Sleep dep EEG

[mrissa]

I hope I'm awake for a short period before another nap. If I don't finish this before I finish the water, I'll just leave it sit and change the time stamp when I get up again.

markgritter's pokin' hand was more symbolic than anything: I stayed awake down to the neurologist's and even while sitting in the lobby waiting. I tried not to stare balefully at everyone who came from the back of the clinic. The woman who ran the test needed to ask me some standard questions like which hand was my dominant one and who was my primary care physician. Okay, sure. She also asked me questions about what I did and how I'd gotten there, and I wasn't sure whether that was part of the test or just her trying to be friendly, but I think I was more brusque than I generally am. When she started on the, "So...nuclear physics...and writing...?" path, I said, without opening my eyes, "I like to make things make sense to people." Is that it? I'm not sure it is. But after 29 hours awake, it seemed like the answer, and it was certainly an answer that cut the conversation off.

So having the electrodes on one's head: it feels just like it looks. Mostly cold and slightly gelatinous on the contact points. Also it's a little strange and '80s having the person apparently rat one's hair to get the right spots on the skull.

She made me look at various speeds of flashing light, which nauseated me, and then she made me hyperventilate, which also nauseated me, but at that point, sitting very still might have nauseated me, I don't know. And then she had me fall asleep a little, and then she woke me up again. And then it was time to pull the contacts off my head, get the preliminary gunk out of my hair, and go home.

My advice to anyone doing this is to figure out what you're going to have for lunch after the test well in advance, because your brain will not necessarily be up to doing it when you get back. Especially if you already used up some of the easier options of what snacks to eat at midnight and 3 a.m. You don't want to have difficulty going to sleep because your body has to decide between sleep and food.

I have no idea what my brain did for her, and I won't find out until two weeks from today. But at least it's over in the immediate sense. I really, really want to thank all of you who called or e-mailed and all of you who volunteered to be available. Enough people called me that I only had time to call one person on my own, and that got cut off by another call. So. I am feeling well cared-for. A little overwhelmed by how much, actually. You-all are Heroes of the Revolution, even if I don't actually have the caramel-filled chocolate medals to prove it. I know that for some of you, staying awake nearly 31 hours is not any kind of big deal, but that's not the flavor of body I got. It was a big deal for me, and you people made it possible for me to do this necessary medical thing. So thanks.

Comments

[copperwise.livejournal.com]

If you have trouble getting the electrode glue out of your hair, put a little olive oil on it and let it sit before you shampoo again. I found that made it a lot easier to get the leftover gunk off my scalp.

Very much enjoyed talking to you. Hope we can do it again just for fun and not to deprive you of sleep! :)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Much appreciated.

And I didn't end up needing the olive oil, whew. But my hair will need a deep-conditioner soon if it's not to feel like straw.

[wilfulcait.livejournal.com]

It was a pleasure getting to talk to you this morning, and there are not that many people for whom before-breakfast conversation is a pleasure. I'm glad you got through it okay. Having to wait two weeks for the results, though? Sucketh. Of course, I have raised winkling results out of technicians to a high art in the last nine months, but also have the sort of thing that gets worse if you don't act promptly, which isn't (thank heavens) your situation.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I appreciated your call. (Among other things, it clarified the pronunciation of your "other" name!)

My mom is not at all pleased at having to wait two weeks for the results. She was trying to be a grown-up about it and not drive up and grab the doctors by the lapels and shout, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY BABY?" And I do appreciate her restraint, and I can't say I'm thrilled with the wait myself, but I think it's easier for me than it is for her.

[gaaneden.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it's all over. :) It was good chatting with you for a short time.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Much appreciated.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

The glue wasn't too big a problem. I was too tired to shower it off right away (and was afraid it would wake me up to shower again), but it came off in three shampooings once I did shower.

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Glad it's over and hope it helped. Yay you!

[apis-mellifera.livejournal.com]

Glad it's over. I hope you find some sort of answer, soon.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

As I said, since I was getting woken up at 4AM anyway, I'm very glad that it got to be useful. (I didn't end up going back to sleep, but just got on the erg earlier than expected, which is useful in a different way.)

I enjoyed talking to you, though sorry it had to be under these circs. Given how unpleasant the whole experience was for you, not the mention the experience of all the symptoms leading to this test, I hope they figure something out!

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Much appreciated, as I said. I don't think I can overstate that.

[deva-fagan.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on making it through! I hope this provides some of the answers you are looking for!

I like your answer about physics and writing. I should keep that in mind for when people ask me about math and writing.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

There's more about physics and writing coming, since someone asked a more detailed/specific question about that.

[ksumnersmith.livejournal.com]

Mark's poking hand -- hehe! I don't know if you have to be half-asleep for that to be funny, but after 12 hours at work I'm about ready to keel over, and I *still* think it's hilarious. ::grin::

Glad to hear it's over, and hopefully there'll be some good results soon. And I hope to talk to you again sometime soon when we're both a little more ... conscious. ;)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I think we're just some of those people who are more hilarious in combination. My dad and I are like that. Just ask us and we'll tell you how hilarious we are.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I didn't end up doing anything, but I'm glad it went OK.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

It was useful knowing that I could call if I needed it -- not so much in the moment as in the days leading up. So thanks.