Reddit mentions: The best home health tests

You don't need to drink to be social; in fact, if the only way your friends can socialize is through alcohol, you need to make some different friends. As for your HPPD, this paper lists some medications, mainly benzos, that have been helpful for some people. My symptoms were pretty mild so I was able to get by with just hydroxyzine (a Benadryl-style antihistamine) and GABA.

Remember that YOUR BRAIN IS NOT PERMANENTLY INJURED OR DAMAGED. HPPD is nothing but abnormal electrical activity in your brain (remember that line in The Matrix about how reality is just electrical signals interpreted by your brain?), and this electrical activity can be influenced & controlled by medication, meditation etc. Which is why sedatives and antipsychotics are likely to help. Also look into neurofeedback, which is basically monitored meditation that helps you measure & modulate your brain waves. In my case my brain had stopped producing alpha waves (which have a calming/relaxing effect); after about 10 hour-long neurofeedback sessions my alpha was normal again and my symptoms were substantially better. If your symptoms are more severe you might need 20-40 sessions.

Seeing a cervical spine chiropractor can also help to make sure that your cervical spine isn't impinging upon your brain stem and inhibiting the flow of oxygen and nutrients that your brain needs to rebalance & repair itself (which, if you live in the Western world, it most likely is). And, of course, exercise, eat healthy, and take supplements to make sure that your body has a healthy supply of said nutrients (broad spectrum bloodwork and hair testing can help you to know what you need to focus on diet-wise) and the blood flow to deliver them to the brain.

That'd be pretty cool. I currently use a combination of strips to monitor mine:

• Easy@Home bluetooth thermometer for daily basal. My basal temp fluctuates wildly since I have allergies but I did kind of see a trend the one time so far I've ovulated.
  
• Easy@Home LH strips to monitor daily after day CD4-3dpo. These are the cheapies that you can get for 100 for $20. They work but are a bit noisier than I'd like so I use...
  
• Pre-mom semi-quantitative LH strips when it looks like I'm seeing a surge, usually 3dbo to 3dpo.
  
• Proov Progesterone strips (CD8, 3dpo-7dpo) to confirm ovulation.
  
  This is fairly expensive monthly (~$70/mo) but I'm doing unmonitored letrozole cycles right now and so it's cheaper than taking the day off work and driving 6 hours several times.
  
  This gave me a really clear picture last cycle: https://imgur.com/a/o64Eqgz, confirmed with the progesterone strips, and then menstruated exactly 14dpo as expected.
  
  Something like the 10 parameter urinalysis strips that did estrogen, lh, and progesterone each dip would be awesome, or a meter like my blood glucose meter that automatically measured the amounts. It'd probably be insanely expensive, since the progesterone strips themselves are $5 per and the semi-quantitative (high quality) LH strips are $1 per strip.

After getting to know how I 'worked' with keto. I, at about 9 months on the diet, stopped giving super serious mode thoughts about intrinsic sugars from vegetables. So I eat corn, carrots, peas, and onions to my hearts content. I know I'll probably get downvoted for saying that, but it's how it's been working for me. I don't however extend that to fruits, which I love, but pretty much steer clear of. Also 15g per day is slightly to restrictive for me. I did 20 starting out, but now if I hit 35g net I know nothing bad will come of it. I know it sounds dumb, but atleast for me, I could eventually feel when I was pushing the limits which I corroborated with these.

I say this, but currently been on a 7 week plateau. Onederland so close yet so far away...

I got it for free but see the same model on Amazon for $49.

Keto-Doc Advanced Ketone Blood Meter Kit - Monitor Your Ketones With Accuracy, Sustain Optimal Ketosis Levels To Super Charge Your Health Goals https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VQFTJ3F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bpoJDb6REEX7Z

Thank you, and great point!! I used to use rice flour during shaping but started to just use my regular flour ... I needed that reminder to return to rice flour.

And your point about gluten presence, I did look up a bit more about testing and found there are different gluten breakdown methods/by products and different antibodies/methods of testing for them:

some "test kits recognize several fragments, including the toxic portion in addition to other, non-toxic fragments of the gliadin molecule, the G12 antibody hones in specifically on the toxic fragment, so that the most important fragment to the celiac patient is not diluted out"
(https://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Test-Tests-Contamination-GlutenTox/dp/B00SZ0D1GC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8)


"There are three commonly used antibodies for gluten detection in food products: 401.21 (Skerritt), R5 (Mendez), and G12. Each of these antibodies has been rigorously tested in interlaboratory studies around the world. Although these are sometimes referred to as “methods,” each of these antibodies are tools found in commonly used test methods.
Skerritt is the oldest of these antibodies and recognizes both gliadin and glutenin components of gluten, providing the broadest view of gluten content. Tests using the Skerritt antibody are useful for testing processed foods for total gluten content when wheat allergies, gluten sensitivity, or Celiac disease is of concern.

R5 is a newer antibody capable of providing enhanced measurements of hydrolyzed gluten, which has been broken down into smaller molecules in products such as beer. This antibody specifically recognizes the gliadin component of gluten found in most wheats. Tests using the R5 antibody are useful for testing hydrolyzed or fermented products for the presence of gliadin that may be broken down.

G12 is the newest available antibody and specifically recognizes the portion of gliadin that can cause an immune response in patients with Celiac disease. Gluten-free products or wheat (and gluten) containing products lacking this specific component of gliadin may be less damaging to patients with Celiac disease. Tests using the G12 antibody are useful for analyzing foods when Celiac disease is the primary concern."
https://www.ezgluten.com/faqs.php

Thank you again for your comment!!

For those interested in this topic I used this relatively cheap Lipid Panel Test Kit from Amazon.

Now for my rant/review; I got 1 kit done for before starting a keto regimen, and 1 for after. I had a bit of saturated fats and also a few too many keto snacks and cauliflower (carb substitute hacks).

Total Cholesterol: 205 , 235
Triglycerides: 64.9, 119
HDL-C: 38 (low), 58
LDL-C: 153, 153
TC/HDL-C Ratio: 5.4 (high), 4.1

The results were good, besides elevated triglycerides which is a strong indicator a person isn't adapting well to the diet (1/4 of humans dont). The level it rose to is still in the "optimal" zone at 'under 150' so we'll see where we are at as I only recently went back to stricter/cleaner keto. Will test again in June.

Cheers!

1. Forget about running and cardio. Get the book "Body by Science" and learn how to get great results in a lot less time, and why running and cardio are not good choices.
   
2. I just bought a breath acetone ketone meter. You pay for the meter once and can use it for free thereafter because it does not use urine or blood strips. It is much more accurate than urine sticks. This is the one I bought and am very happy with: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NSVPGNP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
3. Investigate going ZeroCarb. https://www.reddit.com/r/zerocarb/ It works and makes your life a lot easier.

Hey everyone, I have a ketones question-

I bought these urine test strips when I first started keto a little over 3 weeks ago. I read that urine strips aren't always super accurate but I figured they'd be good for just starting out to make sure I'm in ketosis.

Every time I tested they'd turn dark red indicating 16 mmol/l. However starting this past Sunday I'm testing around .5-1.5 . Is that normal? Nothing else changed, my diet and exercise are the same. Thanks!

Thanks for the perspective. So then, not much known, some risk, the usual individual variation.

> Gymbros make pretty good canaries in the coal mine, usually.

Heh, yes, since they tend to take a lot of the stuff they like, and report results, and keep track of how it impacts them. Thanks, gymbros!

>nitric oxide is hard to measure (you can get nitrites and cGMP but not nitric oxide directly)

There are actually nitric oxice measurement strips sold on Amazon, like this one. FWIW I showed up low till I took citrulline. But maybe these are not so accurate?

Close, but it's actually this one, which is sensitive to ~250 thousand, which in the medical literature indicates a "very low chance" of causing pregnancy. I'm going in for a lab test in 3 weeks, but this is FDA approved as an alternative to lab tests and highly recommended in the journals I read, so it's just an extra layer of reassurance.

I went back and checked out what qualifies as ketoacidosis and I guess I was mistaken, still though, according to me ketone meter I consistently wake up above the ideal range: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NSVPGNP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As far as I know I'm a perfectly functioning, healthy adult...but every morning I wake up around 5 mmol/L.

Yeah, if you tell them you are paying out of pocket and not going through insurance they usually charge significantly less. You can also talk to them about setting up a payment plan or using carecredit if needs be. I know someone who was convinced they had sleep apnea and just bought a cpap and mask and played with the pressure settings themselves but that is obviously far from ideal. There are also some take home sleep studies you can buy such as this but I haven't done it myself.

Possibly. I only track my calories everyday (~1300), but not my macros at all. I just trust that if I have Keto Chow for breakfast/lunch during the workweek and (usually) salads for dinner, that will be low carb enough. However, I went from 185 to 150 now so I'm suuuuper happy with my results so far! :D

But I don't know if I ever entered ketosis because I never felt even a single whiff of the keto flu. I don't want to draw blood so it's hard to tell. [Edit]: Oh now I remember that there are those keto sticks. [Edit 2]: Ordered this! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUB7BUV

I don't know how it works in the US regarding insurance, as someone said here you might get charged for it, but I found a home blood testing kit which could be helpful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002ZU7GIW/ref=cm\_sw\_em\_r\_mt\_dp\_U\_KhGVCbMSBPF2X

It's on the UK site but I'm sure you could get similar products in America. My little brother used one before a trip abroad a few years back.

Nice Timing. I JUST purchased this electrolyte product for my upcoming fast. Looks CLEAN without knocking me out of ketosis:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXDAHIB/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A2YBUKGVC3GJ20&th=1

They also have some cheap k-strips (100 for $8): After you're DEEP into ketosis you prob wont be excreting ketones anymore but these will let you know when you 'entering' ketosis (after a time the body balances the production and just creates the amount needed):

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUB7BUV/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AE9NHKM2LLI68&psc=1

> If you're particularly paranoid a cheap 400x (minimum) microscope can be bought on Amazon for under $100. You can check your own jizz any time.

Jesus dude, this isn't science class.

http://www.amazon.com/SpermCheck%C2%AE-VASECTOMY-2-Test-Kit/dp/B00KTI0JW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453168451&sr=8-1&keywords=vasectomy+test+kit

Results from that kit matched expectations in clinical trials 100% of the time. And they matched mine as well. The test is basically flawless.

I plan on doing one every year just to be safe. My doc said he saw one fail - and it was something like 10 or 15 years later.

https://www.amazon.com/Parameter-Urinalysis-Infection-Diabetes-Gallbladder/dp/B00XIKQCJC

I wanted strips that had ketones and specific gravity and these where the best deal I could find. I'm relatively healthy for a fat dirty pig so 99% of the time all the indicators are negative, but it's informative and fun keeping tabs.

I did one of these, then about three weeks later did an actual lab test. Both indicated that I was clear. I still have one lab test, and one at home test. I'm doing the second lab test in a week or so (six weeks after the original one), and I'm saving the at home test for the 1 year mark. I also intend to do an at home test every 6 months or so for the first couple years, then yearly after that. Probably overkill, but unless my wife opts to get a tubal, then we need to be absolutely certain that we can't get pregnant.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTI0JW2/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_KQkevb01DKKDB

I ordered this from amazon because it has great reviews https://www.amazon.com/5Strands-Affordable-Intolerance-Environmental-Sensitivities/dp/B07DP42XDS

>How does one get tested?

Go to the doctor and tell him you want your testosterone levels tested. Its pretty accurate.

You could also do this: www.amazon.com/Testosterone-Hormone-Balance-Level-Test/dp/B00846GYCK

But I cant vouch for its accuracy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1UXV4K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just a spring loaded little finger-pricker. Heads up though, there are plenty of tips you need to learn to use it (super clean hands, wipe away the first drop-test the 2nd). Otherwise results vary widely, they say.

Well my doctor did stick his finger in my anus last year and said I was fine. So I'll just buy this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ICK0ZPK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_o-qOwbRTV77F2 , do the test and call it a day.

How accurate are these home blood tests (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Home-Cholesterol-Test-Triglycerides/dp/B00CA8LW5M) In my state you can't get bloods by walking to a private lab, and these seem to have good reviews. Wondered if anyone has tried them.

I'm guessing your in Canada from another thread but Amazon U.S have kits from $35 upwards i.e http://www.amazon.com/Testosterone-Hormone-Balance-Level-Test/dp/B00846GYCK/ref=pd_sim_hpc_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1R06BPB852MDG63HPZET

If you really do have low test the sooner it is corrected the better as it affects everything.

Intact male dogs are always "in heat"! But regarding the urine stench, I would capture a morning sample to take to the vet. ASAP.

ETA: Just saw your response to the other poster. I would still capture a morning sample and if you feel that you are not being listened to, I would find a second opinion. I, for one, have used these because I have an intact female. Just to ensure that when she's through her heat, I am not going to miss an infection or something like that (even with no signs whatsoever).

Couldn't find and available in canada.

Blood test:
http://www.amazon.com/Testosterone-Hormone-Balance-Level-Test/dp/B00846GYCK/


Some saliva tests, but unless you have a specific reason to measure free testosterone, accuracy seems to be lower:
www.amazon.com/Testosterone-Level-Hormone-Balance-Test/dp/B00846J5YO/
http://www.amazon.com/Progene-TestKit-1-Testosterone-Test-Kit/dp/B009GJVQZE/

http://breakingmuscle.com/health-medicine/what-you-need-to-know-about-hormone-testing-which-test-to-get-and-why

Could be proteinuria. You can buy test strips on amazon that test for protein in the urine, but it's probably worth seeing a doctor about if it's happening consistently.

You can do it at home: amazon
Its essentially just seeing wether or not you have sperm, 98% of male CFers don't so it would be the same as checking if a vasectomy worked or not :)

They will not hang up for idle curiosity because it isn't really. You have a genetic disease which 1. you don't want to pass on to another human being and 2. don't know if you're even fertile because of it. I'd call up a local urology department and just ask how much it would be without insurance, that you have CF and they should take it from there :)

The doctor who did the procedure provided them, but Amazon carries them too.
http://www.amazon.com/SpermCheck%C2%AE-VASECTOMY-2-Test-Kit/dp/B00KTI0JW2

Not sure if links are allowed here, but these urine analysis strips came in very handy when I had my kidney stone. You can check for Leukocytes, blood, pH, protein, ketones etc

10 Parameter Urinalysis Test Strips 150ct on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XIKQCJC?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Here you go

Edit: fyi they are not quite as accurate as an actual lab test.

There are "Home Tests" I suspect they're using a system like this.

https://www.amazon.com/SpermCheck%C2%AE-VASECTOMY-2-Test-Kit/dp/B00KTI0JW2/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1480721631&sr=1-2&keywords=spermcheck+fertility+test

You could try this

Je n'ai jamais reçu ma carte de donneur, je comptais là dessus pour connaître mon groupe. Du coup j'ai commandé ce kit, pour 7 balles ça te dit ton groupe en utilisant une technique très fiable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTI0JW2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_apJlDbZ9AMDBS

Here you go

Doesn't look as fancy but is cheaper and available now: https://www.amazon.com/SpermCheck®-VASECTOMY-2-Test-Kit/dp/B00KTI0JW2

These are what my doctor had me use rather than paying to go to a lab.

https://www.amazon.com/SpermCheck%C2%AE-VASECTOMY-2-Test-Kit/dp/B00KTI0JW2

https://www.amazon.com/Helicobacter-Microbiome-Comprehensive-Maldigestion-Verisana/dp/B07D9RV32Z

I used a Kernel meter.

Buying today, I'd probably go with one from UA Sure.

What is the difference between these two products, and will they give the same results?

https://www.amazon.com/UASure-Uric-Acid-Meter-Monitor/dp/B00B1UXV4K/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=uric+acid+test&qid=1558395677&s=gateway&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Strips-Saliva-Accurate-Alkaline-Levels/dp/B07BMWL4ST/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=uric+acid+test&qid=1558395677&s=gateway&sr=8-9

One is a uric acid blood tester, and the other is a urine/saliva test strip.

Is one method more reliable than the other?

That's a fertility test, for people who want to get pregnant. The vasectomy ones are far more sensitive, though it doesn't specify what they are rated for.

http://www.amazon.com/SpermCheck%C2%AE-VASECTOMY-2-Test-Kit/dp/B00KTI0JW2/ref=lp_9552109011_1_1?srs=9552109011&ie=UTF8&qid=1452271433&sr=8-1

If you make a lot of precum, maybe you can try http://www.amazon.com/SpermCheck%C2%AE-VASECTOMY-2-Test-Kit/dp/B00KTI0JW2

UTI Dip Stick

Right here

The kidney test is on that page too in "frequently bought together"

10 Parameter Urinalysis Test Strips 150ct, Urinary Tract Infection Strips (UTI) Urine Test Strips Test Glucose, Ketone, pH, Protein, And More, for Those With Diabetes, Gallbladder, and Kidney Problems https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XIKQCJC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mBvNBbXJZDQ6A

Does this look comparable to what you have in UK? It looks like they both test for the same 10 things.

SpermCheck
$60US, pack of two. A small price to pay, IMO.

Edit: formatting because I'm a noob.

....I started up on nicotine again.... :( :( :( And was fine within a day, too, which is so incredibly frustrating.

My insurance doesn't cover the 24 hr saliva test, and it is a bit expensive, so I need to purchase it on my own and send the results to my doctor.

In the meantime I just have to function. Nicotine increases cortisol, so I will just keep vaping like an idiot. At least it isn't cigarettes I guess...

FWIW, here's a couple links to the tests my doctor recommended.

This one tests just cortisol.

This one tests 5 other hormones

I'm not really sure I'd trust this one but its a full thyroid panel! Crazy!

My doctor specifically told me to get this brand. She's not a naturopath or anything...So I guess its an okay brand.

I’ve had one that I had to take 7 days of antibiotics in the past 2 years and that was only because I got lazy and wasn’t taking the D-mannose everyday. I now take 1000mg every night before bed in the capsule form (NOW brand) and if I feel symptoms coming on I take 2000 mg by powder every day for 7 days in addition to the 1000mg (2 capsules) before bed and haven’t had a full blown UTI since. I also recommend ordering the UTI test strips (you can get them cheap on Amazon) and test your urine from time to time. If the test strips indicate bacteria (even if you have no symptoms) up your dose of D-mannose daily until it’s back to normal range.

What I use:

UTI test strips - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PW9VCCD/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_4uXRDbWGHV0SS

D-mannose powder - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2TFP1Q/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_3xXRDb0X06CVP

D-mannose capsules - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JN4CR0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_0yXRDb3N2GPKH

crazy, right? But there they are!

Ugh. I got tested twice after my vasectomy. I should get tested again...

Edit- Hey, I found this. And this indicates it's fairly accurate. Hmm...