Opt glad to see you are still around. We miss your humor. One of these days, Isaiah and I are gonna come visit you!
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Thank you ALL for your insights (and your humor!) on this topic. These comments were all helpful.
Honestly, after the journey I made in 2014-2016 I was hoping to be past all of this. As you all likely know, it takes a lot of energy and positivity to navigate the healthcare system. But, Iām left wondering if I really took the right path. Dr. Dennis Bojrab, in the Detroit area, is the one who connected me to Dr. Fessler. Since Dr. Bojrab is on the list, thatās disappointing. But Iāve relocated to Traverse City, MI so perhaps one of the docs in Grand Rapids would be a better resource?
Tinnitus - oh geez, I hear those comments! Mineās gotten worst in the past year. While Iāve had no luck with getting it to play Hotel California, I have adjusted to it being a constant.
The risks outlined by several of you were among the reasons Dr. Fessler cited for not having the procedure to remove them. But your logic that this path had no effect on nerves and other adjacent tissues makes a great deal of sense.
For now, I think Iāll spend a bit more time on this forum and see if I feel like taking up the pursuit of removal is warranted. Iām always cautious with my health.
Thanks for the inspiration!
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Hi Chromechaser86,
There are some doctors who are experienced w/ ES who are more tenuous about doing surgery than others. Itās good that they recognize how serious & even potentially touchy the surgery can be since there are several major nerves & vascular tissues that must be worked around in order to shorten/remove the styloids &/or calcified stylohyoid ligaments. Most people do recover fully from any nerve irritation that happens during surgery. We suspect any long-term post op nerve issues come from damage done by the styloids prior to removal. However, doctors are human & err on occasion just as you & I do, so there is a small, potential risk in that arena. The best you can do, if you decide to have surgery, is choose a doctor whose surgical approach & surgical experience leave you feeling confident that youāll come out better on the other side of surgery.
I hope youāre able to glean the information you need from this forum to make the best possible decision about surgery for you. If the doctor you contact isnāt helpful, look for an ENT cancer specialist who is a skull based surgeon. Maxillofacial surgeons, Head & Neck surgeons & some Neurosurgeons also specialize in skull based surgeries.
Chrome,
I doubt you would find an ES doctor in Traverse City, Grand Rapids?. I have family in Michigan and just sent my brother down to Ann Arbor to U of M. I havenāt looked at the list of docs for Michigan but that is where I would startā¦if I was seeking specialty care in Michigan. If your insurance allows you to travel, you could consider going out of state to āknownā ES docs.
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Hi Chromechaser66,
I just updated the information for Dr. Ramirez. I donāt know whether heās anywhere near you, but he is highly qualified & might be a good choice. Whether you see him or someone else on the list, you can search for posts about any doctor made on this forum by clicking on the magnifying glass icon & typing in the doctorās name. That will bring up links to any discussions where that doctor was mentioned.