interpreting anemia labs

[Vaquitita]

i got the results back from my blood test. the dr tells me i'm not anemic, but looking at the lab print out it seems to me that my counts are on the low side. though i'm not sure if which things are just diluted right now because of increased blood volume. and are these ranges specific for pregnant women?

my red cell count is 3.78 (range 3.8 to 5.1)
hemoglobin 11.8 (range 11.7-15.5)
hematocrit 35.2 (range 35-45%)
ferritin 35 (range 10-154)

theres a whole bunch of other stuff on here that i don't know what is. the only thing that is out of range is lymphocytes at 18 (range 20-45%)

anyone know what these things mean? even if i'm not anemic at the moment, am i headed that way?

[frolick16]

All those labs are within normal limits, and truthfully the values and what is considered normal vary from institution to institution so those values are not set in stone. Here is a great resource I use for nursing school.

http://www.labtestsonline.org/

[HeatherB]

If you are feeling anemic and your numbers are low (even if within the "range") then you may well benefit from treating yourself for anemia - Floradix is the supplement of choice, I believe. With many tests, numbers on a wide range are considered normal, yet you can have significant ill effects from them not truly being OPTIMAL. Also, unless you have a baseline tests (i.e., before pregnancy) you can't really know how much lower your current values are than normal *for you*.

I was just discussing this with my MW, as she was suggesting I could be anemic, but never in my three previous pregnancies nor otherwise have I been diagnosed as such. She suggested that my normal levels may be on the high side, so my pregnant levels are lower but not out of range. Therefore, I have symptoms of being anemic (super tired, weird cravings for sweets) without actual lab values saying I am. I'm going to try Floradix as soon as I get up the nerve - and get to the store!

Hope that makes sense!

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Your numbers are normal for a non-pregnant woman, and even "more normal" for a pregnant woman. If that makes any sense.

Having said that, there's no harm in increasing your dietary iron intake (as supplements can have annoying side effects like constipation and upset stomach).

How far along are you? If you're still pretty early, then starting off on the "low end" of normal does put you at a slight disadvantage.

[Vaquitita]

Originally Posted by CookieMonsterMommy

How far along are you? If you're still pretty early, then starting off on the "low end" of normal does put you at a slight disadvantage.

I'm 6months pregnant.

[Ammaarah]

Your ferritin is the amount of iron stores you have, and you are on the low side. It may technically be OK, but you might benefit from supplementing. Talk to your doc about taking some iron. I have heard carbonyl iron builds ferritin better than other forms of iron.

[Vaquitita]

I was anemic with my first, and I do not want to go through that again! I was exhausted for a couple months after he was born. I have been pregnant and/or nursing for 5.5 years now, so I figured there was a good chance my stores would be low. (I asked for the ferritin to be tested specifically). Right now I'm taking liver 'pills' most days, I'm not sure how much, 3-4 big swallows. Also MegaFoods Blood Builder. I took Floradix before, and really liked it, but it's SO expensive. I will try and get a bottle though, even if I can't take a full dose it should help in combination with the other.

[Ammaarah]

I hope that regimen does the trick! Iron issues are no fun, and half the time, the treatment is even worse than the anemia due to constipation and other side effects of iron. I am taking carbonyl iron myself for low ferritin (the rest of my numbers are great) and I tolerate it well, but I have had a malabsorptive surgery so my system doesn't work like the average system, you know? Best of luck getting those stores back up. Babies are wonderful but draining little critters!

[hteb83]

I'd also recommend asking dr / trying floradix - as your numbers are on the lower side of normal.

My ferritin was previously 3 (when not pregnant)- and with iron supplements and vitamin C I got it up to 45 in a couple of months - it gradually went down to the early 30s and I could feel that I was getting more tired. The "normal" ranges are huge though - and what affects each individual would vary dramatically I expect.