The doctor wants me back in 12 weeks to retest my levels, but should I have it tested sooner than that to see if I'm on the right track. He's giving me 12 weeks to get my numbers down without meds and then after that he wants me on meds.

So, I'm determined to do it naturally and I'd like to monitor it myself if thats possible.

The doctor wants me back in 12 weeks to retest my levels, but should I have it tested sooner than that to see if I'm on the right track. He's giving me 12 weeks to get my numbers down without meds and then after that he wants me on meds.

So, I'm determined to do it naturally and I'd like to monitor it myself if thats possible.

Without meds, it may take 8-12 weeks, so there's no point checking sooner. With meds, the results are almost in full effect within 3 weeks! If you decide to get a monitor, get the BEST...one that uses calibrated test strips you stick into an instument that reads the strip. Whatever you do DON"T get the one that is "one use" tray than you drop your blood into and measure the column on blood.

I read reviews of home test kits for cholesterol on Consumer Reports and they said, "Don't bother." None of them is apparently accurate. Does anyone disagree with this? Is there a reliable home test? I'd love to be able to test at home too. I am trying to lower cholesterol through diet and would love to be able to check it myself.

I read reviews of home test kits for cholesterol on Consumer Reports and they said, "Don't bother." None of them is apparently accurate. Does anyone disagree with this? Is there a reliable home test? I'd love to be able to test at home too. I am trying to lower cholesterol through diet and would love to be able to check it myself.

I have the CARDIOCHEK. It will do a complete cholesterol check (total, HDL, Trigs) using separtate strips. It will also do blood sugar.The entire kit..with the instrument and all 3 cholesterol strips (6 per box) was around $210. To replace the strips, it's about $20 per box of 6. I know the total cholesterol test was accurate, since I checked it with a lab blood test on the same day. Do a search on the web to find who sells it.

Georgiehopper,

As I said before, I don't feel that you need to be on medication. Your numbers are actually pretty good. In my opinion, low HDL and high triglycerides are much better risk indicators. And you are certainly not a high risk patient. Far from it. But the decision is entirely up to you. If you are still somewhat on the fence about all this, use your family history as a guide. Does heart disease run in your family? If it doesn't, then I would never even consider the drugs.

Three months seems a reasonable trial for your best efforts to show the best results.

Three months seems a reasonable trial for your best efforts to show the best results.

My doctor said six months. I am not saying your wrong. Three months sounds very reasonable. Six months seems too long to wait. Some doctors are weird aren't they?