Daily Check-In

[mecurtin]

This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time on Thursday) to midnight (8pm Friday Eastern Time).

Poll #23649 Daily check-in poll

This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 80

How are you doing?

I am OK
71 (88.8%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now
8 (10.0%)

I could use some help
1 (1.2%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single
33 (41.8%)

One other person
21 (26.6%)

More than one other person
25 (31.6%)

Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.

Comments

[lannamichaels]

I bought a thermometer a long time ago and it's been in my medicine cabinet and I wasn't sure it even worked anymore; I'm fairly certain I've never used it because I haven't had a fever since I was a kid. Not sure about how great this thermometer was, I'd been trying to buy a replacement one online, with no luck at all (the only one I was able to find is now backordered and may or may not ever ship). But I'm having a sore throat, so I just tested it and it turned on. It was extremely confusing to use and it only showed me Celsius. I have no idea if I used it correctly. Anyone have tips on how to make sure you get accurate results with a cheap home thermometer?

[melannen]

It depends on the thermometer? Probably the best thing right now is to take your temperature once a day at the same time to get a baseline, and then you will either get a consistent baseline and even if it's inaccurate, you'll be able to tell if it's gone above baseline. Or it'll be too inconsistent to get a baseline, and you'll know it's not worth it.

[lastrega]

The batteries in those last a really long time, so I'm not surprised it still works. If you're using it correctly (that will depend on what kind it is, post a pic or link if you like) and it's showing you a temp between 36 and 37.2, then you're not running a fever.

[lannamichaels]

Thermometer picture

It says "Lo" a lot, this is either the battery or my temperature (because it starts counting numbers and then shows Lo and goes back to the numbers -- however it also says Lo lots of other times, so I assume it's the battery), which was 36.7. Thanks be to Excel where I can record it and Excel does the math for me. :D

In terms of positioning, how far under the tongue does it go, and should I be holding onto the end or bite on it to hold it in place? I was just shoving it in and holding onto the end, is that wrong?

[lastrega]

Okay...that is an old one. It might not have much more life in it, jsyk.

The sweet spot for an oral temp is under your tongue in the pocket beside the frenulum (fleshy webbing bit in the middle). Turn it on, pop it in there gently, close your mouth around it and wait for the beep that means it's cooked. You can hold it in place if it's more comfortable for you but it needs to stay under your tongue.

Lo means it's not reading the temperature IIRC.

[lannamichaels]

Thanks! So I think I'm doing it right.

[melannen]

On the similar one we have, Lo just means that it's reading a temperature below the range it's set to measure (which usually includes room temperature on that kind of thermometer.)

[lannamichaels]

Thanks, that's a relief :D