Can Antibiotics, Infection or Fasting Cause High Blood Pressure ?

[heartsanddiamonds]

Hello,

Apologies this is so long and probably all waffle !

Rather than drive myself bonkers on Dr Google, I thought I would post something on here - perhaps someone has had a similar experience ?

I started the HBD diet- Low Calorie, Low Carb Diet on Saturday, and have lost around 9lbs (water weight for sure).
The day before (Friday) I was at the beach and a little lump appeared on my leg, ended up super swollen by Monday and I went to Minor Injuries.
They dressed the wound, and gave me 5 days of antibiotics ( flucloxacillin 500) - I haven't had any antibiotics for about 10 years.
The lady said it was cellulitis - she took my BP and it was perfect, as was oxygen.

Anyway Tuesday, I went to get it redressed at MI.
Another nurse took my BP and it was high, but she said she wasn't worried as it could be stress of being there, and also I am overweight....although have never had BP issues before.
She also told me what dressings to get to do it at home, so today I changed it and it is so much worse, blood pus, and the wound is wider.

I borrowed a BP monitor and it was 124/102 which seems crazy high from Monday when it was 112/65.
I wondered if it could be the 5 hour fasts between meals, and the low calories.
So after lunch I took it and it was 123/86.

I am wondering if anyone has any experience of this kind of thing ....can low calorie and small fasts, really affect BP like this?
I am doing it to kickstart getting healthy, not unhealthy :(

Or could it be that the infection, or the antibiotics are doing it ?

I have a GP appointment at 10am tomorrow to look at my leg and also take stats.

I don't know how fasting/change of diet affects BP, but ime infection can raise it (I've been within a gnat's whatsits of 120/80 my whole adult life, but since covid last December tend to hover around 145/90 now).

If your wound looks worse get it checked again. You might need longer/different antibiotics.

Calm down OP. Those BP readings are normal, not "crazy high".

Oops. Didn't read all the way to the bottom. Glad you're seeing GP.

124/102 is almost certainly not accurate.

Do you take the BP 3x then record the lowest reading? Do you sit still for 5 minutes before taking it, feet in the floor and back against the chair and the monitor on the table?

😁
I guess the jump from 112/65 to 124/102 felt crazy
I'm not used high numbers like that, is it considered normal range ?

Your name is incredible!

That's really interesting about the covid infection affecting your BP.
Thank you for sharing.

I have GP's appointment tomorrow, and the nurse there will just check the wound and I'm sure do some stats.

The diastolic at 102 is high but I'm guessing it's the infection which has caused that

I'm not a medic btw!

Maybe the machine is frazzled ?
Was feeling quite lightheaded, and then after I ate something it went to 123/86.

I've just done best of 3 as someone else suggested, and it came out at 121/88
The orange light on the bottom/smaller number flashes an orange warning - is it perhaps just a little bit over ?

I did best of two, and now on your suggestion am doing best of 3.
Yes to all the other points, feet on the floor, back against a chair, and monitor on the table.

That does sound plausible.

Thank you for your input

You're welcome 🥰

Generally docs seem happy with 135/85 when taken at home

But you know what your normal BP is

That's reassuring !

Yes, I do know mine is usually 112/65 or around about there, which is what it was on the Monday.
So I was shocked to see it son different on the Tuesday with the other nurse.

Your normal BP is fabulous! Lucky you 🥰