Guest guest Posted April 26, 2001 Report Share Posted April 26, 2001 Jane D, Vitalady or anyone else - I am post menopausal, proximal RNY. I have NOT been taking iron since I am post menopausal - should I be? Amber/FL Re: Iron questions In a message dated 04/26/2001 4:28:03 AM Central Daylight Time, Graduate-OSSG writes: << IRON 9 (normals 25-156) Also, I don't know what these results are for (they are also highlighted low): HGB 9.9 HCT 33.1 MCV 73.6 MCH 22.0 RDW-CV 19.2(high) >> Lou, I am a retired Medical Technologist. That means I worked in the hospital lab. All of your abnormal values are related to iron deficiency. HGB is hemoglobin. That is the protein in the red blood cells (RBC) that iron is bound to. The normal range for females is usually in the 12.0-15.0 range. Normal ranges may vary somewhat from lab to lab. Too little iron = too little hemoglobin. HCT is hematocrit. It is actually a percentage measurement to see what percentage of the blood is composed of red blood cells. Normals are usually around 35-45. MCV is the Mean Corpuscular Volume. It is a measurement of the volume that the red blood cells (or corpuscles) occupy. It is an average ( " mean " ) and is normally in the range of 80-100. When it is low, it means that the cells are small (microcytic-usually pronounced " mick-ro-sit-ick " ). Small cells occupy less space. A low value is associated with iron deficiency and is called iron deficiency anemia. If the cells are large (macrocytic), with numbers greater than 100, it indicates Vit B-12 and/or Folate deficiency. It is called pernicious anemia. MCH is the mean corpuscular hemoglobin. It is measurement of the hemoglobin in an average red blood cell. Its normals are around 27-32. RDW is RBC distribution width. It refers to the range of the size of the RBC's. Normals are 15% or less. It basically refers to the variation in diameter of the RBC's. If they are all basically the same size, the % variability will be small. If they are in a wide array of sizes, the number will be higher. Some of the cells may be normal size, and some may be abnormally large or small. (Sorta like the way people are, huh? ;-) ) Since iron deficiency causes small cells (low MCV) with low amounts of hemoglobin, it causes a " microcytic hypochromic anemia " . As far as absorption goes, my surgeon advises that we take ferrous fumerate, as others are poorly absorbed. (I had a proximal RNY.) And I'm sure you know not to take your iron at the same time as your calcium. They compete for the same absorption sites in the body, and you don't get the full benefit of either one. I hope this info helps. Jane D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2001 Report Share Posted April 26, 2001 I'd think so, yes. Processed in the same neighborhood as B12, protein & that whole family. Not mega-doses, but maybe 50mg Perfect Iron til you get some labs? And then, personally, I like to see the levels stay mid-way. I mean, why hold 1 speck over " low normal " and then cut yourself in the garden & get a huge infection, you know? But then, I USUALLY have a " better safe than sorry " mentality. Thanks, www.vitalady.com https://secure.paypal.com/affil/pal=vitalady%40bigfoot.com Re: Iron questions > > In a message dated 04/26/2001 4:28:03 AM Central Daylight Time, > Graduate-OSSG writes: > > << IRON 9 (normals 25-156) > > Also, I don't know what these results are for (they are also highlighted > low): > HGB 9.9 > HCT 33.1 > MCV 73.6 > MCH 22.0 > RDW-CV 19.2(high) >> > > Lou, > I am a retired Medical Technologist. That means I worked in the hospital > lab. > All of your abnormal values are related to iron deficiency. > > HGB is hemoglobin. That is the protein in the red blood cells (RBC) that > iron > is bound to. The normal range for females is usually in the 12.0-15.0 range. > Normal ranges may vary somewhat from lab to lab. Too little iron = too > little > hemoglobin. > > HCT is hematocrit. It is actually a percentage measurement to see what > percentage of the blood is composed of red blood cells. Normals are usually > around 35-45. > > MCV is the Mean Corpuscular Volume. It is a measurement of the volume that > the red blood cells (or corpuscles) occupy. It is an average ( " mean " ) and is > normally in the range of 80-100. When it is low, it means that the cells are > small (microcytic-usually pronounced " mick-ro-sit-ick " ). Small cells occupy > less space. A low value is associated with iron deficiency and is called > iron > deficiency anemia. If the cells are large (macrocytic), with numbers > greater > than 100, it indicates Vit B-12 and/or Folate deficiency. It is called > pernicious anemia. > > MCH is the mean corpuscular hemoglobin. It is measurement of the hemoglobin > in an average red blood cell. Its normals are around 27-32. > > RDW is RBC distribution width. It refers to the range of the size of the > RBC's. Normals are 15% or less. It basically refers to the variation in > diameter of the RBC's. If they are all basically the same size, the % > variability will be small. If they are in a wide array of sizes, the number > will be higher. Some of the cells may be normal size, and some may be > abnormally large or small. (Sorta like the way people are, huh? ;-) ) > > Since iron deficiency causes small cells (low MCV) with low amounts of > hemoglobin, it causes a " microcytic hypochromic anemia " . > > As far as absorption goes, my surgeon advises that we take ferrous fumerate, > as others are poorly absorbed. (I had a proximal RNY.) And I'm sure you know > not to take your iron at the same time as your calcium. They compete for the > same absorption sites in the body, and you don't get the full benefit of > either one. > > I hope this info helps. > Jane D > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.