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Birthday blog & Testing

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Yep ? it?s my birthday today. I am not going to reveal my age but I am probably old enough to know better than to be here!! Well, I am here now so there?s nothing else for it but to make the most of this wonderful experience. I was treated to several versions of ?Happy Birthday? today. Given that it is also Easter Sunday today, my expedition friends had made me some Easter bunny ears (see picture) and a bunny tail which I had to wear for a while ? very amusing. I am looking forward to phoning home to speak to my family to hear birthday wishes from them too.

We are in the middle of testing and the environment here at EBC is proving to be every bit as challenging as could have been predicted. The cold is playing havoc with the equipment and researchers are having to be resourceful, getting up early to prepare and maintaining supreme patience in very difficult circumstances. I did most of my testing yesterday including a variety of blood tests, ECG (electrical trace of the heart), echocardiogram (ultrasound trace of the heart), Cranial Doppler (scan of the blood supply to the brain), neuropsychometric tests, assessment of nasal passages including smell and taste functions, anthropometry (weight, %age body fat) and finally the bike tests. There are several aspects to the bike tests. Whilst on the bike, one has a mask on which is connected to a very complicated piece of kit which measures the oxygen and carbon dioxide being breathed in and out. One of the tests involves cycling against greater and greater resistance until you can cycle no more. During this time heart rate, blood oxygenation, blood pressure, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production and muscle and brain oxygenation are all monitored. It is a difficult test at this altitude leaving you very breathless at the end. We hope to do it further up the mountain too but that remains to be seen. The amount and detail of information that we are recording is unprecedented at this altitude.

I have one further test today which I am not looking forward to which involves getting an NG (naso-gastric) tube into my stomach, a line into one of my arteries and doing more cycling tests ? ouch!....but it?s worth it for the data that it will produce.

One of my other responsibilities today is to be medical officer ? as you can imagine this is quite difficult when most of the potential patients are themselves doctors. ?Don?t do as I do??..!?

Comments on this article

By: Ian L	When: 16th Apr 2007 01:10
Nige! Late as usual, but the birthday wishes are sincere nonetheless. As you and I both know, big ears reflect intelligence, good humour and ............And what with your size 14 feet you are laughing. NHHBUWYTWY. I

By: Jean and Stewart McCullough

When: 15th Apr 2007 15:45

Hi Nigel!
Belated Happy Birthday. Good to see you in pic - real eerie!
Your Dad keeps us up to date
All the best

Jean and Stewart

By: Tom Campbell	When: 15th Apr 2007 03:44
Belated Happy Birthday old man and greetings from South Carolina. The ears really weren't necessary as the original equipment is just as outstanding. Just got my tickets for NI in September. Looking forward to seeing you then. If the other doctors get you down just quote them Luke 4:23. Tom

By: PeachesMadonna	When: 12th Apr 2007 22:49
Nigel Happy belate birthday. Dig those bunny ears!!! Do you have a spare pair???? Love PeachesM

By: bobby

When: 12th Apr 2007 15:28

find those bunny ears strangely attractive happy birthday !!

hope all is well sounds like pretty interesting stuff your doing there .

By: Paul Hart

When: 12th Apr 2007 01:09

Hi Nigel

Happy Birthday from Hillhall

The Instonian Touch Rugby Fraternity send the best regards and are wondering have you been able to get a game of touch going at EBC - for research of course. They would also like to know how the search for next years Touch Tour destination is coming on.

Love and Best Wishes Hillhall Harts

By: Patrick

When: 11th Apr 2007 14:01

Happy Birthday. Hope you had a great day. We certainly did. We sang happy birthday to the picture of you on the website at the Watsons.

Love

Patrick

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

By: The Kirkpatricks	When: 10th Apr 2007 21:32
Happy Birthday Old Man! Good to hear of the progress, we're following your tracks (not literally of course!) and enjoying the photos (especially Dad) Colin climbed Slieve Donard last week, and we went a 'climb' down in Rostrevor today. Mere pimples in comparison to Everest!! Best wishes from all at 118...

By: Caroline Patrick Sophia and Connor	When: 10th Apr 2007 16:51
Missed you on your birthday but hope you enjoyed the very untuneful rendition of 'Happy Birthday' via stat phone. From 91 sleeps down to 67 - not bad going!! Love and miss you loads. C and P and S and C

By: Sara	When: 10th Apr 2007 11:42
Happy Birthday Nigel!

By: shane

When: 9th Apr 2007 13:06

Whats up doc...? your resemblance to bugs bunny is unnatural ...and tell me about your neuropsychometric testing.... does it show any change after carotid endarterectomy...?

let me know

shane

By: McVeigh	When: 8th Apr 2007 21:36
Dearest Nigel, what sort of sadomasochist willingly gets an arterial line put in on his birthday?! Glad to hear you are both well however. Happy birthday and all the hairy chests! Lv McVeigh. xoxo

By: Blair

When: 8th Apr 2007 18:08

Nigel
Happy Birthday, best wishes and Happy Easter.

No comment on the ears, or Roger's attached photograph of a Yak-ass, but its good to see the obvious good humour.

Blair

By: Watsons of Coleraine	When: 8th Apr 2007 14:49
Happy birthday Nigel. You look great with your bunny ears, but hey, you were born on Good Friday so you're entitled to big ears! You are a great chick. Love you loads! from Granda John, Granny Kate and the watsons!

Blog by Nigel Hart