For About Three Days This Week, I Had Been Feeling

Posted on Sun, 9 Aug 2020

Question: For about three days this week, I had been feeling hot to the touch, but temperature was only between 98.3-99.00 F. I thought that perhaps I had a sinus infection because I a stuffy nose and headache some mornings, and also feeling pressure in sinus area. My doctor prescribed amoxicillin via a tele-health visit. I saw no change in the temperature and was still feeling quite warm, especially in the late afternoon. After a few days, I called my allergist/ENT to ask if he could check my sinus. He did.and saw no infection but did that it was irritated. He prescribed a nasal spray and a steroid pack. After taking the first dose of the steroid, I immediately felt cooler so checked my temperature and was 97.7 much lower than it had been all week. What could be the cause of the low fever and did the steroid resolve it? thanks!

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Temperature was normal

Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask a Doctor'. A temperature range of 97 to 99 is considered a normal range, and I doubt whether someone could feel the difference between 97.7 and 98.3-99.0, as that is actually quite close. I would suspect that you were feeling hot, but that it wasn't actually related to your temperature, and that the steroids had no effect on your temperature. It is normal for your temperature to fluctuate, and I think that if you were to check your temperature several times a day, you would see that it does fluctuate within the range of 97-99, and that usually you don't feel any different.

As for why you were feeling hot, it would be hard to say, but as long as you didn't have an objective fever (temperature above 100.4 F), it is unlikely it would be anything you need to worry about.

I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Aaron Branch (7 hours later)

Thank you. I appreciate the reply! I do feel much cooler to the touch after starting the steroids and not sure why. If I had some inflammation that the steroids treated, doulc that be why? I am also wondering if my feeling of hotness is related to peri-menopause and hot flashes, as I am 47 years old. The feeling of heat is usually on the chest, face and abdomen so I know that this is common for women of my age. I have not experienced hot flashes in the past so thinking that they may be starting as I approach menopause. In addition, I recently had a physical in March 2020 and had a CBC and lipid panel. Thyroid showed normal range but wonder if the thyroid is at play here too. I do know that I have a small thyroid nodule. Does thyroid affect body temperature? Thank you! .

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Could be hot flashes

Detailed Answer:
With that information, I agree that it could be hot flashes and related to peri-menopause. It is possible that the steroids helped with that, though that wouldn't be a long-term treatment for hot flashes. If they come back after you finish the steroids, you could see your doctor about trying hormone therapy to see if that helps.

Yes, thyroid does affect body temperature, though with a normal test earlier this year, I wouldn't expect it to have changed too much in this short time.

Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T