Preparing for my sleep study

Shortly after I took my job here at The Star I took a little trip with my twin brother to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital to take part in the first round of a two part sleep study. I know what you must be thinking, and no, I don't have any problem sleeping.

Actually, the study is specifically designed for twins (which I just happen to be) and the folks at the university hospital found our contact information in the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry and gave my twin and I a call. The entire gig is actually very cool. They pay for the flight up north, the taki ride to the hospital and they feed us the entire time.

Of course its not all milk and cookies so to speak. They hooked up so many wires to me during the first part of the study I looked like I was deathly sick (which of course I wasn't). In any case, the worst part is yet to come.

When I fly back to Philadelphia Friday i'll be walking into what very well may be the worst experience of my life. You see, as part of the sleep study, during the second portion of the study (5 days) they will be keeping me wide awake for a brisk 38 hour period. No caffiene, no video games, no internet, no live tv, no cell phone. All i'll have is DVD's, magazines, board games and light exercise.

My twin has already done the second part of the study and from what he's told me the 38 hours of no sleep is awful. Wow, I feel so much better...

Anyway, we've talked around the office about turning my experience into a feature type story for the paper. Not exactly sure how its gonna work yet but i'm bringing my digital camera, which has a video feature on it, along with a big thick pad of paper for me to write notes on during my time up there. We'll just wait and see what comes of it.

Also, before I forget, for a week prior to the study i'm supposed to wear this thing called an "Actiwatch," which is pictured below. I have no idea what the Actiwatch is or what it does. All I know is i'm supposed to wear it for a week before my sleep study starts. It doesn't even have any buttons on it, so I just straped it on and hopped for the best. Don't worry folks, I have every intention on finding out exactly what i've been strapping to my arm everyday once I get in Philadephia. More updates on this likely long and strange trip as I get them.