Your neck incision looks AMAZING! So he also made an incision in front of each ear? Interesting. I suppose that puts him very close to the skull base for full styloid removal, & the neck incision is to remove the calcified ligament lower down. Many doctors have to break the elongated styloids/calcified ligaments & take them out in pieces to protect the nerves, muscles, vascular tissues, etc.
Suzzetteas, since your neck bra is no longer supplying pressure to prevent inflammation, there is a likelihood you will get some swelling which will also increase your pain. Keep w/ the ice, pain meds schedule, head elevation when resting/sleeping for at least the first week & maybe beyond. As long as youāre taking the pain meds you will need something like Miralax daily to keep things moving through for you. When surgery is done on only one side, days 3-5 are when the swelling & pain are usually the worst. With bilateral surgery, that time frame may be a bit longer.
It really looks like Dr. Hackman did a great job & now take it easy so your body can do an equally great job healing. 
Good news that your surgery went well, so pleased. Will be up & down the next few weeks, take it easy 
Hi Isaiah
Dr Hackman did the ear one to get to the base of the styloids and he did say he took them all the way off. I asked him if I could save them before surgery. He laughed and said he would take pictures of them and upload to my unc chart. My husband saw the pictures but I havenāt seen them on the unc chart yet. Mine came out all in one piece from what my husband told me.
At 72 hrs I started taking tylenol only. I slept through my 6 hr window without pain. I did take some this am even though I wasnāt in pain. I am again due for my next round but donāt feel much pain. Do you think I should just take the tylenol? I was wondering about advil to help with swelling? Anyone use advil? Was wondering about the bleeding aspect? I have been sleeping elevated, with pillows wedged around me to keep the ice up against the area. I have not stopped the ice at all.
I have been using miralax since Sunday nothing yet. Last night I added a dulcolax. Hoping today will be the day.
I think your right Dr Hackman did a great job on the surgery.
This is such a great update! Iām so glad you are doing so well. Can I ask about your vagus symptoms? I know it may be too early to tell especially if you arenāt super mobile yet, but have you noticed any change?
Your right I havenāt done much yet.
One thing I have noticed itās i am not feeling like someone is sitting on my chest unable to get a full breath. I havenāt noticed any shortness of breath either.
What are some of your main issues that bother you? I will be able to let you know as I notice them.
Itās worth keeping up with the pain meds for a few more days, as swelling & therefore pain can peak about days 3-5/6.
Take care of yourself, hopefully youāll see improvements & good that the shortness of breath is easierā¦hope you can go soon too 
Hey well thatās a start! For me Iām mostly dizzy a lot like Iām bouncing or like Iām not really sure where things are in relation to my body lol. Itās so hard to explain. Any movement around me sends me into a full on dizzy spell and I often feel as if Iām falling over etc. Iām better if Iām sitting down, but not ever normal.
But I also have rapid heart rate (POTS), blood pressure swings, feeling faint sometimes.
I was having some dizzy sensations when i would turn my head right and left quickly.
I would say for me this was the some of the newest symptoms. I also noticed the sensation of falling over but just to the point of one step and the i would regain my composure. I was in Hawaii and was thinking it was the earthquakeās that were causing me to feel that misstep feeling.
Maybe I was wrong. Seems this es presents itself in such crazy ways in a slow yet progressive manner. By the time I accepted the new norm i would add some other symptom.
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I didnāt monitor my blood pressure. So i canāt speak for that
I did have a weird buzzing around my heart area. That would randomly be present.
I wore a heart monitor and everything was good.
I felt like it was a short circuit nerve. Before I knew about es i blamed it on tos nerve damage. So time will tell ā¦
For me those are the older symptoms before the pain started so I am really just hoping itās related at this point, but it likely isnāt. I agree about the slow progression. I honestly donāt think I realize how sick I am since we kinda get used to things and then new things pop up.
Hi @Suzzetteas! Iām so happy to hear your surgery went well and you are feeling okay or as good as you can . Your incisions look great wow! Looks like he did an amazing job! I hope you continue to heal quickly and see an improvement in your symptoms.
@Suzzetteas @one_day I too have those feelings of falling over but itās usually just like a one step thing and able to catch myself (similar to what Suzzetteas experiences). It is so bizarre. I see spots or āstarsā a lot if I move too quickly. Dizzy or lightheaded at times (hard to tell if it is the ES or POTS)ā¦ I feel like I have palpitations all the time, even when lying down. I also have that head bopping sensation, almost like you are rocking back and forth. I also experience the shortness of breath with all Cardiology tests coming back normal. I have always attributed them to the ES. Sometimes I feel like someone is sitting on my chest. Iām happy you are having some relief with that already! That gives me encouragement to do another surgery 
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Thanks Krista.
I am wondering how I am going to wash my hair or even when I can wash my hair. I was told not to get the incisions wet I think till my follow up. I may have been under the influence and heard that wrong. Any advice?
@Suzzetteas Youāre welcome! I actually had intraoral surgery the first time around so Iām not sure. Sorry! I would just contact them to confirm.
Have you already had both removed?
I only had my left side done back in 2014. The styloid was compressing my carotid and jugular vein. The surgeon removed enough to fix the compression but there was still quite a bit left. I think it has grown back or recalcified. The right side has always been long too. Iām hoping the doctor will order updated imaging when I see him in June.
krista3,
Have you considered seeing Dr. Hackman (or is that who youāre going to in June?). It might be worth seeing him if you arenāt since he does a really nice job of removing the whole styloid & s-h ligament if possible. That certainly helps prevent regrowth.
Suzzetteas,
You can get dry shampoo from many pharmacies. These donāt require water or rinsing of any sort. If you have a Trader Joeās in your area, I recently saw it there. It isnāt the same as soap & water but it does help your hair feel cleaner than not washing it at all.
Another option is baby powder which works in a similar fashion. I used to use it occasionally when I didnāt have time to wash my hair. Iād sprinkle some in my hands then vigorously rub my hands in my hair so the baby powder would get down to my scalp. It helped absorb the oil & as an added bonus, actually gave my hair some body that it lacked naturally. 
Hi @Isaiah_40_31 Yup I am seeing him in June.
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