Twittering an operation might seem frivolous: Detection of side effects

Part 1 of Terri’s story about her research into the treatment options she had for fibroid tumors appeared here yesterday. Here's Part 2:

During the surgery and recovery, Terri's husband used Twitter, the short-message communication service, to keep friends and family apprised of her condition. Twittering an operation might seem frivolous, but when Terri's teeth began chattering after the procedure, a friend following the updates suggested it could be a potentially hazardous side effect, tardive dyskinesia, that can occur with one of the anti-nausea drugs Terri was taking. Her husband, who had been researching that very point when the message from the friend came in, was able to get the medication changed.

Advice: Get help systematically from your network of friends when you're seriously ill.

Read a story about a friend who was helpful in a very different way.

Thanks to John Schwartz for the source article in the NY Times issue of Sept. 30, 2008.