I’m struggling so badly with derealization, dizziness, head pressure & tinnitus this week. I’m not an expert in any way, far from it, but have concerns my styloids could be causing IJV compression and IIH.
Is anyone good at reading scans and cross referencing symptoms to potential issues? I know I need to see an expert, but I feel so desperate. I’m at a point where I’m searching for hope just to get myself through another day of this.
I have attached some images, including my symptoms list.
I see J Hughes tomorrow and want to go as prepared as I can. If he doesn’t offer to help me, I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I’m struggling to get through each day with these symptoms and I’m relying on family to help with look after my children. I was such an active determined person, this has honestly ruined me.
Flickering light. You mean as if everything was like in a mild “disco” lights (stroboscope effect)? Flickering 5-10 times a second or so?
I have this time to time, more often that I’d like. Still can’t figure out why. I suspect it’s something with muscle spasms, either
Or
Innervated by short and long ciliary nerves.
As in my case that feels similar to other muscle rapid twitches (fasciculations?), I suspect it might have the same driving mechanism. But can’t be sure what it is. Maybe some compressed nerve, or blood flow issues (either feeding the nerve or the muscle itself). Maybe some misfiring in the brain, similar to migraines…
Btw when I say “brain” I have the midbrain in mind
as in my case it’s usually “all in one” when it gets symptomatic: increased tinnitus, flickering lights, drowsiness and increased difficulty to focus.
@vdm The flickering is alway there, but I only notice it in certain areas/lighting. Mostly on plain walls. It’s not really like the static/visual snow, which is like fuzzy moving dots. It’s like the whole area is flickering. My eyes generally can’t process light well and in a room with a window casting light in, I feel like I can’t see everything. This has all happened since having a neck adjustment. Before that my vision was blurry/tunnel vision at times.
Sorry to hear it was caused by a chiropractor (?). I don’t want to scare you but there is a chance the chiro damaged/compressed some of the delicate blood vessels by changing the alignment of the neck…
@vdm my flickering is a lot more subtle than that. I’ve trained myself just not to look at the areas of my house where I notice it. Up until when I started blacking out, I’d do home workouts in the lounge and the wall behind the tv was the worst.
I’m not sure re the chiro. I had issues before that and I think they made it worse.
Hello, so sorry to hear of your struggles. Your styloid did look long to me on image. But I could not see from angles if styloid or C1 is compressing your JVs. Mr Hughes can remove styloids. Diagnosing clearly the root causes is important so you can prioritise what to do first to help. Take care. D
Your styloids are really long @BabzieAM as we’ve commented on before , so I really hope Mr Hughes will agree to do surgery just based on that…one of our members commented in the past that she felt having mentioned some of the not so typical ES symptoms/ weird ones might have put doctors off treating her, it’s up to you, but maybe it might be worth sticking to the more well-known symptoms; pain, pressure, dizziness etc?
Will be thinking of you & praying that you can get help
I am so sorry you are going through this. I dealt with this for 6 years before being properly diagnosed with a Sever Venous Outflow obstruction. I put together a web site with links to my videos where I talk about my journey. You may find a lot of helpful information as you go through yours.
Yes, your styloids are very long and are ‘probably’ causing some issues…though there are people with long styloids and no issues…it is the luck (or unlucky) of the draw.
A CTV would do wonders to look at your vein structure. Check out my story and my images here.You deserve to feel better - Jugular Vein
Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve just been offered surgery to remove one of them soon and he didn’t need the CT scan. He decided they were big enough to remove without. I’ll review how I feel afterwards.
Thanks for the advice. He’s only taking one out, so I’ll probably opt for the CT contrast before I look at getting the second one done. I had a non contrast recently, so want to avoid the extra radiation for now. I assume if it has t worked, I’ll still be symptomatic afterwards?
I appreciate everyone’s help. I trust the surgeon I’m seeing and will just see how it goes. I’m getting a Doppler study done to check blood flow for my own peace of mind anyway. I’m moving in the right direction and I’m happy right now.
@BabzieAM for one I apologize for pushing the thread off the track, as there could have been more and higher quality answers/suggestions on your scans.
