Home Health Tests: for diabetes, heart conditions etc.

If you don't have insurance, then certainly, that may be a way to by-pass going to a doctor and getting labs.

Since many insurance providers now offer preventive care, cholesterol, fasting, possibly a1c, and so on are now covered 100% before you meet your deductible.

I had all my labs run last year, plus thyroid, vitamin D, hormone levels, cholesterol, a1c, fasting, and all 100% covered.  I sure wish they would cover derm visits for skin cancer screenings.

I nice premise, but not sure that cost/value is there.

Since cholesterol readings are not a snap-shot but an ongoing thing, if your cholesterol elevates slightly from eating something "bad," it does not mean it won't naturally return on its own.

I do see a value in urinalysis if you think you have an infection or are trying to see if you are in ketosis doing a low

carb diet, but if I had an infection, I would end up at the doctor anyway.....

again, nice premise, but the conclusion seems flawed (just my humble opinion).

If I were a doctor, my org. would be thrilled to have a patient like you wanting tests that don't really tell you

much on a day-to-day or weekly rate.  Knowledge is power but data is not always accurate and worthwhile.

For example, there is current debate that cholesterol numbers mean nothing (even high ones) and it is the inflammation that forces natural cholesterol to patch the damage, which can dislodge and cause ischemic events.  This doesn't mean cholesterol is bad, but since the 70's, that has been the go-to mantra and no one wants to revisit it (minus a few out-of-the-box thinkers).

Since most labwork is a snapshot of a month or so goings-on in your body, taking labs more frequently rarely yields new info. 

If you are feeling crummy after a fatty meal, it could be your gallbladder (and nothing wih your cholesterol).  Even if your cholesterol went up for 2 hours, then came back down, how would you know you got the snapshot of the 2 hours it was up and not the other reading?

Even blood sugar, which IS more telling, should be tested with relation to when and what one has eaten if it is to give you any meaning.

I just finished reading "Over Diagnosed" and though I don't agree with everything, he made some compelling arguments.  He IS a doctor.

 Heck, if you have the time and money to get labs done, no one will stop you....even placebo, if it makes one feel better, is considered good medicine.  Just sharing my opinion.....

Jenrio, again, your premise is worthy, but the conclusions...

Your brain controls a lot of what we do, but the gallbladder responds to fat by dumping out bile to help digest it.

Very simple loop...sort of like the glucose/pancreas loop.  When it all works and works well, we are oblivious to the efficiency.  When something goes awry, well....that's when we pay attention.  Not everyone feels "crummy" after high fat meals, but if you are not used to eating a lot of fat, you will notice a difference.  That "notice" that you have is what you may interpret as crummy.

The new theory for "healthy" eating is actually more fat and less carbs.  Go figure.

I'm a dietitian and trust me, this blew me away since I spent 4 years studying differently.

BPA is probably like flame retardants and other chemicals that all of us have in out blood.  PBS did a great special on that and found that most of us have these nasty chemicals.  It was done by a blood draw and not urinalysis.

OK, suppose you know you have it....have they determined how you can rid yourself of it once it is there?  If not, do you want to walk around knowing it is there and be helpless to deal with it?  I know knowledge is power....but in some cases you must ask yourself .."power to do what?.."

Hope you are feeling better.  Try some Bromelain or Papaya and ginger tea.  The Euorpeans swear by bitters.