How Do You Take Your Temp?

jj101

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This is a very simple post but I would like it clearing up.

What method dose everyone use to take temperature?

Oral, armpit, rectum or ear canal? Maybe there are more methods but these are the most common, or the most common ones I have heard of.

I am wondering because they all seem to give different readings. What method dose Ray Peat recommend? Is it armpit the same as Broda Barnes?


Thanks for any response.
 

nwo2012

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jj101 said:
This is a very simple post but I would like it clearing up.

What method dose everyone use to take temperature?

Oral, armpit, rectum or ear canal? Maybe there are more methods but these are the most common, or the most common ones I have heard of.

I am wondering because they all seem to give different readings. What method dose Ray Peat recommend? Is it armpit the same as Broda Barnes?


Thanks for any response.

RP prefers oral. Broda Barnes preferred armpit. As long as you always use the same one, either should be fine. Tympanic can be very inaccurate. Rectal is probably most accurate though.
 

charlie

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I use under the tongue in the back corner in the deepest pocket.
 

narouz

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Charlie said:
I use under the tongue in the back corner in the deepest pocket.

Actually, Charlie,
having been semi-obsessed with this
a year or two ago,
I found a chart showing temperature levels under the tongue.
The hottest area,
and the area one should stick the thermometer,
is not the farthest back.
It is, rather, just a little behind, on either side
of the connecting thingy there that attachs the underside of the tongue
to the bottom of the mouth.
I'll try to find that chart.
 

narouz

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Also, from direct personal experience,
I can tell you there is a significant difference
between digital thermometers and liquid.

When I first started charting my temps a couple of years ago,
this nearly drove me crazy.
First, I noticed significant differences
from one digital thermometer to another--up to a degree or so.

Then I noticed there was a gap
between all of the digitals (I had three or four)
and the liquids (I had 2 of those GeraTherms and one old mercury).
The Geratherms were very, very close to each other
sticking them both under my tongue at the same time.
But, same method,
there was always a half a degree to one whole degree difference
between the digitals and the Geratherms,
with the digitals always lower (their averaged temperatures).

This really distressed me.
You'd think these things would be standardized and accurate! Sheesh!
 

charlie

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narouz said:
Charlie said:
I use under the tongue in the back corner in the deepest pocket.

Actually, Charlie,
having been semi-obsessed with this
a year or two ago,
I found a chart showing temperature levels under the tongue.
The hottest area,
and the area one should stick the thermometer,
is not the farthest back.
It is, rather, just a little behind, on either side
of the connecting thingy there that attachs the underside of the tongue
to the bottom of the mouth.
I'll try to find that chart.

Narouz, thank you for correcting me. Post up that chart if you find it!

I heard someway say, cant remember who. To pick one thermometer, preferably liquid one, and stick with it due to variations from thermometer to thermometer.
 

Jenn

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I use a digital thermometer and use the armpit...mostly because it looks just like the one I use for the livestock...and you don't know where it's been 100% for sure, if you know what I mean ;)

There can be an almost 1* temperature difference between my right arm and my left arm some days.
 

Beebop

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narouz said:
Also, from direct personal experience,I can tell you there is a significant difference between digital thermometers and liquid.

The other problem with digitals (I discovered through Amazon reviews when choosing mine), is that during the period when the battery is slowly running out, it will gradually become less accurate over a period of a few months - this before you notice the batteries need replacing. Whereas a glass (analogue? :) ) one will stay the same for ever.

Plus, with glass ones, you spend money once, and then that's it - cost over.
 

key

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I use digital thermometer(from $1 store) under arm for at least 5 minutes. Seems to work fine.
 

Bluebell

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[ moderator edit: threads merged ]

I've just put a thermometer in my armpit, left it for 10 minutes, and then turned it on (it's digital).

It's 9pm at night, and I am 98.62 degrees! I have never seen it this high. However - it's boiling hot in the UK right now, and, that's a later in the day reading.

When do you take your temp, and what's your method?

Thanks!
 
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Peata

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Hi Bluebell. I just use a digital thermometer, orally. When I remember, I check it in the morning, after lunch, and before bed.
 

charlie

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Bluebell

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Hiya Peata and Charlie! Thanks :)

Charlie, do you use a mercury thermometer?
 

charlie

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:wave:

No but I wish I had one. I use the Geratherm mercury free one. If I can get my hands on a mercury one I will definitely use it.
 

Bluebell

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Jenn said:
Vet supply animal thermometer in the armpit., usually the left one.

Thanks I love the sea and Jenn!

Jenn, I wonder if yours is mercury. I was thinking of getting one, but at the moment I think I'm pretty happy with the digital. I just assume it's accurate if I plonk it there for 10 mins before switching on.

It's interesting, I've heard that 1 armpit is often higher than the other.
 

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