Low Blood Pressure when sick?

[CFkitty]

Whenever I am actively sick, having a flareup of my PA, MRSA or Staph, my blood pressure drops. My normal BP is around 120/72, but when I'm sick, it drops (and stays low for periods of time). The lowest was 80/42.<br><br>During these times, I have felt l pretty weak and tired, but it's hard to differentiate between what the infection is doing and what the low BP is doing. It has happened both while inpatient (it's never not happened during a stay for IV antibiotics), and at home (I have a home BP monitor). When it has happened in the hospital, the nurse returns every so often to recheck me.<br><br>
At first I thought it was because I lay down more when sick, but sitting up doesn't necessarily rectify it. During these times, my heart rate is usually accelerated bc my O2 sats are down, which I think would have the opposite affect. I've asked doctors and nurses why this happens and they never have a good reason other than "it happens". As I improve from the infection, my BP goes back to normal, but I was wondering if anyone else experiences this.<br><br><br><br>

 

[CFkitty]

Whenever I am actively sick, having a flareup of my PA, MRSA or Staph, my blood pressure drops. My normal BP is around 120/72, but when I'm sick, it drops (and stays low for periods of time). The lowest was 80/42.<br><br>During these times, I have felt l pretty weak and tired, but it's hard to differentiate between what the infection is doing and what the low BP is doing. It has happened both while inpatient (it's never not happened during a stay for IV antibiotics), and at home (I have a home BP monitor). When it has happened in the hospital, the nurse returns every so often to recheck me.<br><br>
At first I thought it was because I lay down more when sick, but sitting up doesn't necessarily rectify it. During these times, my heart rate is usually accelerated bc my O2 sats are down, which I think would have the opposite affect. I've asked doctors and nurses why this happens and they never have a good reason other than "it happens". As I improve from the infection, my BP goes back to normal, but I was wondering if anyone else experiences this.<br><br><br><br>

 

[CFkitty]

Whenever I am actively sick, having a flareup of my PA, MRSA or Staph, my blood pressure drops. My normal BP is around 120/72, but when I'm sick, it drops (and stays low for periods of time). The lowest was 80/42.<br><br>During these times, I have felt l pretty weak and tired, but it's hard to differentiate between what the infection is doing and what the low BP is doing. It has happened both while inpatient (it's never not happened during a stay for IV antibiotics), and at home (I have a home BP monitor). When it has happened in the hospital, the nurse returns every so often to recheck me.<br><br>
At first I thought it was because I lay down more when sick, but sitting up doesn't necessarily rectify it. During these times, my heart rate is usually accelerated bc my O2 sats are down, which I think would have the opposite affect. I've asked doctors and nurses why this happens and they never have a good reason other than "it happens". As I improve from the infection, my BP goes back to normal, but I was wondering if anyone else experiences this.<br><br><br><br>

 

[lizlas]

<P>I get low BP too when on IVs, usually Im 118/80....120/78</P>
<P></P>
<P>but on I ivs go to 96ish /68 ish.....all the time when on ivs.....nurses say eat salty things and drink plenty of fluids...but never have been given explanation...</P>
<P></P>
<P>I do get very lightheaded....</P>

 

[lizlas]

<P>I get low BP too when on IVs, usually Im 118/80....120/78</P>
<P></P>
<P>but on I ivs go to 96ish /68 ish.....all the time when on ivs.....nurses say eat salty things and drink plenty of fluids...but never have been given explanation...</P>
<P></P>
<P>I do get very lightheaded....</P>

 

[lizlas]

<P>I get low BP too when on IVs, usually Im 118/80....120/78</P>
<P></P>
<P>but on I ivs go to 96ish /68 ish.....all the time when on ivs.....nurses say eat salty things and drink plenty of fluids...but never have been given explanation...</P>
<P></P>
<P>I do get very lightheaded....</P>

 

[JustDucky]

I have the same issue, especially if it is a severe exacerbation. I run lowish to begin with, 90-100 systolically....but when sick, I have dived into the low 70's. I believe that is because I was in early sepsis...low blood pressures are common when that happens. I feel awful and very weak. The docs dump large amounts of fluids into me to bring my pressures up, which works. Once my infection gets under control, so does my pressures so I think that low pressures can be part of the infection process.

You definitely aren't alone <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Jenn 39 w/CF

 

[JustDucky]

I have the same issue, especially if it is a severe exacerbation. I run lowish to begin with, 90-100 systolically....but when sick, I have dived into the low 70's. I believe that is because I was in early sepsis...low blood pressures are common when that happens. I feel awful and very weak. The docs dump large amounts of fluids into me to bring my pressures up, which works. Once my infection gets under control, so does my pressures so I think that low pressures can be part of the infection process.

You definitely aren't alone <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Jenn 39 w/CF

 

[JustDucky]

I have the same issue, especially if it is a severe exacerbation. I run lowish to begin with, 90-100 systolically....but when sick, I have dived into the low 70's. I believe that is because I was in early sepsis...low blood pressures are common when that happens. I feel awful and very weak. The docs dump large amounts of fluids into me to bring my pressures up, which works. Once my infection gets under control, so does my pressures so I think that low pressures can be part of the infection process.

You definitely aren't alone <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Jenn 39 w/CF

 

[Melissa75]

When I'm sick, I get way more head rushes if I squat or sit or suddenly exert myself, and my heart races while the tunnel vision is fixing itself--I guess trying to redistribute the blood better. I don't know why that happens to me, but my BP is on the low side to begin with.

Once when I was hospitalized for hemoptysis--and the blood loss wasn't enough to cause low blood volume--my low BP set off the monitors several times during the night. Numbers like you describe: 80/42. The nurses believed me when I said I ran low and said if I didn't usually run on the low side, they'd kept me in the ICU longer because of those numbers.

 

[Melissa75]

When I'm sick, I get way more head rushes if I squat or sit or suddenly exert myself, and my heart races while the tunnel vision is fixing itself--I guess trying to redistribute the blood better. I don't know why that happens to me, but my BP is on the low side to begin with.

Once when I was hospitalized for hemoptysis--and the blood loss wasn't enough to cause low blood volume--my low BP set off the monitors several times during the night. Numbers like you describe: 80/42. The nurses believed me when I said I ran low and said if I didn't usually run on the low side, they'd kept me in the ICU longer because of those numbers.

 

[Melissa75]

When I'm sick, I get way more head rushes if I squat or sit or suddenly exert myself, and my heart races while the tunnel vision is fixing itself--I guess trying to redistribute the blood better. I don't know why that happens to me, but my BP is on the low side to begin with.

Once when I was hospitalized for hemoptysis--and the blood loss wasn't enough to cause low blood volume--my low BP set off the monitors several times during the night. Numbers like you describe: 80/42. The nurses believed me when I said I ran low and said if I didn't usually run on the low side, they'd kept me in the ICU longer because of those numbers.

 

[Tisha]

Me too. My usual is 120/70.
This summer in hospital they even got scared when they say 70/40 in the machine! Gave me a whole bag of saline solution quite fast, trying to raise it. I had 80/40 several times after that. Curiously, I wasn't feeling all that bad, nor dizzy, but then I was in bed so it's hard to tell.

 

[Tisha]

Me too. My usual is 120/70.
This summer in hospital they even got scared when they say 70/40 in the machine! Gave me a whole bag of saline solution quite fast, trying to raise it. I had 80/40 several times after that. Curiously, I wasn't feeling all that bad, nor dizzy, but then I was in bed so it's hard to tell.

 

[Tisha]

Me too. My usual is 120/70.
This summer in hospital they even got scared when they say 70/40 in the machine! Gave me a whole bag of saline solution quite fast, trying to raise it. I had 80/40 several times after that. Curiously, I wasn't feeling all that bad, nor dizzy, but then I was in bed so it's hard to tell.

 

[MiddleAgedLady]

I have the same thing -- normally run low and then lower than that when I'm sick. I get vertigo and fatigue. I'm having the odd feeling like my head will explode anytime I bend over. It's gotten so bad I sit on the floor rather than try to find something in a lower cabinet by bending. I think a need a complete heart work-up.

 

[MiddleAgedLady]

I have the same thing -- normally run low and then lower than that when I'm sick. I get vertigo and fatigue. I'm having the odd feeling like my head will explode anytime I bend over. It's gotten so bad I sit on the floor rather than try to find something in a lower cabinet by bending. I think a need a complete heart work-up.

 

[MiddleAgedLady]

I have the same thing -- normally run low and then lower than that when I'm sick. I get vertigo and fatigue. I'm having the odd feeling like my head will explode anytime I bend over. It's gotten so bad I sit on the floor rather than try to find something in a lower cabinet by bending. I think a need a complete heart work-up.

 

[MiddleAgedLady]

I have the same thing -- normally run low and then lower than that when I'm sick. I get vertigo and fatigue. I'm having the odd feeling like my head will explode anytime I bend over. It's gotten so bad I sit on the floor rather than try to find something in a lower cabinet by bending. I think a need a complete heart work-up.

 

[MiddleAgedLady]

I have the same thing -- normally run low and then lower than that when I'm sick. I get vertigo and fatigue. I'm having the odd feeling like my head will explode anytime I bend over. It's gotten so bad I sit on the floor rather than try to find something in a lower cabinet by bending. I think a need a complete heart work-up.