Hi Mari

I do know that "fever" is different than elevated temp. Not sure how clinicians treat absolute values and personal variances. I did find the Wiki article on fever interesting when i read it a while back:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever.

My temp runs about a 1 degree F lower too, and varies a little, but is still within the standard normal range (98–100 °F) cited in Wiki. Nonetheless, 98.6 does represent an elevation from MY norm... either due to sickness or for a transient reason like digestion. In the case of sickness i typicall get sx that correspond to slight fever with that reading.

~1.0°F (or 0.5°C) seems to be the official threshold for fever. "Seems" = i base this statement on my thermometer - it gives "normal" beeps for temps =< 99.50° F. In that range, the standard dx would be elevated temperature, and it is only of clinical relevance if remains consistent rather than transient.

In a sense it is a fortune that here they don't take your temp - they ask if you have a fever. so i tell them based on my own values.

My suggestion: document and bring to doc:
For one week, not around ovulation
1. take basal temp readings (morning before rising)
2. take a midday or midmorning reading (empty stomach)

See what she says. as previously mentioned, it is also significant whether you have symptoms when your temp goes up to that point - initial sx might vary but whole-body fatigue is the one that hits me first - i easily get that at just 99°F. next i get dry skin (can itch, burn or feel tender to slightest touch). chills or feeling cold doesn't hit me till fever goes even higher.

If your doc insists your personal differences are not clinically significant in establishing fever, you could ask if she might be so kind as to explain how it works, just for your information and peace of mind.

Otherwise, if she agrees you have a clinically relevant "set-point" difference (term explained in wiki), she can put it on file, and you won't further need to argue about normal values representing fever for you in future.

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A note. With some viral infections, my temp will oscillate about 1.5 or even 2 degrees below and above MY normal. docs don't respond well to this either. They totally write off the "below" swings" unless there is hypothermia (< 95 °F), totally ignoring the pattern which never occurs in health and thus, im-nsh-o, makes it a clinically relevant as a symptom of certain "bugs"!! grr docs can be frustrating.

hugs to you and hope you are getting some sleep.

~ waves ~