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04/30/2002 Archived Entry: "Horrible torture that's supposed to be "good for you""
Okay, I might be exaggerating.
Last week I wore a heart monitor for two days. Now, don't get all freaked out, I'm okay, just a few skipped heart beats... But the heart monitor was worse than the skipped beats. The whole process is a bit like torture. I certainly looked like I'd been tortured after a couple of days of wearing the thing.
First you go in and take off your top, bra, etc. Then they put clamp-type things on you and do a quick ECG. Then they SANDPAPER the skin on your chest. No joke, real sandpaper. Then they stick the suction cup thingys with the wires on you and tape them down. They hook everything up to the monitor, make sure it's on and working, and then sent you on your way.
Here's a picture of the monitor and an old hairy guy wearing it (no, that's not a picture of me!).
I ended up with marks that looked like hickeys where the wires chafed against me. Of course, I also had a reaction to the tape they used. Under the tape and where the sandpaper had scratched me I came up with welts. It felt like someone had splashed acid on my chest. It was burning burning. Super painful and annoying itchy-painful-burning feeling. I got them to take off the tape the next day when I went in, but I still have marks days later.
Needless to say it was not a good experience. I didn't even have any of the symptoms during the two days I was wearing the thing, so it seems like it was a bit pointless. I don't know if they still analyse the results, but I don't think there will be anything unusual. If I get a report back, I'll let you all know...