Your usual body temp

[AndreaDM]

I rarely hit 97, if it shows 98.6, I'm sick!

 

[tinkerhon]

First, my thermometer must be 20 years old, and second, I don't usually take my temperature unless I'm sick.

Now that I'm taking it regularly, I noticed it's usually 97.5. Is this just a "duh" moment for me to realize that 98.5 is just an average for the population in general? If it's an average, then other people must have a normal temp of 99.5, right? Or do I need a new thermometer?

Mine is usually 97.7

 

[disneychrista]

97.7

 

[pryncess527]

My normal is around 99.2

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My normal temp is mid-98 and below; not uncommon to see mid-high 97 either. Sometimes it can go up to close to 99 and for me be considered normal enough or at least not cause for concern. But higher than 99 and I'm probably feeling under the weather.

 

[godisney14]

It’s fine to be in the 97’s. Children will be about 1 degrees or so higher than adults. 98.6 as the norm is outdated.

Especially in these times, it’s good practice to know your own baseline temp by measuring everyday. Then you can be suspicious when you trend one or two degrees above your normal temp.

Same thing with oxygen saturation. Good idea to measure your SpO2 daily. Then you can look out for potential change if you’re having symptoms. Pulse oximeters are even cheaper than some thermometers.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Mine has been 97.5-97.9 every day.

 

[amcnj]

Just curious for someone who has multiple types of thermometers, is your temperature reading close whether you use oral, ear, forehead or other type?

 

[lifesavacation]

I’m usually 98.0. I took it the other day and freaked myself out when it was 98.6.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Mine has been running around 97.5.

 

[lynxstch]

I’m sure I can. But it’s one of those little button batteries and I haven’t hunted one down yet. I wrongly assumed it would be easier to just get a new one. In normal times it probably is. I also figured if it was old enough for the battery to be dead maybe it wasn’t that reliable any longer.

No, because its the battery that's dead, not the thermometer! lol You can find the batteries on ebay or amazon (ebay is cheaper, I always get like a 5 pack for under $3!)

 

[mom2rtk]

No, because its the battery that's dead, not the thermometer! lol You can find the batteries on ebay or amazon (ebay is cheaper, I always get like a 5 pack for under $3!)

Thanks! Ebay is a great idea! I just ordered some. Although I still want to replace it when they become readily available again. It's probably 25 years old.

 

[mom2rtk]

I bet if I looked really hard I could find a basal body thermometer in the house somewhere. Of course, it's decades old, but no batteries!

 

[disneyseniors]

As an RN for many years, and having taken thousands of temperatures, I can say that 98.6 is Not the norm. Most people run below that. I have been 97.4 fo r years. I don't know when or where that number was set up as being normal, but I found it not to be the case.

 

[cobright]

I run pretty steady 97.5-98.

A few years ago my husband bought one of those no-touch forehead thermometers for babies because it was an Amazon deal of the day. I mocked him out for it at the time

These temporal thermometers are great. They take dozens of readings and average them automatically. They're fast and accurate.

 

[StacyStrong]

I see 97.7 frequently, but my temp varies between 97.7-98.8 depending on the time of the day, if I just showered, if I was under blankets, etc. As long as it is in that range, I don't worry.

 

[godisney14]

Just curious for someone who has multiple types of thermometers, is your temperature reading close whether you use oral, ear, forehead or other type?

They’re all fine. (Rectal is the most accurate, and armpit is the least accurate, if you really want to know.) What’s important to know is that the various methods can vary by a degree or so. Thus, don’t use a forehead thermometer and compare it to the reading from an ear thermometer. Stick with one thermometer and measure regularly so that you know when a reading is different from your normal temp.
Even temp readings between two of the same type of thermometers can be slightly different.

Its obviously ideal to have best accuracy and precision. But, precision (closeness of the readings to each other) is more important than accuracy.

 

[godisney14]

I see 97.7 frequently, but my temp varies between 97.7-98.8 depending on the time of the day, if I just showered, if I was under blankets, etc. As long as it is in that range, I don't worry.

Best to keep everything constant when monitoring daily. This means to take your temp at the same time everyday after the same routine.

 

[JimMIA]

97.5...somewhat cooler than the average guy!

 

[StacyStrong]

Best to keep everything constant when monitoring daily. This means to take your temp at the same time everyday after the same routine.

Logically, I do know that, but I’ve been panic checking every time I feel slightly off lol