The Fevers No One Talks About

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There’s something I’ve noticed on this journey with fibromyalgia and autoimmune disease that doesn’t get talked about enough: fever—or rather, the weird relationship our bodies have with it.


When most people think of a fever, they imagine temperatures soaring above 38°C, maybe even with chills and sweating. But for me, with an autoimmune condition and fibromyalgia, my version of a “fever” doesn’t always follow the rules. My body struggles to regulate its temperature. I can feel feverish, flushed, achy, and utterly wiped out—and yet, when I check my temperature, it’s often only 37°C… or even lower, like 34°C.


For a long time, I didn’t even realize this was something other people experienced too. I thought I was losing my mind. How can I feel so sick and yet not technically have a fever? I would look at the thermometer and feel like I had to justify what my body was screaming at me. But here’s what I’ve come to understand:


When you live with a chronic illness, especially one that impacts the nervous system or immune response, your “normal” changes.


Temperature fluctuations are real. For some of us, 37°C is a fever—because our baseline runs lower. And sometimes that deep cold, where your body drops to 34°C and your bones ache like they’ve frozen from the inside out, is just as debilitating.


I wish doctors talked about this more. I wish more people understood that not all fevers fit the textbook definition. And I wish those of us living with this weren’t made to feel like we have to “prove” we’re unwell.


If your body feels off, even when the numbers don’t scream danger, please trust yourself. Rest. Hydrate. Listen. You know your body better than anyone else ever will.


I’m learning that it’s okay to honor what I feel instead of what I can “measure.” Because chronic illness isn’t black and white—it’s layered, unpredictable, and deeply personal.


You’re not being dramatic. You’re not imagining it. And you’re definitely not alone.

Follow me on twitter for updates https://x.com/FlareflourishF

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