How I learned I have tech-neck (but who doesn't?)
A $2,499 body scan wants to be the future of healthcare. I'll go again, but at my speed
Note: This is a full update of a newsletter from Oct. 14, 2022.
My very first MRI was back in December 2019.
But this wasn’t just any ordinary MRI.
This was a super duper MRI provided by a company called Prenuvo which started in Vancouver, British Columbia.
It touted a new kind of screening technology that could capture in ~50 minutes what normally takes hours of MRIs, multiple body X-rays, and way more radiation to accomplish.
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I’d like to say I was an early adopter; in fact I was one of the first ones to experience the scans on offer in Vancouver.
Fast forward 5 years and Prenuvo’s now made its way throughout the U.S., with locations in Silicon Valley (where I had my second scan in February 2021), Florida, New York, and more overseas locations coming soon, according to its website.
You know something goes mainstream once you see celebs, then influencers, then your fitness enthusiast friends posting about it.
It’s definitely not by chance but through a deliberate combination of marketing campaigns and influencer marketing.
I’ve especially noticed it this year; Paris Hilton got scanned. That’s hot.
Her bestie Kim did, too, and wasn’t even paid to post about it.
Prenuvo encourages annual scans, though when I mentioned this to a doctor friend in Florida who primarily works in the cannabis industry, he said it’s unlikely you’d need annual scans—perhaps bi-annual or every three years, but annual seemed egregious given the radiation, time, and cost commitment.
What Prenuvo body scans are like
Being in the machine isn’t too different from MRI standard operating procedure.
You lay there and stay as still as possible when told.
Some clinics will even play your music playlist in the room, which makes the rather unnerving and claustrophobic experience a bit more tolerable.
Meanwhile, the music attempts to tune out the usual loud clicks, ticks, and banging sounds as the machine does its business around your body.
Afterward, your images are uploaded and you’ll have a consultation with a doctor who points out areas of concern.
This is where the fun begins.
The first time I saw my scans I was utterly in awe of what I was seeing.
Think of it as being sliced in two and split apart, like what you’d imagine when magicians saw a person in half and then split the box, if the box was made of glass.
Then, like an out-of-body experience, you’re presented with pictures of your insides, top to bottom.
Dr. Raj (Rajpaul Attariwala), the main doctor at Prenuvo, walked me through cross section images of my brain and body, and I gained a newfound understanding of my physical self.
Most recently, I saw an early case of “tech neck.”
To avoid exacerbating the problem, I’ll have to prop my phone up more at eye level, and do neck massages and strengthening exercises.
I also learned I had a very mild case of scoliosis, which I didn’t even know I had until my first scan.
Luckily it hadn’t progressed in two years between my first and second scans.
Is it ‘useful’ or is it ‘just cool’
Could this be the future of healthcare?
Maybe. The scans are a supplement to annual checkups.
The results, accessible via a personal account in an app and web portal, can be reviewed with your primary physician.
If you’re excited by how narratives can be made out of images, data, and statistics, then you’ll be be intrigued and amused by this level of transparency into your body’s inner workings.
An obvious reason why this level of preventative healthcare isn’t accessible to everyone: cost.
At time of writing, full body Prenuvo scans are $2,499.
I don’t work in the medical field but judging from what I hear among doctor friends who own surgery centers and private practices, healthcare is a beast of compliance and standards, and far from being “democratized”.
Like most elective things, these scans aren’t covered by insurance.
These are optional and ancillary services that some may argue aren’t worth the radiation, false positives, needless biopsies, anxiety, and excess costs.
Today there are competitors and alternatives for different purposes, like Ezra and the Dexa scan, and of course many other kinds of scans that can look for body mass indicators like body fat and lean muscle.
Perhaps what MRI scanning services could help alleviate are wait times for MRIs at hospitals, or availability in case people don’t live close to hospitals with MRI equipment.
As far as I know, these services stay far away from collaboration with traditional U.S. healthcare operations and insurance, which I’m sure has frustrated and confused all of us have at one point or another.
Imagine how many could potentially be helped by annual early screening and detection for cancers, illnesses, and disease.
Prenuvo’s poster boy was a man who detected a mass in his kidney, had surgery, and later discovered the mass was a potentially fatal but treatable cancer. Nonetheless, he claimed Prenuvo saved his life.
There’s untold billions (trillions?) saved in treatments and drugs, but the corporate healthcare complex doesn’t want to hear that.
Fans of pre-screening argue they’re being proactive vs. reactive; the latter is the approach they feel is more indicative of American healthcare.
Knowing the information, having the data; you feel empowered and just a little bit more in control.
I don’t know the solution—I’m just thinking out loud.
Is this useful, or just cool? The guys over on the “My First Million” podcast debated this.
To me, these scans are both.
On top of, of course, prioritizing healthcare by eating healthy and exercising.
What about you?
Have you ever heard about Prenuvo, gotten scanned or thinking about it?
What was your experience? Reply or comment below!
Zeitgeisty
What I’m watching
Lately, I’ve been watching Outlander season 7 and Yellowstone season 5—both shows I’ve been a fan of for quite some time.
But. BUT.
Both are old shows, also with huge fan bases, which can be both a blessing and a curse.
By now, it’s a little harder to surprise fans because we want what we want, but then we also want character development and plot progression.
Notably, the Reddit people have spoken. They’re tearing apart what was supposed to have been the last season of Yellowstone, for lazy writing.
It’s apparent how much Kevin Costner’s main character of John Dutton, whose character is largely absent in season 5, carried the show.
Fans are also unhappy about creator and showrunner Taylor Sheridan inserting more of himself as character in the plotline.
They’re also upset about conspicuous product placement of Sheridan’s own 6666’s ranch brand in everything from lengthy cowboying scenes at the ranch, to prominent displays of its own vodka label.
Obviously, it’s a little harder to surprise fans because we want what we want, but then we need to see plot progression.
People are being critical about Outlander too, but I feel like the bitchiness is a little unwarranted because there are only so many ways to adapt Diana Gabaldon’s novels for TV.
I mean how else can showrunners present a time traveling nurse and her 18th century hunky, Scottish husband, who are the main characters and yes, we know they can’t die but somehow they are separated only to be reunited once, twice, thrice…okay we get it.
What about you? Are you watching either of these shows?
What do you think?
Or, what else are you watching? I’d love to know!
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Until next time,
Shindy
On Instagram + TikTok
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This was one of my very favorites! I’d read about these scans but have never known anyone who has had it. Well, now I do!!!!
Will you have another scan in the future?
Fascinating, so informative, and it’s the same price as a general, specific MRI.
LOVED THIS ARTICLE, but I love them every week!
Hope your birthday was as fabulous as you, but that’s not possible!!! 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷