Thermometer rant.

[notalwaysright]

First, I know I never post or comment over here... I'm not good with health issues. I feel like I become a hypochondriac, I don't like talking about them except with my doctor who is nice and calm. I haven't been sick in a long time, except for maybe a cough or running nose. I realized that I don't have a thermometer. Must have gotten lost during a move. Anyway, I thought I'd get a new one. The last one I had was terrible. Consistently showed me deathly cold. So I knew I didn't want that kind (it was basically this one. lol, the brand name ) and went off to look for a better option.

So I'm looking at all the reviews and soooo many are reviews given by people who got the product free or at a discount in exchange for their review. I have never seen so many of these reviews. I'm very distrustful of them, regardless of their saying that it's "an honest review." Or they're so fancy, I couldn't even find a plain one like I remember from my childhood. It's just such a racket. I know this shouldn't be surprising, but I was pretty much overwhelmed.

Anyway, that's my rant. Here's a question, if it's appropriate here. I did read the sticky about no medical advice, so if this counts I'll edit this and remove it. If it's okay, anyone have thermometers that they like and are reliable? It doesn't need to be specific, just what you like.

[Kogarashi]

We have a ReliOn digital thermometer we picked up when our Safety 1st one finally died. It's been pretty decent, and isn't super fancy. Readings have been reliable.

[jedimaster91]

I got one of the Exorgen Temporal thermometers for Minion and it works great for adults too.

[Nunavut Pants]

My vet (!!) has one that reads very quickly in the cat's ear. Not sure if there's a human version or not, but that might be an option.

[Shyla]

I usually go to the drug store and buy whatever is one price point above the cheapest. They all work pretty good. And not everyone is actually 98.6 degrees. I'm normal around 97.8. Make sure it's been at least 15 minutes since you've had any food or drinks for an accurate reading.

[EricKei]

Yes, human ear thermometers are definitely out there -- Heck, my doc has to use them on me, as the forehead-reader type has consistently shown my temp as far below what it should be (or, at least, low enough that I should not be conscious).

[dalesys]

... the forehead-reader type ... temp as far below what it should be...

Hmm. Os Crassum or Parum Cerebrum Actio.

[notalwaysright]

Thanks everyone! I actually found my old one, and it keeps saying that I'm 97.7 but I remember it had issues before. It would beep like it was done, and say I was like 95 degrees. I like the idea of an ear one, but those seem to need little covers? Or I could get one like Kogarashi said, which is a step up from the one I have, which is a generic store brand. (Kroger)

[Kogarashi]

A good basic one should be easy enough to find. If you check in the baby section rather than the pharmacy, you might find more reliable ones (since it's very important to have accurate readings of baby temperatures). I'm pretty sure that's where I picked up our replacement, and I know for certain that's where our previous one was stocked.

[EricKei]

Yes, ear ones normally use covers because of ...well, as Dumbledore so succinctly put it, "Earwax." This goes double if more than one person in the household will EVER use the thing. Disposable covers are simply easier to deal with than washing the thing every time (assuming its design even allows it to be easily cleaned and sanitized). Either one is better than passing along an unknown ear infection -- or, better yet -- giving yourself one because the tip wasn't clean and something grew on there >_>

[Sapphire Silk]

I usually go to the drug store and buy whatever is one price point above the cheapest. They all work pretty good. And not everyone is actually 98.6 degrees. I'm normal around 97.8. Make sure it's been at least 15 minutes since you've had any food or drinks for an accurate reading.

Quoted for emphasis. Normal temperature is a spectrum.

One of the biggest problems with thermometers is incorrect use. If you've drunk anything cold or hot, it will throw the reading off. Also you have to sit the thermometer in the space under the tounge correctly and that's a bit uncomfortable. You have to keep your mouth closed. You have to leave it in there long enough.

Thanks everyone! I actually found my old one, and it keeps saying that I'm 97.7 but I remember it had issues before. It would beep like it was done, and say I was like 95 degrees. I like the idea of an ear one, but those seem to need little covers? Or I could get one like Kogarashi said, which is a step up from the one I have, which is a generic store brand. (Kroger)

You only need the covers if more than one person is using it. You also have to use it correctly. The ear canal is not perfectly straight. Pull down if you're an adult. Pull up and back for children under 8.

I use a good old fashioned mercury thermometer at home. You have to shake it down before use, and be patient, but I like them better. You can always stick it back in if the reading seems too low.

To the OP: Sickbay was originally for health care provider suck: for us in health care to vent about sucky patients. However, we're happy to explain to members things about their health care. For example, I can talk to you about the side effects of a drug, or explain a diagnosis. I can't listen to symptoms and say what it is or tell you what to do or not to do.

The exceptions are if I think it's immediately life threatening I'll tell you to go to the ER post haste. Or, if someone is unsure getting a second opinion is always a great idea. Check out the sticky.

But yeah, BMG about chronic health problems is really not what this area is about.

[wolfie]

I use a good old fashioned mercury thermometer at home. You have to shake it down before use, and be patient, but I like them better.

Why do I get the vision of dressing like the stereotyped mobster, and telling the thermometer "Youse is gonna cough up the temperature reading OR ELSE"?

[EricKei]

Awright, Mugsy. We know yer in there. Come on out and take yer medicine or things are really gonna heat up! Capisce?

[Nunavut Pants]

"Aww, they're adorable!"

[notalwaysright]

I use a good old fashioned mercury thermometer at home. You have to shake it down before use, and be patient, but I like them better. You can always stick it back in if the reading seems too low.

To the OP: Sickbay was originally for health care provider suck: for us in health care to vent about sucky patients. However, we're happy to explain to members things about their health care. For example, I can talk to you about the side effects of a drug, or explain a diagnosis. I can't listen to symptoms and say what it is or tell you what to do or not to do.

I looked for a regular mercury one, but could only find the long ones for using in beakers. Maybe I'll go to my doctor's office. I looked at the store but couldn't find one. Maybe the drug store.

Yeah, I wouldn't ask specific advice or use you guys in place of my doctor. I was/am so frustrated at the conflicting reviews. I mean, one has thousands of reviews and sits at four starts. Yet some of the recent reviews have titles like "Wildly inaccurate!" and "Beware, scam do not waste your money!" I don't normally read too many reviews, just enough to get a general idea. I couldn't nail these down. They yo-yo wildly between Amazing and Terrible. And these are the $40 ones, not the $5-$10 ones, either. I think there should be a completely separate review section for people who received the product free, and keep the star rating separate as well. That was a surprise, to see how many people were given the product as a promotion.