At-Home Cholesterol Screening Equipment

Diseases & Conditions Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
1
Hi All,
 
Know we can't push specific brands of things on the forum, but does anyone
have any experience with testing cholesterol at home?  i would sure be
interseted in doing so, and would like to hear what others think.  i have
looked at multiple models, all do different kinds of things.  one of the things
they warn about is for us "bleeders" - that that can cause a problem.  and
of course you don't want to overdo it, they recommend about once a month.
but i sure would like to keep better track of it myself.  there are 2 machines
that seem valid to me:  one checks one thing at a time, costs a lot less,
that is you can test total cholesterol only.  another pin prick is required for
measuring HDL.  then a more expensive machine will do the whole shebang,
all lipid counts, with one stick.
 
everyone's thoughts, please!
 
thanks,
libby

Libby Gilmore, "The glass is half full"!
http://www.libbygilmore.com

2
I think you may be able to post a link to a companies website if you are simply being helpful and providing info or asking advise on it and not actually advertising for them..Maybe Teri can advise
3
Sara is correct, Libby. Thanks, Sara!! :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
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4
but i still ask: has anyone else on our site used one of these at home cholesterol checkers?

Libby Gilmore, "The glass is half full"!
http://www.libbygilmore.com

5

Hi Libby! tongue

I personally have never used any at home test to check my cholesterol.

However, I do have a BP monitor and it shows it's accuracy when I go to the Dr. and I have the same BP there.

I have an at Home "Accu Chek" for my diabetes and so far it's been good!  At the time I got that I checked with my Insurance company and that's what they recommended and I rec'd. it free through them.

So with all that said...why not call your Insurance Co., or check with your Dr./or nurse to see what they would recommend?

Here are a couple of my famous links - lol - to a .gov site that may help.

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/oivd/homeuse-cholesterol.html
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/oivd/consumer-homeuse.html

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating:
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Post Edited (Teri16) : 9/18/2005 4:02:49 PM (GMT-6)

6
My brother used one of the basic ones that just checked total cholesterol and it seemed fairly accurate..I think he got 2 test things for $24 (Before our discount since his daughter works at the drug store)
7

thanks for the input everyone.

teri, i have a rather nice BP monitor and it doesn't really work worth

a flip.  don't know if that's my fault (i.e., the fault of my poor little

ole bod), or just the machine.  when i take mine to the doc's, it's

always WAY off.  WAY OFF.  so i use it only as a semi-guideline.

i wonder how reliable those cholesterol checkers really are.  seems we

would all have one if they were any good, since that's what everyone at

this site needs to or does work so hard on...

Libby Gilmore, "The glass is half full"!
http://www.libbygilmore.com

8

Hi Libby! tongue

I picked up my BP monitor at Wally world and it's just great!  So maybe you just got lemon? eyes lol

Re the Cholesterol Tests for at home use, I could see the need in some that need to be reminded frequently what their cholesterol is so that they'd get back on their diets and stay with their new lifestyle changes...for someone like myself that gets checked every 3-6 mos., I think that's 'plenty' enough times!  yeah I'd hate to see someone get too overly obsessed with checking themselves too often - we need to be conscientious, but not to the point where we can't live our lives!

Let me know what you decide and the next time you check your BP at home, make sure the that the table you're using to set the unit on - is at heart level and that the cuff you are using is the right size for you!  Also, BP's change frequently, so that can be expected that it changed when you got to your Dr.'s office.  Did it go up? :) 

Big Hugs to you, Libby and have a Great Day!! tongue Teri

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
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9
hi teri,
yeah, i know that ole BP of mine particularly goes up and down, up and down,
like a seesaw.
i also see that some might overuse the cholesterol checker. i just get tired of
the hassle of going to the doc, getting the bloodwork order, going to do that,
waiting a few days - a week to get results, etc., etc. and sometimes when i'm
trying a new med i want to be more on top of whether or not it's helping, etc.
libby

Libby Gilmore, "The glass is half full"!
http://www.libbygilmore.com

10
Well, I can understand that one, Libby! They apparently have the ones out there that can break down the results and tell you how your HDL, LDL and Tri's are...

Let me know if you get one and how it works!!

Hugs, Teri :)

"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack
 
Please allow HealingWell to continue helping others by donating: