It's Tuesday. The end of Tuesday. I just told my students that I would be out for the next two weeks. They know that I'll make sure they are well informed about their next lab though: the 'lobster lab' where they will essentially stab a lobster in the artery (imagine: neck) resulting in a geyser of lymphatic fluid spurting out before it dies 3/4 of second later. Then they need to extract the ventral nerve cord. They know I will prepare them though. I know they know because I send them extensive emails sometimes pages long to describe their labs ahead of time and today I came in with circles drawn all over my left arm from the day prior so that they knew where to position the electrodes they were to stick onto themselves. I really am happy to do it though.
I'm happy to do a lot of things. Like get DEXA scans...or Cholera (especially if I am paid 2-3k).
The Cholera project put on by the vaccine testing center at Fletcher Allen has definitely gained some attention. Really though, I have my eyes peeled for almost anyone requesting a guinea pig. I'd prefer to do it for money but sometimes you really just want to see what your brain looks like and you're willing to get an MRI for free.
Honestly, I highly recommend the Dengue virus study so long as you have plenty of blood to spare. They pay plenty but they also really really drain you in the first few weeks. Free dengue vaccine though!
My hope is to keep this blog up, posting every day from the time of infection.
I've already been given the vaccine (or placebo) as of ~9:30am on Friday September 27th. 10 days later (this Sunday) I will be 'challenged'. I can't help but be excited/nervous. I'll be stuck in one-half of a hallway with my own room, whatever food I want to eat (if I can eat), with a group of 10 other daring, or maybe just really financially in need, individuals. There will be a common room and I believe I have a window. I plan to bring 'Cards Against Humanity'.
I wonder if this will be kinda like those weird 'reality-shows' on TV where they stick a bunch of people in a house to live together. I wonder if we will all bond over becoming incredibly ill. Or if the people who got placebo will feel resentment for the people who received vaccine. GANG WAR! Just kidding. Seriously though, I met a few of the floor-mates. I wouldn't consider a single one of them 'normal'.
I am hoping to exchange the $ received from this study for a trip to Prague, if there is any left over by the time I finish paying my dental bills.
<-- your first follower! Have fun. :P
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