viral gastroenteritis or more... im really stumped..

I just got a call from urgent care that I went to last night... I was told that I had viral gastroenteritis.. ( 6 days stomach pains, no nausea... no vomiting.. alot of diarrhea.. .  they drew blood for a CMP and CBC. I had initially went in because i thought i had over dosed on Iron.  They had to send out the iron to be checked.  I got the CBC and CMP results while i was there.. I was told that everything looked awesome.  The only thing that was a bit off was MO# and MO%, which the doc said was indicative of a viral thing going on.  However.. I got a call today byt he doctor that was working tonight.. she told me that i needed to make a follow up appt becuase my iron level. here are the numbers...

  HGB: 13.5   RR-11.7-15.5
  HCT:  39.5   RR-35.0-45.0
  MCV: 85.8   RR-81.8-99.0
  MCH: 29.3   RR-27.0-34.0
MCHC: 34.1   RR-32.0-36.0
  RDW: 11.8   RR-11.5-14.5
  PLT 203       RR-140-440
  MPV:   7.9   RR-7.4-10.4

This was already on the CBC that they looked at while i was there.. they called me today.. ( the doctor did) and told me that I was VERY low in IRON.

my level was 23.. with a RR of 40-160.

I was told that I needed to see my PCP tomorrow.. as i have lost about 32 pounds in the past 5-6 weeks.. not on purpose!!! i just woke up one day.. and had no appetite.. and even when i force myself to eat.. which by the way is VERY healthy.. i just keep losing weight.  i have been anemic before..  but.. not with my other labs being so normal. I am confused.. why would my iron be that low.. but the HGB and HCT be so normal? I thought that i had stopped losing weight at around 120... but then one night i started having stomach cramps... and the diarrhea.. X 4 days.. then i felt better.. ate something i think was too heavy (beef with sauce) and got sick all over again..) i seem to be recovering .. i have been able to eat two bananas... and a peice of dry toast and some chicken soup broth..
it was shown that I am welll hydrated.. all electrolytes are normal..
im just confused.. why would everything be so normal... but my iron level be so low? i  was just tested 3 months ago.. and not only was everything ok .. but my iron stores were normal as well!  I have GERD, but since going off of Famoditine, the side effects have gone away.. but.. i am wondering whats going on with my stomach.. i seem to be better today.. but ii am just so confused..

anyone have any ideas? .

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Even though your iron is low, your hemoglobin and hematacrit are normal so you are not anemic.  The mildly low iron isn't causing you any problems (or causing any of your symptoms) but you should start on an iron supplement so that you don't become anemic in the future.