adventures in guinea pigging
Today I went in for my first MRI scan as an experimental subject with the psych department. They gave me a picture of my brain afterward; I should hook up my free laser printer/copier/scanner and see if I can get it scanned.*
Anyway, it was pretty painless. I took out all my piercings and stuff, and they set me up on the table and gave me a blanket, and surrounded my head with pillows to remind me not to move it, and then stuck me in there. It took about an hour and 45 minutes, I guess; it really didn't seem that long. For the first half, they just did a bunch of scans--they said I could nap, but I found that impossible with all the noise, even with earplugs. Then we did a long-ass series of memory tasks. Then they let me out.
I generally do okay with small spaces; they feel cozy. I did keep wondering if I was going to freak out at any moment, but that was more anxiety about the possibility of anxiety than about being in the MRI machine. About ten minutes before we were done, I started experiencing some lower back discomfort, but considering that it had been acting up yesterday, that's really not too bad.
I'm going in for another one next week, when I'll do the memory tasks again, this time with extra magnetism. And then they pay me $20 an hour, which will add up to $80 or $100 for the whole experiment--I'm not sure if we'll be redoing the first half of the MRI or just the tasks.
I put my tongue stud back in when I got home, but I still need to put the nose ring back in. It's a serious pain in the ass getting it in--the ball has to be lined up JUST RIGHT with the ring, and there's really no way to see what the hell you're doing, even with a mirror. I did take the opportunity, having it out already, to use one of those pore strips. Man, that's disgusting. But satisfying. But disgusting.
And now I have to get the nose ring back in. Yergh.
*Like a month ago, rikhei, who lives in Michigan, informed me that an acquaintance of hers in Madison was giving away a laser printer. I picked it up last week. It's HUGE, largely because, as noted, it seems to be one of those printer/scanner/copier deals. I still need to try it out, though.
Anyway, it was pretty painless. I took out all my piercings and stuff, and they set me up on the table and gave me a blanket, and surrounded my head with pillows to remind me not to move it, and then stuck me in there. It took about an hour and 45 minutes, I guess; it really didn't seem that long. For the first half, they just did a bunch of scans--they said I could nap, but I found that impossible with all the noise, even with earplugs. Then we did a long-ass series of memory tasks. Then they let me out.
I generally do okay with small spaces; they feel cozy. I did keep wondering if I was going to freak out at any moment, but that was more anxiety about the possibility of anxiety than about being in the MRI machine. About ten minutes before we were done, I started experiencing some lower back discomfort, but considering that it had been acting up yesterday, that's really not too bad.
I'm going in for another one next week, when I'll do the memory tasks again, this time with extra magnetism. And then they pay me $20 an hour, which will add up to $80 or $100 for the whole experiment--I'm not sure if we'll be redoing the first half of the MRI or just the tasks.
I put my tongue stud back in when I got home, but I still need to put the nose ring back in. It's a serious pain in the ass getting it in--the ball has to be lined up JUST RIGHT with the ring, and there's really no way to see what the hell you're doing, even with a mirror. I did take the opportunity, having it out already, to use one of those pore strips. Man, that's disgusting. But satisfying. But disgusting.
And now I have to get the nose ring back in. Yergh.
*Like a month ago, rikhei, who lives in Michigan, informed me that an acquaintance of hers in Madison was giving away a laser printer. I picked it up last week. It's HUGE, largely because, as noted, it seems to be one of those printer/scanner/copier deals. I still need to try it out, though.