5 hours after surgery with Dr. Cognetti

Hi Mr. Nickolay, So glad to hear that your ES surgery went well for you…You will no longer have the sticking in your throat feeling, now that you have had the styloid removed. Take it easy and do not try to do too much. One thing I can say about this experience is, your family has suffered through this. Start to really listen to their needs and build your relationship to become better.

When I was going through this, it was hard on my two sons and my husband because after 17 yrs., they started believing that it was all in my head! So many doctors, so many dentists. They suffered just like I did. I wasn’t myself and I cried in my sleep and prayed for God to just take me. It was so painful.

It also took me so long to recover because on top of everything, I was a diabetic and we heal slowly. I also had a newborn and I had to take care of him, too. My two sons came through it unscathed but, it was hard. So, my advice to you is, enjoy your time with your family, take it one day at a time, don’t let fear come in and overtake you with each new feeling you don’t recognize and pray for your healing.

Getting properly diagnosed was the first step to your recovery and now you have had the surgery. You’re almost there…Will keep on praying for your quick recovery. I pray for those who are on the merry-go-round of not being properly diagnosed and I had been praying for you prior to your surgery.

Hope you heal quickly and keep us posted in your progress. Happy for you and your family.

2 Likes

Shalom BrooklynGirl, Prayers your way. This nightmare is almost over for you! Look at the photos MrNikolay posted. This looks very good. I hope your surgery will be fast and easy. I know how this surgery can make one apprehensive. Just know that Dr. Cognetti has done many ES surgeries. He has experience.

I will be praying for your healing and please let us know how you are doing. This site has so many caring people and we have been through the same situation as you. We know what it’s like to be in pain and suffering. So, hang in there and we all care for you.

2 Likes

Shalom Aleichem.Thank you Hadassa for your kind words and your prayers. I am apprehensive, but I have to stay positive and trust in my faith that I am in good hands. :revolving_hearts:

2 Likes

Day 9 after surgery.

I can’t say anything get worse after my last report. After day 3 from surgery I feel absolutely normal. Now have no pain at all even at the incision area, just some itching. Got back to my normal life after day 5, quit wedge pillow and ice. Also now feels like I got back sensation of my left chin by 2/3. Started jogging yesterday for 1 mile - it was fine. Going back to work tomorrow.

After I read many stories about other members painful recovery, I can’t explain how come it so easy for me. Thank you for your prays! Im 31yo, not a superman, never find myself have high tolerance to pain. Maybe I didn’t have much nerve and structures involved into my ES?
No doubt Dr. C is really great surgeon and probably he find some external approach tactics how to navigate through the muscles and nerves with minimal damage, if at all.
Thanks God that I didn’t choose internal (intraoral) surgery option. I had my styloid almost stick out in tonsil fossa and removing I troughs the mounh was my main option at the beginning, especially after I saw bunch of scary videos on YouTube how some surgeons do external surgery breaking up whole area and cutting trough the muscles and blood vessels. On pre-op appointment I asked Dr. C about these videos, and he said that he do it differently. He also said that I have left styloid very close to C2 atlant that may compress jugular vein cause my
neurovascular symptoms. Intraoral surgery not guaranteed that styloid will be removed fully and from that deep. Then I learn from this forum that recovery from surgery through mouth is much longer and more painful, and this finally changed my mind and I decided do the surgery externally.
As I said, even removing my impacted wisdom tooth I got much worse recovery experience than from this complex surgery.

Now I want to take a couple months before make a decision about second surgery on the right side styloid. BTW, Dr C is willing to do another side typically 2 weeks after first one. I have ES symptoms on right side from time to time, but not that bad as was on left side. Also I’m waiting for a medical bill from hospital to see if I can afford second surgery this year.

I’m going to open and support Eagle’s Syndrome topics on russian speaking medical forums to help people in post-soviet countries.
Unfortunately not many people there can read and search in English, but Russian is my native language and I want to share my story and information I’ve learned on this forum.
We know it is pretty hard to find the right doctor and be diagnosed with Eagle’s in the US, Europe, and other developed countries, but trust me it’s much worse in post-soviet territories. Even when I already found that I have Eagle’s, I went trough many specialists in Russia but nobody even heard about this syndrome.

4 Likes

Brooklyn Girl.

You are in good hands with Dr. Cognetti. I wish you a good successful surgery, fast and easy recovery. Would be interesting to compare our experience and impressions after all.

SewMomma,
There is no glue, just regular stitches. The nurse told me that I should not cover incision with anything. Just put ointment twice a day and after shower.

MrNikolay ~ Your recovery is truly amazing & almost miraculous! I am so glad to hear how well you’re doing & have done after your surgery. Thank you for the update! It’s always good to hear an exceptional recovery story because it shows us what’s possible. It’s a good guess that maybe you didn’t have any nerves in the way or muscles that got damaged during surgery. You were also in the hands of a wonderful surgeon. Good choice on your part.

Thank you for the information regarding how much time Dr. C requires between ES surgeries. I’ve heard he only does ES surgeries once a month. Don’t know if that’s still true, but if so, then it would be a month between surgeries not three months as I thought.

People in Russia who might be interested in this forum can use Google Translate - translate.google.com to read any of the posts on here, but they would have to fill out the application & be accepted to our forum first, just as you did. I think all you have to do is copy a post & paste it into the window that comes up when you enter Google Translate, & you get an immediate translation into whatever language you choose. Perhaps it’s not possible to use Google in Russia, in that case, I hope there is some other translation website that could be accessed there.

You are blessed to have been able to come to the US & to have found this forum & an excellent doctor recommendation. We’re glad you’re here and part of this group!

I’m here in Philly overnight for surgery at 7:15 tomorrow morning. Thank you for the well wishes. Everyone has been very supportive. I know I am in good hands.

Best wishes,

Teresa

2 Likes

That’s really great! So pleased for you & really pleased that you’re using your experience to help others :+1:keep on healing well!

How are you feeling lady? :blush:

BrooklynGirl - Praying for you today that surgery was “text book” & your recovery is swift & w/o any complications!

Please update us when you feel up to it!

:sparkling_heart:

Ok please do let us know how you’re doing. I hope the nausea fades really soon!!! Scar looks nice and clean by the way!

BrooklynGirl!

You’re on your way! So glad surgery is done & you’re home to heal! Your incision looks GREAT! Now for rest, ice, pain meds, anti-constipation meds, good books, good movies, getting used to sleeping w/ a wedge pillow, eating/drinking soft/liquid meals, AND most important, feeling better!

Looking forward to supporting you however you need during your recovery.

:hugs: :hibiscus:

2 Likes

Hoping this is behind you now, do you still need the opposite side done as well? God bless you big hugs xx

1 Like

Hello

30 hours post op.

The nausea has past. Pain levels manageable with Tylenol and ice packs. Very numb around incision, along my jaw to chin line and to my lower lip. I do hope this is temporary because my smile is very lopsided. I have to be patient and give it time.

A bit swollen, but as expected.

I slept ok propped up - something I got used to when I had stomach issues in the past.

I’ve eaten scrambled eggs and yoghurt today - only a bit painful to swallow. Drinking with a numb lip is challenging. I have no numbness in my tongue and don’t seem to have any issues with chewing.

Thank you to all for your prayers and well wishes. All the best,
BG

2 Likes

Hi BrooklynGirl,

I have been watching this thread and am so grateful to hear you are doing well! Keep doing all of the right things, look forward to hearing more about your recovery. Take advantage of a little R&R :sunflower:

1 Like

Glad to hear you’re not having much pain and that the nausea went away!

Nerve stuff (like my tongue the first time) such as your lip is a bit slower to heal. For me, the swelling goes first (4-6 weeks) then the nerve stuff wrapped up by 8 weeks last time. So you may have to cope with a droopy lip for another month or so but hopefully not long after!

Eggs are yummy. Did you opt to add cheese? :laughing::cheese:

2 Likes

Not going to lie, I’m s little jealous of how small your incision is. I had surgery tuesday with Dr. Chang. I’m still a bit swollen once everything wore off from the hospital.

Take it easy, healing vibes your way!

1 Like

Hi Tiredmomma,
I am sorry you are having a rough go of it. Ice packs 15 mins on and off for the better part of the day helped with the swelling and pain. I could not take the narco prescribed because it makes me nauseous - grateful the ice helped.

My heart is with you. I pray that you have relief soon.

All the best. BG

1 Like

Heal soon- incision looks good! It could well be a few weeks for the lip numbness to go, try to be patient! Take it easy & a big hug for you :bouquet:

1 Like