Question: I just got some test results back and my monocytes are low as well as reticulocytes at .3. Also please tell me what a normal range for serum anion gap using, na, k, cl, co2. I have been extremely ill for 9 months and my anion gap calc on the labs says 16.4. I went to a nephrologist who looked at my labs and said slight possibility of acidosis. My stomach hurts terribly and feels like it's filled with gas. Thank you! XXXX

Hello Dr. XXXXXXX I have been sick for some time now and can't seem to get better. I presented to my Dr. in XXXXXXX of this year with low BP, frequent urination and dizzyness. I was put on florinef .1 as a trial for a month. I noticed some improvement but did not want to be on a steroid so withdrew. Since this time I am very ill and tried to reinstate but now the medication gives me severe anxiety. Now my bp is totally messed up and my hr is high. This is the worst mistake I have ever made and I'm so regretful. I have had my aldosterone checked 2 times since and it has been low. Taking salt does not help me and hurts my stomach. So I'm at a loss. My stomach hurts all the time and I'm living a terrible life. I have been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome. I am 5"4' and weigh 110, always weighing 120 since adulthood. My appetite is gone and I'm weak everyday so exercise is very hard. I have had adrenal tests done and the only thing that comes back low is aldosterone. I must have supressed it and it won't come back, I'm not sure. My Albumin is 5.1 and that is the top of reference range given. I read that can mean dehydration. I feel dehydrated and am not urinating as much as before. I'm drinking enough I believe but not sure if it's sticking. I've had blood drawn several times and they have said my veins look collapsed. They had to bring someone I'm who does the pic line to give me an iv. I also have a lot of muscle twitching, not painful but didn't have it before. My labs from yesterday are as follows, K 4.4 Na 143 Co2 27 Cl 104 The anion gap showed it included K. I'm on ativan because my body just won't calm down. Paxil, and tylenol for stomach pain. Thank you for trying to help me! I'm so scared I forgot to add that my fasting BG was 78, albumin 5.1, osmolality 289 and my kidney function before this was >100 and now showing 85 sometimes and 62 other times. Ferritin in two months went from 42 to 17. I have had a ton of tests done and they all say I'm fine. One last thing, my specific gravity is always below normal. Anywhere from, 1.001-1.004. Thanks Posted By : Brookesmith48 I'm sure you are busy working, but I just want to write things out when I think of them. As I was saying before, I have had a lot of tests done. I am noticing a pattern with my electrolytes. For 4 months my sodium would stay around 139 and my chloride around 109, then my k would be 3.5 or lower even with slow k suppliment and my co2 would be anywhere from 20-23 at the highest. Now my last two electrolyte panels have sodium in the low 140's K 4.4 or so with chloride 103 and now co2 around 27. So im seeing a flip flop and this doesn't seem right to me. I have ten years of tests prior to illness and my electrolytes were very similar every six months or so. Thanks for taking the time to read this.