posted
So I went and did a routine CBC and the nurse checked my blood pressure at 140/100. I usually run in a good range and those readings are not normal for me.
I'm taking zithromax and mepron, and just finished my first bottle of mepron. Anyone else have blood pressure issues from mepron?
Or maybe it's not the mepron but the bacteria die-off and causing inflammation? Any suggestions on bringing the blood pressure down without starting some new medication?
I don't have any proof yet that it is a sustained high blood pressure. It was checked not too long ago and was a good reading. I do have some hunches that it has been spiking on me, especially since starting the z-max and mepron combo.
Maybe it's just stress over not getting these little buggers out of my system.
My cholesterol numbers are great and I had a heart cath 2 years ago with flying colors. I'm a little perturbed that some little critters might be jeopardizing those good results.
Posts: 194 | From Colorado | Registered: Nov 2008
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ping
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6974
posted
ott70 - You might want to buy a wrist BP cuff; they sell them at WalMart and monitor yourself throughout your entire treatment time.
You do need to know if indeed stress and / or inflammation is the cause and whether it's a one-time or occasional anomaly. Taking BP readings regularly is really the only way to tell.
If it is true hypertension, like mine (& I took Mep, but can't correlate it to HBP), then you absolutely, positively must get on medication. Hypertension will end your life faster than TBD and is even more damaging to you if you happen to live with it for an extended period.
Question - Do you also have rapid pulse? Maybe, say 100bpm or more? If so and you find your BP is high and pulse rapid, Beta Blockers might be an option for you. BB's reduce both HBP & heart rate (usually).
-------------------- ping "We are more than containers for Lyme" Posts: 1302 | From Back in TX again | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I don't generally get a rapid pulse and will be in the range of 50-80 resting. However, this recent bout of feeling crummy does raise my pulse up around 90-100 at times. I've also been feeling my heart beat lately.
I have some Atenolol at home that I take on an "as needed" basis due to PAC's/PVC's I have been dealing with for a couple of years. I have not taken any Atenolol in the last month or two. Looks like it may be a good idea to start back up for a little while.
Posts: 194 | From Colorado | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
My blood pressure has fluxuated in the last year, and before that it was normal. With so many doctor's visits and IV nurse's testing me, it varies daily. I think it has to do with the underlying infection, but that is my humble opinion.
I am on Mepron now, but had the fluxuation prior to taking Mepron.
My doctor has me taking my own blood pressure in the mornings, and it is always 120/70. You may want to test yourself as ping said.
Posts: 964 | From san diego | Registered: Oct 2009
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
Ott70,
I have noticed that my blood pressure is increasing. I started on Mepron and had some side effects so now I am on Malarone.
I wake up with a huge headache and swollen ankles. I have noticed that my blood pressure has increased. I don't know if I should stay on it or not. This medicine is really helping.
What does your doctor say?
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
First off, I would like to put in a good word for my alternate PCP. I usually only see her when my main PCP is out and see is the only non-LLMD who asks me how my Lyme disease is doing. She's young and bright and believes in these current day infectious diseases. She helped some lady down in Arizona kick her chronic EBV issue with the patient's input on the matter.
Haley,
We are not sure if it's the meds or a toxic overload from too much die-off. My PCP agreed that inflammation from parasite die-off could definitely cause a blood pressure spike.
She is not going to tell me to stop the Mepron since my LLMD prescribed it. However, she told me what numbers to keep an eye on for blood pressure; anything above 200 on the top end and anything above 120 on the bottom end.
Obviously, she doesn't want me to have any sustained high blood pressure but the belief is this will come to pass since my previous numbers were always good. I do fluctuate back to some good numbers, so I'm not constantly at 140/100.
I'll probably discuss the dosage amounts with my LLMD in a couple of weeks, that it may have been too much for me to handle.
Posts: 194 | From Colorado | Registered: Nov 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Great advice. I was just thinking about this wrist BP monitor, though I'm not sure how accurate they are.
My BP has been high lately (150/95). I can't get the bottom number below 90. My cardiologist just doesn't give a damn. Scary. MY ID doc didn't like it at all.
quote:Originally posted by ping: ott70 - You might want to buy a wrist BP cuff; they sell them at WalMart and monitor yourself throughout your entire treatment time.
You do need to know if indeed stress and / or inflammation is the cause and whether it's a one-time or occasional anomaly. Taking BP readings regularly is really the only way to tell.
If it is true hypertension, like mine (& I took Mep, but can't correlate it to HBP), then you absolutely, positively must get on medication. Hypertension will end your life faster than TBD and is even more damaging to you if you happen to live with it for an extended period.
Question - Do you also have rapid pulse? Maybe, say 100bpm or more? If so and you find your BP is high and pulse rapid, Beta Blockers might be an option for you. BB's reduce both HBP & heart rate (usually).
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
I ended up buying a $50 unit manufactured by Omron at Walmart. It's not a wrist device but it's portable with an arm cuff and easy to use.
112/77 this morning. Starting to look like an overload on toxins or a side effect of the zithormax/mepron combo.
Posts: 194 | From Colorado | Registered: Nov 2008
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Scary. MY ID doc didn't like it at all. 
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