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My Resting Heart Rate High.

Yesterday afternoon i went to urgent care with chills, and aches and a slight fever of about 101. The fever varied between 99-101 and normal depending on where it was taken. Urgent care was concerned that my BP was elevated as well as heart rate, my knee was red and warm to the touch.Another issue i have ongoing. So they were concerned this was a septic knee situation. They sent me to the ER... The ER tested me and my heart rate was 150 and bp was high. Over the course of the next 5.5 hours in ER being treated with iv fluids and many many blood tests. They couldn't figure out why my heart rate was so high, they were concerned it was a coronary situation, so they sent me for an xray of my chest, and an ultrasound of the knee, they were looking for blood clots. None found..More tests, DIME came back 50 over, so they were concerned about that, so i went to a CT scan of the chest..Again nothing. So they still had no idea what was going on. They kept me overnight and had me take some antibiotics and more fluids. They refused to let me eat or drink until cardiology came the next day, overnight my Heart rate fell back into the 100-110 range, most of the day resting rate was 100-110 , they ordered an ECHO. It came back also ok, so they discharged me around 6pm. So far at home, i've realized i feel very fatigued, and doing simple things tires me, maybe i am tired, i do not know. I have had a staph infection for over a month, and i am on a 2nd round of docyclin + nasal stuff, to try and get rid of it.

When i was discharged the nurse told me... This really screams infection you should follow up with it.  What is my next steps? All my blood work is fine, everything is good.Which is why they were concerned with the clots i guess, because everything was normal. I am 41 Male non smoker,drug,alcohol .I am 233 pounds so overweight but it;s never affected me. Could the cultures they took possibly show something in the coming days?   Should i go straight to a ID before primary? I assume i'd have to be referred by primary first anyway...Sorry for long rant, this is my first true concerning illness of my life..I've always been healthy medically, maybe not weight wise.
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Avatar universal
Well, your heart rate and blood pressure are going to be elevated *whenever* you have a fever or infection.  Pain will cause it, too, as will anxiety.  You no doubt had a nice combo of all of these in the ER.

You say you are being treated for a 'staph infection.'  Is this a nasal or sinus condition?

You also mention that your knee was red and warm.  That isn't normal.  Has it happened before?  I ask because a hot, red joint can point to things like infection, of course, as well as gout and certain kinds of autoimmune arthritis (which, by the way, can also cause great fatigue).

The cultures that were taken at the hospital could very well show something, depending on where they were taken *from.*

More important, I think, would be blood work: From the numbers and types of white blood cells, a good doctor can get some idea if you're dealing with a big infection, a recent infection or a long-standing one, or an autoimmune condition.  Your Sedimentation rate (google it) should be looked at, too.

You don't mention your age, and age is a factor in many conditions.  You do mention your weight, and that is a problem, especially if you have high blood sugar.

I'd agree with that nurse:  At this point, it doesn't sound like a heart issue, but you should call on Monday for an appointment with your primary for a thorough workup for a possible knee infection.  You need a diagnostician to find out exactly what is going on, because you really don't want a septic knee. Sepsis is a Bad Thing.

You also don't want a knee to become disabled because of an autoimmune condition.  You need to know if you're flirting with diabetes, which makes people susceptible to infections, and it isn't good for hearts and arteries, either.

Good luck.



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Thanks for the follow up.I am 41. My WBC was 7.4 th/uL

Lymph, Abs
0.4 th/uL

Segs was 86.3%  
lymphs  5.8%
Sed Rate 7 mm/hr

Cultures were taken from my arm via IV i guess... The staph infection was diagnosed from swabs in wounds in my left leg. I do have many other wounds on my body that have been itchy etc..So it may be everywhere? I dunno. I made an appointment for the doctor on monday. And the cardio on wednesday even just to get a "where i am at" in my life since they have all this information from the echo. I figured i paid for it, may as well have the cardiologist explain it to me, and what i need to work on if anything. and may 2nd for a infectous disease doctor.   Last thing, just checked report, says day 2 " no growth" they took 2 different samples i guess 2 hours apart. I believe it was from same arm, only other blood drawn was by an overnight nurse that bruised the hell out of me.. so annoyed by that!
The knee is doing better, no longer warm to the touch or red..My girlfriend reminded me, i've had an issue with that same knee before with it being red/sore .Unsure how long ago. As of yesterday getting off the ground with my son, i couldn't put pressure on that knee cap, now i can no problem and feel nothing, it is tender on the exterior of it now though.
Different hospitals use different 'reference ranges,' but at first glance,
you WBC (white blood cells) appear to but in the normal range overall, but your Segs (segmental neurtophils=infection fighters) seem quite high, which suggests a real problem with infection.

Your lymphs (lymphocytes) look low, which can indicate sepsis.

Your sed rate appears normal, which *may* help to rule out an autoimmune, inflammatory condition.

In general , your mention of many 'wounds' on your body, plus the hot knee and some of the blood work make me think it's a good idea you are seeing your doctors soon. There just seem to be too many indicators of infection to be comfortable about it all.  

You sound quite intelligent, and I think you are going to get a handle on whatever is going on.

I went to the doctor, and he said similar.He thought that the knee was just a response from the staph.. and it explains why it's getting better with doxcyclin. My heart rate since last friday evening on discharged has been going lower and lower, i was down to 87 laying in bed, 99 at the doctors office after walking in and sitting down. For someone overweight, i thought that was satisfactory. At home when working i hover around 95-100ish sitting at the computer. Still have an appointment with the ID at the 2nd.. problem is, i just wokeup this morning with a high HR of about 100-105 in bed. I got up went to rest room, took it again and it was 125. Walked into my work room, sat down and it was 125 still. I decided to just sit a few mins, and it went back down to 100-105 area.  I ate and took my morning doxycylin was at 120. Right now i'm at 112 just typing this out, about 30 mins after eating.  A little concerned with the waking up with a higher HR.  Cultures all came back after 5 days no growth.
As an infection is getting better, it is normal for your temperature (and thus your heart rate) to oscillate a bit.  Actually, in the case of infection, your body temperature is more important than the heart rate.

I'm still concerned about what your doc thought about your white cell count.

In terms of susceptibility to infection, a patient's blood sugar is extremely important.  Was yours ever tested?
1423357 tn?1511085442
I agree with what Achilles said.  It's quite normal for your heart rate to rise with an infection as well as dehydration.  Boy, it sounds like the hospital really got there money's worth!
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