Lab results questions

[CtResident]

Just a couple of blips, and me being the curious sort:

Anion Gap (what is this?)      6.0            Range: 7-14

Ferritin                                 5.0            Range:11-307
(what is this, seems different than my Iron, which was 74 in a range of 43-135)    

WBC count                          4.4             Range 4.9-10.8

RBC count                           4.15            Range 4.2-5.4

I know WBC and RBC are white and red blood cells. How come they are both low? I thought low ferritin meant anemia, but my iron is fine. I've been "rejected" by the Red Cross for blood donations a couple of times due to this "anemia" (don't you wish I'd quit using those blasted "quote" signs, lol).

Anyway, I had a hysterectomy, how can I keep having this anemia issue?  My pcp suggested a few years ago that I take a multi w/iron, but I have an issue with swallowing pills. Had to have my esophagus stretched year before last. And now having a wee bit of the same trouble with the throat as in the earlier times, gaggish at times.

So many little nuisance things, it's tiresome huh?

Suzanne          

[CtResident]

Chuckling, yeah, I know. Being a meteorologist wanna-be, figured there was a lightning thing going on there.

Suzanne

[biowham]

Different ions.

[CtResident]

Ahhh, so that's it! Negatively charged ions and positively charged ions= the zip zaps!

:-)

Suzanne

[Nerve_Wrecked]

Ok, I am a far cry from know what most of this means, but this is what I could find about Anion Gap. Apparently your Anion Gap is the ratio of positively charged ions to negatively charged ions in the body, which denoted blood alkalinity versus blood acidity.

The Anion Gap is decreased by free radical pathology due to overproduction of alkaloids. Other causes that have been reported associated with a reduced anion gap are

Alkalosis for any reason
Hyperchloremic acidosis (excess chloride)
Multiple Myeloma
Hyponatremia (low blood sodium level; see appropriate lab finding webpage)
Hypoalbuminemia  (see albumin; can increase the amount of free blood calcium)
Bromide Ingestion (displaces chloride)
Uncalculated blood cations (calcium, magnesium)
Lithium toxicity (can be due to effects on sodium)
Primary hypothyroidism
Kidney disease (due to the loss of the cations sodium and or potassium)
Polymyxin B


Sorry, it's probably not too helpful, but I tried!

Christine