasionally higher. If I get up to 98.6 or so, I usually know I am coming down with something and it will eventually go a little higher. My doctor is only concerned if it is over 100. She knows about the frequent 99. fevers and the low normal body temp, but isn't too concerned about that unless the fever gets over 100.
Nancy
I read somewhere that the normal body temp of SJS sufferers is lower than 98.6. It's weird cuz I've always run a 99 or 99.2 but now I run 97.2-97.6. I'm sorry I can't remember what SJS article I read that talked about the lower body temp. Don't think it said "why" just that "we do".
I know I have read the same thing about Hypothyroidism and also about people who take NSAID's or other anti-inflammatories (because of the medications effect on inflammation).
I can't remember where I read this though.
Nancy
None of my drs will admit this, but every time I get my temp taken at their office (every time I'm there) I ask them what the temp was. It has been as low as 96.0 and upwards, but always less than 98.6 unless I'm running a fever. I will ask and they always laugh at my statement/question. They are full of it if we all have low temps.
I have always, even as a child ran a sub-temp of around 96.8 to 97..2 and still do..kinda strange...or is it?? As a little one the doctors always kinda scratched their heads, now they just shrug!! The Research Engine inside me seems to find a new avenue of exploration....seek and ye shall find! ~sass~
Ok EllaBlue...here goes! First my apologies..everyone started talking about there own core temp and ignored your question. So, there are others that can do a better job at this, but I am at least going to make an attempt...
My husband has a long history with heat stroke..I had to adminster CPR in one instance and had EMS called. we have had several close calls...
Hyperthermia ( too hot) occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can handle or swweat. It is usually caused by too long in high temperatures. The heat-regulating mechanisms of the body eventually become overwhelmed and unable to deal with the heat, causing the body temperature to climb uncontrollably.
Hyperthermia at or above about 104 °F is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Common symptoms include headache, confusion, and fatigue. sometimes, in my hubby's case he has stroke like symptoms..speaking is difficult and he does not follow commands well..
If sweating has resulted in dehydration or in other words stopped, then the affected person may have dry, red skin. His is beet red..but he has a natural red face anyway.
In a medical setting, mild hyperthermia is commonly called heat exhaustion ; severe hyperthermia is called heat stroke.
Heat stroke may come on suddenly, but it usually follows the untreated milder stages.Like in my husbands case he drinks water constantly, but his mechanism that regulates his sweating or stopping of it is kinda off. He knows he is getting too hot NOW and we do the treatments that involves cooling and rehydrating the body;
This may be done through moving into shaded environment, drinking water, removing clothing that might keep heat close to the body, or sitting in front of a fan. splashing room temperature or cool water, or even just washing the face and other exposed areas of the skin, can be helpful. I like to keep a spray bottle of water handy for him just to spray occasionally on his face, neck and wrists...DO NOT GIVE MEDICINE TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE..
With fever, the body's core temperature rises to a higher temperature through the action of the part of the brain that controls the body temperature; with hyperthermia, the body temperature is raised without the consent of the heat control centers.
He now takes frequent breaks and sits in the shade of our porch with a fan..sprays himself and then will cool off and come in the AC for a bit. We even keep the fans running and a block of ice in the water ( as well as regular temp water) for our dog, Fancy, his constant companion.
The heat that we are having has been extremely hard to handle this year. It steals my breath as soon as I walk out and if you live where the humidity is high like our 100% it is even harder. Wear light colored clothing that breathes, like cotton, if you plan on being outdoors...wear sunblock, we have several battery operated fans and the spray bottles. Keeping a wet cloth on the back of your neck can be a lifesaver (really) and if you feel overwhelmed by the heat, rub your wrist with some ice or water...If you are unsure,,try to spit...worse than normal,,get help immediately. First, let someone know, then have them call for help....
hope this helps you some.....~sass~ (not a doctor, lol nor a nurse)
Thanks so much!
I THINK I get it better now. Let's say the ac goes out...broken, power outage, whatever happens to make me start to worry and it is say 98 and wicked humid.
I then need to spray my face...keep wetting clothes, put behind neck, and other mentioned points and keep the body cool because of my inability to sweat. AND I can get heat exhaustion or heat stroke without my body temperature actually rising..do I also have that part right?
I have a med. blue spray bottle that I can keep filled. I would LOVE To get outside with my friends here and sit under the BIG shade tree, but never do because of the heat. I wonder IF I could if I brought my spray bottle, and did this for just say one half hour on a low humidity day, that maybe is hovering around 80? What do you think?
Just knowing I have options and ideas gives me SUCH peace of mind, I cannot tell you.
I hope one day I know what wakes me...sometimes in the middle of the night, or even early morning with that heat that is KILLER HEAT! I wonder if I need to sleep with less bed clothes and less for blankets. I may go to be comfy but maybe get too hot as the night goes along?
One ODD thing if I may mention..is my last colonoscopy, my doctor let me have the osmoprep pills. For some reason, they heated up my body to a point where I thought my friend who drove me for the test would find me dead on the floor. I got so hot, I remember sitting on the couch..I had stopped caring..and just gave in and up at that point. It lasted for a good 3 hours. I did not die (obviously..lol) but WOW, I don't know what that was.
When I get my cortisone shots and get hot now, like the last time, I got terribly hot but would not worry SO if I could sweat. TIME for those spritz of water and that cloth on the back of my head.
IF I missed anything or misunderstood anything, please just let me know:):
And again, thanks SO very much!!!!
EllaBlue
EllaBlue,
with your inability to sweat. please go here and read this article. It may provide more information that I can give..My advise was strickly on heat related causes..not an inability to sweat..That is called Anhidrosis. Again, you should be following up with a good doctor..maybe a Rheumtologist or endrocrinologist or possibly your PCP can recommend someone to see you..
~sass~
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anhidrosis/DS01050