The tweets (messages on twitter) was so popular last time, I did it again for the follow up laser ablation surgery done on the back of my legs for varicose veins. You can catch the first installment here if you missed it.  And once again, I went through the trouble of reverse flowing the tweets so they go in order as you read down. For the record, I saw Dr. Roger Bonau at The Surgical Clinic in Nashville.

The discomfort this time may be a little bit more apparent from the posts. But the post op has been better. Luck of the draw, I guess.

The award for best tweet to me during the surgery comes from good friend and health care law blogger, Bob Coffield (catch his tweets @bobcoffield on twitter):

@robert_hendrick another twitter use. Monitor real time malpractice. Going to start including tweet requests in discovery

@bobcoffield doc found no humor in tweets in discovery. I did though.

@Robert_Hendrick did you tell him that I am on the defense side?

Enjoy!

Live from surgery part 2. Tweeting my surgery starting around 9am

Sooo. Valium $2.63 last time. $2.29 this time at same kroger. Must be on sale. Purely for research. Going drug free.

Uh oh. The staff at the doc’s office is following me on twitter now.

Getting quick ultrasound on previous surgery spot. Healing nicely.

Smearing betadine on my legs now. COLD.

Waiting for the rock star doc to show for surg. Country music playing in operating room. I love Nashville.

Doc walked in “what the hell are we listening to?”

First stick. No big deal. Still feel the flush and warmth in my body. Nerves.

Man I’m sweating. Stress of recent days ha heightened my apprehension over this. Doc in canulating (trying to get needle in vein)

Dr. Bonau says of the canulating “This is a bit tortuous.” Mmmmhmmmm.

Doc jinxed us when he said “this will be easier than first one.” Getting more lydocaine right now.

Wondering where the health content 08 tweets are. Not seeing any.

@dian_luffman the adrenaline rush has abated. Still on leg #1. Searching…searching…searching

Left leg canulated. FINALLY! Going for other leg and planning to laser both at one time.

@bobcoffield thanks for the distraction.

Doc is giving me his entire educational background. Been at tulane, NY, sloan kettering, st thomas, vandy…

No more pain than the first time. Far more tedious. “Worst is over.”

Firing up the laser…

Lydocaine going in around laser site. Flattens the vein a bit by putting pressure protectsthe vein from the heat.

Ooooooooow. Bad stick. Bad bad stick. Ow ow ow ow ow

Taste of burnt blood in the back of my throat from laser

Right leg hurt like shit up in the hammy. Left leg done and no pain at all.

Oh so glad to be done. Cleanup to ensue. More COLD stuff on my legs to clean.

So doc goes in at calf. Runs catheter up leg about 12″ and then lasers 12″ of vein shut.

Only getting compression wrap on calves. w00t! No behind the knee wrap.

@bobcoffield doc found no humor in tweets in discovery. I did though.

And done. Thanks to everyone!

8 hours after the surgery, the lydocaine has worn off.

Ah. Now I’m getting the feeling of little bee stings up the back of my left leg. This is fun (sarcasm noted).