A Volunteers Blog
Sunday
Checked into the unit today at 11am. The nurse asked me to give two breath samples, one to check for alcohol the other to see if I had been smoking (this particular study I had signed up for didn't include smokers). Then had to provide a urine specimen and a small blood sample from my arm. I hadn’t had any breakfast that morning as the blood sample had to be ‘fasted’. Had a bit of time to unpack and settle in. The other lads arrived - there were four of us taking part in this study but a couple of other had come in as well as reserves. A couple of them had done studies here before and were chatting with the staff. We spent the day getting to know one another. During the day we were given lunch and an evening meal and then were given a snack at 10 O'clock and encouraged to get an early night ready for the next morning.
Monday
A real early start. Can it really be 6:30? The nurse put some electrode stickers on my chest and I was connected up to the ECG heart trace machine. Just after 7am one of the doctors came in and put a cannula into my arm that is a tube to collect the blood samples from, it stung a bit but was OK really. At 7:45 I had some ECGs done, there's nothing to it, but you have to keep still for a few minutes so as not to spoil the recording. My blood pressure was taken and a blood sample was taken from the cannula. Once the cannula is in - it's no problem, I'd rather have that than loads of blood samples with a needle. At 8am it was time for me to take the medicine that they're studying.
It's a liquid suspension that comes in a small brown bottle. Can't decide on the taste, somewhere between OK and unpleasant. I thought things would start to slow down now, but we moved into a higher gear. The liquid had hardly had a chance to go down before it was time for more ECGs and blood pressure measurements. Some more blood taken from the cannula. Fifteen minutes later some more blood again and then I was given a quick questionnaire to fill in. The first 2 hours were really busy, and I hardly noticed we had skipped breakfast. The other guys on the study also were dosed at later intervals.
After the first couple of hours after I’d had the medicine it got a little calmer, still some bloods taken at regular interval though. My stomach was letting me know its missed breakfast! Time to read the newspaper. Four hours after dosing and the ECG stickers come off and its time for lunch. I hadn't realised how hungry I was. In the afternoon there was less going on. I still had to be in the ward at specific times for my blood samples to be taken but in-between I was in the lounge watching TV. The day passed pretty fast. The staff are really friendly and it helps make it a little less tedious. My dinner was served in the dining room at 6pm, another snack at 10pm and then into bed. Last blood sample at 12 midnight (thank goodness for the cannula). Asleep at last.
Tuesday
They gave us a break and woke us up at 7:30am today! A blood sample was taken at 8 and then my cannula was removed. Freedom! We got breakfast just after 8 today - some toast, cereal and juice, not too bad. A much more restful day today. Only needed to give one blood sample in the afternoon. The sample was taken with a needle from my arm. Had a lot more time to myself.
Won the pool competition - no competition! Finally got to the last level of Tomb Raider. Spent the rest of the afternoon watching a movie. Had more sandwiches for lunch.
Wednesday
Last day today (for this time anyway). Up just before 8:00am. Another blood sample taken from my arm. Free to leave after breakfast.
I've got to do this three more times and have a post study visit and then I'm all done.
The diary above is a fictitious example illustrating a typical study. Study designs can vary considerably and can be as short as two nights in the Unit or as many as 28 nights continuously. Some studies require several visits to the Unit.
Level 7, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ
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