Hi to all, and trusting this message finds everyone safe and at ease. I’m seeking opinions and possible routes to alleviate some issues correlated with low body temperature. A little background: I've had the experience of type-1 diabetes since December 1999, currently 35 years old, fit/muscular build, on insulin pump therapy since around 2003, general HbA1c ranging 7.0-7.4. From being “sick” about a month ago, I started checking my temperature for fever and discovered an underlying low body temperature - which may explain the extreme fatigue/zombie state I feel most times; entirely uncomfortable cold extremities/cold intolerance; low drive/motivation; low libido and bouts of ED; difficulty sweating; pulsatile tinnitus; very hard to wake up in the morning with heaviness, aches, fog, general desire to stay asleep and not waking up refreshed, etc for at least the past six years on-and-off. Prior to that, I recall being hot often, partners unable to sleep next to me given the heat I would radiate. But the fatigue has often been an issue for most of my life, oscillating between debilitating and decent periods. My temperature is consistently 1.5-2 degrees F below normal (usually mid-high 96s upon waking, sometimes low 96s) and maybe goes to mid-high 97s during the day unless increased by external factors (such as following Steve Richfield's reset protocol). I've also read Matt Stone's "Eat for Heat" and implementing more of his ideas (specifically less fluid intake), having had a trend of lower sodium based on blood and hair mineral analysis in the past, along with using a far infrared mat for sleeping. But I can’t get a normal temperature to “stick.”
Over the years I've had tons of labs, functional medicine tests, a plethora of supplementation, dietary changes (ranging from raw vegan to carnivore), detox protocols.. but always seem to go back to some state of what is described above. However, up to this point, temperature wasn't considered or tested. As an aside, carnivore (only grass-fed, high fat beef, sea salt, and water) was the best for excellent glucose control and significantly less insulin usage (duh), with more stable energy/mood, but I began feeling heavy and almost sick when smelling/tasting the meat and fat. I typically exercise 3-5x a week, mostly at night since this is when my energy/drive seems to peak.
Anyway, it is my opinion that constant insulin delivery is a contributing factor to this lack of metabolic action (or am I wrong in assuming lack of metabolic action?) and temperature regulation issues. It is my goal in the near future to fast for a few days, simultaneously stopping insulin therapy (shh, don’t tell the endo), and experiment with a combination of raffinose feeding, along with beta cell regenerative and anti-inflammatory supplements. It is curious to note that my diagnosis in Dec 1999 was at a near coma-state, with prior urinalysis at the end of July 1999 showing no signs of glucose or ketones, and no experience of diabetic symptoms (fatigue, thirst, frequent urination, etc) - but at that same doctor's visit in July, a Tetanus-Diptheria vaccine was administered. To keep from going off on too much of a tangent, I will save this experiment and discussion for a possible separate thread!
As mentioned, I have a bunch of lab results over time, but will share the most recent in hopes of getting some advice on whether or not this low temperature and associated symptomology is a case of hypothyroidism (note: weight gain has never been an issue for me and it’s generally harder to keep on weight/muscle mass without rigorous eating and exercise), the so-called Wilson’s temperature syndrome, or something else presenting as such – and maybe what other protocols to try. Thank you in advance for reviewing this and any insight that is offered (reference ranges in parenthesis).
C-Reative Protein: <0.2 mg/L (<8.0mg/L)
Sodium: 138 mmo/L (135-146) *Up from 134 the previous month and since “eating for heat”
Potassium: 3.9 mmo/L (3.5-5.3)
FT4 index (T7): 2.3 (1.4-3.8)
RT3: 15 ng/dL (8-25)
T3 Uptake: 39% (22-35) *High
T3 Free: 2.8 pg/mL (2.3-4.2)
T3 Total: 73 ng/dL (76-181) *Low
T4 Total: 5.9 mcg/dL (4.9-10.5)
T4 Free: 1.2 ng/dL (0.8-1.8)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies: <1 IU/mL (<=1)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: <1 IU/mL (<9)
TSH: 1.66 mIU/L (0.4-4.5) *Note a month prior this was 4.29
Cortisol AM: 17.7 mcg/dL (4-22)
GH: 0.1 ng/mL (<=7.1)
IGF1: 94 ng/mL (53-331)
DHEA: 364 mcg/dL (106-464)
Estradiol: 47 pg/mL (<=39) *High
Testosterone Free: 158.3 pg/mL (35-155) *High (note this has been high for years without explanation or T booster/therapy)
Testosterone Total: 1084 ng/dL (250-1100) *This has been high for years without explanation or T booster/therapy
FSH: 4.7 mIU/mL (1.6-8)
LH: 6.2 mIU/mL (1.5-9.3)
Prolactin: 18.5 ng/mL (2-18) *High
SHBG: 58 nmo/L (10-50) *High
Iron, Total: 148 mcg/dL (50-180) *Up from 77 prior month and supplementing OptiFerin-C
Ferritin: 149 ng/mL (38-380) * Up from 35 prior month and supplementing OptiFerin-C
% Saturation: 53% (20-48) *High
Iron Binding Capacity: 280 mcg/dL (250-425)
Transferrin: 231 mg/dL (188-341)
Sed Rate ESR: 19 mm/h (<=15) *High
Folate: 6.8 ng/mL
B12: 569 pg/mL (200-1100)
Vitamin D, D2: <4 ng/mL *have since supplemented with Vitamin D
Vitamin D, D3: 37 ng/mL
Vitamin D, Total: 37 (ng/mL) *have since supplemented with Vitamin D
Copper: 66 mcg/dL (70-175) *Low
Zinc: 63 mcg/dL (60-130) *Low end
Magnesium, RBC: 4.8 mg/DL (4-6.4)
ANA Screen: Negative
I'm not sure how low copper and close to low zinc play into this?
Current supplement protocol includes Gaia Adrenal Jump Start and Vitamin D (10,000IU), and just started 5-MTHF folate. I tried T2 for a few days but noticed no difference in body temperatures (maybe didn’t use this long enough). Previously I had tried iodine with selenium, l-tyrosine, cayenne, red ginseng, ginger, l-arginine, OptiFerin-C but have stopped all of this to determine a new baseline. I’m doing coffee enemas a few times a week (currently good liver values but have battled slightly high ALT and AST, low alk phosphatase over the years), far infrared mat at night, gluten-free diet (have done so for many years) with emphasis on organic sources and fats including coconut oil, grass-fed butter, ghee, cheese, cream.
This is an interesting time in the world where we can go within and address the things that have been kept in the shadow (consciously or unconsciously), and it is my aim to do just that – so I appreciate any support in looking into the mirror. Whew! Okay, time for a nap
Over the years I've had tons of labs, functional medicine tests, a plethora of supplementation, dietary changes (ranging from raw vegan to carnivore), detox protocols.. but always seem to go back to some state of what is described above. However, up to this point, temperature wasn't considered or tested. As an aside, carnivore (only grass-fed, high fat beef, sea salt, and water) was the best for excellent glucose control and significantly less insulin usage (duh), with more stable energy/mood, but I began feeling heavy and almost sick when smelling/tasting the meat and fat. I typically exercise 3-5x a week, mostly at night since this is when my energy/drive seems to peak.
Anyway, it is my opinion that constant insulin delivery is a contributing factor to this lack of metabolic action (or am I wrong in assuming lack of metabolic action?) and temperature regulation issues. It is my goal in the near future to fast for a few days, simultaneously stopping insulin therapy (shh, don’t tell the endo), and experiment with a combination of raffinose feeding, along with beta cell regenerative and anti-inflammatory supplements. It is curious to note that my diagnosis in Dec 1999 was at a near coma-state, with prior urinalysis at the end of July 1999 showing no signs of glucose or ketones, and no experience of diabetic symptoms (fatigue, thirst, frequent urination, etc) - but at that same doctor's visit in July, a Tetanus-Diptheria vaccine was administered. To keep from going off on too much of a tangent, I will save this experiment and discussion for a possible separate thread!
As mentioned, I have a bunch of lab results over time, but will share the most recent in hopes of getting some advice on whether or not this low temperature and associated symptomology is a case of hypothyroidism (note: weight gain has never been an issue for me and it’s generally harder to keep on weight/muscle mass without rigorous eating and exercise), the so-called Wilson’s temperature syndrome, or something else presenting as such – and maybe what other protocols to try. Thank you in advance for reviewing this and any insight that is offered (reference ranges in parenthesis).
C-Reative Protein: <0.2 mg/L (<8.0mg/L)
Sodium: 138 mmo/L (135-146) *Up from 134 the previous month and since “eating for heat”
Potassium: 3.9 mmo/L (3.5-5.3)
FT4 index (T7): 2.3 (1.4-3.8)
RT3: 15 ng/dL (8-25)
T3 Uptake: 39% (22-35) *High
T3 Free: 2.8 pg/mL (2.3-4.2)
T3 Total: 73 ng/dL (76-181) *Low
T4 Total: 5.9 mcg/dL (4.9-10.5)
T4 Free: 1.2 ng/dL (0.8-1.8)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies: <1 IU/mL (<=1)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: <1 IU/mL (<9)
TSH: 1.66 mIU/L (0.4-4.5) *Note a month prior this was 4.29
Cortisol AM: 17.7 mcg/dL (4-22)
GH: 0.1 ng/mL (<=7.1)
IGF1: 94 ng/mL (53-331)
DHEA: 364 mcg/dL (106-464)
Estradiol: 47 pg/mL (<=39) *High
Testosterone Free: 158.3 pg/mL (35-155) *High (note this has been high for years without explanation or T booster/therapy)
Testosterone Total: 1084 ng/dL (250-1100) *This has been high for years without explanation or T booster/therapy
FSH: 4.7 mIU/mL (1.6-8)
LH: 6.2 mIU/mL (1.5-9.3)
Prolactin: 18.5 ng/mL (2-18) *High
SHBG: 58 nmo/L (10-50) *High
Iron, Total: 148 mcg/dL (50-180) *Up from 77 prior month and supplementing OptiFerin-C
Ferritin: 149 ng/mL (38-380) * Up from 35 prior month and supplementing OptiFerin-C
% Saturation: 53% (20-48) *High
Iron Binding Capacity: 280 mcg/dL (250-425)
Transferrin: 231 mg/dL (188-341)
Sed Rate ESR: 19 mm/h (<=15) *High
Folate: 6.8 ng/mL
B12: 569 pg/mL (200-1100)
Vitamin D, D2: <4 ng/mL *have since supplemented with Vitamin D
Vitamin D, D3: 37 ng/mL
Vitamin D, Total: 37 (ng/mL) *have since supplemented with Vitamin D
Copper: 66 mcg/dL (70-175) *Low
Zinc: 63 mcg/dL (60-130) *Low end
Magnesium, RBC: 4.8 mg/DL (4-6.4)
ANA Screen: Negative
I'm not sure how low copper and close to low zinc play into this?
Current supplement protocol includes Gaia Adrenal Jump Start and Vitamin D (10,000IU), and just started 5-MTHF folate. I tried T2 for a few days but noticed no difference in body temperatures (maybe didn’t use this long enough). Previously I had tried iodine with selenium, l-tyrosine, cayenne, red ginseng, ginger, l-arginine, OptiFerin-C but have stopped all of this to determine a new baseline. I’m doing coffee enemas a few times a week (currently good liver values but have battled slightly high ALT and AST, low alk phosphatase over the years), far infrared mat at night, gluten-free diet (have done so for many years) with emphasis on organic sources and fats including coconut oil, grass-fed butter, ghee, cheese, cream.
This is an interesting time in the world where we can go within and address the things that have been kept in the shadow (consciously or unconsciously), and it is my aim to do just that – so I appreciate any support in looking into the mirror. Whew! Okay, time for a nap
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