# Dr. Hackman Surgery 2/28/22 + Full Story **URL:** \ **Category:** Eagle Syndrome Stories\ **Tags:** stories, symptoms, internal-jugular-vei\ **Created:** [March 9, 2022, 11:42pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062 "2022-03-09T23:42:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![MisterFrodo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@MisterFrodo](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/MisterFrodo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/182 "2024-09-15T16:35:04Z")
Thank you for those clarifications. Knowledge is power. I’ll see what the doctor tells me when I have my consult. ---
**Author:** ![Rlr286](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@Rlr286](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Rlr286)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/183 "2024-10-15T01:57:50Z")
Wow thank you for sharing all of this. Sounds like we have a lot in common unfortunately, though I have not yet had a styloidectomy and have decided to postpone for now. What has been most helpful for you in terms of treating CIRS? I am seeing a neuro functional medicine doctor who seems to know what he’s doing and has actually dealt with mold toxicity himself, so I feel hopeful about that. ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/184 "2024-10-15T14:07:46Z")
I’ll just share a link to @Rlr286 's discussion about mould for anyone following this one! [Symptoms have resolved 80% after leaving toxic mold! - General - Living with Eagle](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/symptoms-have-resolved-80-after-leaving-toxic-mold/17293) ---
**Author:** ![BraveKat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@BraveKat](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/BraveKat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/185 "2024-11-22T13:04:37Z")
This is such an interesting thread and feels like it should stay near the top of the post order. On the topic of post-op long term symptoms, is it possible for anyone who has had their op to provide date since surgery and any ongoing or new symptoms? A list of post-op therapies and durations. As well as percentage In your mind of how much better or worse you feel now? I imagine a lot of members who have successful surgeries perhaps don’t feel a need to return regularly on the forum but it would be so helpful to have this information I feel on the forum for those new to the site and those maybe still experiencing difficulties afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Chrickychricky](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/chrickychricky/32/15581_2.png) [@Chrickychricky](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Chrickychricky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/186 "2024-11-22T14:41:39Z")
@BraveKat I had my first surgery in July, 2024 and my second surgery October, 2024. I have no new symptoms. Headaches have completely resolved. Brain fog and other cognitive disfunction have significantly improved. The chronic fatigue is nearly gone. I am sleeping better and rarely have bouts of anxiety. What’s left is pulsatile tinnitus (quite loud) on my right side as well as fullness in that ear and a perpetual state of feeling floaty (not quite dizzy). These symptoms could suggest SCDS and it seems like a number of people on the forum have been diagnosed with that. I have a referral to see Dr. Sharon a UCSF neurotologist to assess. Overall, I feel like the surgeries saved my life. I was barely functioning, unable to work and rarely left the house due to all of the cognitive problems. Now, I’m back working and have regained my interest in life. I am a clinical psychologist and one of my areas of specialty is treating chronic neuroplastic pain. I have been using those techniques in treating the habits of mind that naturally developed around being ill for so long. Learning to see myself as healthy again. In that vein I have to be a little cautious about reading the posts on this forum because social contagion is a real thing…at least for me. Along with that work I see a very experienced dry needler to help settle down the tissue post surgery. I also continue to use the Dennerol that I got from Dr. Hauser to maintain a good neck curve. ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/187 "2024-11-22T16:39:54Z")
@BraveKat , you’re right when you say that maybe people who have had good results move on & don’t come back too much. It does sometimes skew what you see on here as the people whose surgeries don’t make a massive difference do stay on for support & those might be the stories you hear more of…many people’s surgeries are successful, but we do accept that there are risks, and we’re seeing members with so much more complicated situations that the ES surgery is often one step on a longer journey. You can search for success stories to have a look at, here’s one to start you off: [Surgery for Eagles is usually successful! - General - Living with Eagle](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/surgery-for-eagles-is-usually-successful/608) Mine was very successful, the first side being removed made a big difference to my vascular symptoms, & I had the second side done a year later. I still get some nerve pain on one side so still take Amitriptyline, but it’s not as painful as it was before surgery & the facial tingling etc is better. I’ve not needed any other PT etc. @Chrickychricky so pleased that your surgery has made such a difference for you too, and hope that you can get some answers to your remaining symptoms… ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 5:48am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/188 "2024-11-23T05:48:53Z")
@Chrickychricky - You might want to also consider a consult w/ Dr. Quinton Gopen & Dr. Isaac Yang at UCLA as they also have a reputation for being among the best in the US for doing SCDS surgeries. > [@7 months post op with Hepworth update](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/7-months-post-op-with-hepworth-update/15766): > > Hi Friends. Forgive me for my long delay. Please know I have been wishing you all well behind the scenes. I posted back in September about my successful right styloidectomy / IJV decompression surgery from August 21, 2023 with Dr. Hepworth. Seven months later my most notable resolutions: I can talk, chew, swallow, yawn without any pain or difficulty. Less pain in my neck on that side. (It was quite severe) Unresolved: daily headaches, daily imbalance/ dizziness, brain fog, coordination iss… > [@Semicircular Canal Dehiscence](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/semicircular-canal-dehiscence/12449/5): > > Hello Friends. I was just diagnosed with Semicircular Canal Dehiscence as well. The plan is to remove my right styloid first, to see if I get enough relief. Thanks for sharing your experience and symptoms. It is so helpful to know we are not alone. I, too, get dizzy/nauseous, from moving my eyes from one computer monitor to the next. (Among other things.) ---
**Author:** ![Chrickychricky](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/chrickychricky/32/15581_2.png) [@Chrickychricky](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Chrickychricky)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 1:05pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/189 "2024-11-23T13:05:48Z")
@Isaiah_40_31 Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![jobby99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jobby99](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/jobby99)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/190 "2026-04-30T17:11:22Z")
I brought up eustachian tube issues with an ENT and it was completely ignored like no treatment exists. He diagnosed me with Acid Reflux (appointment was for glossopharyngeal neuralgia). Some doctors are clueless or just can’t diagnose things they have never heard of. I had the problems with flying before any ES surgeries, so I believe the nerve innervating the tubes is not working as intended. It takes about 7 days for my ears to go back to normal after flying. A good doctor for styloidectomies in Ohio is Dr. Ludlow at Metrohealth. He has already been added to the list. Only symptom as a direct result of surgery was a little irritation of accessory nerve to right shoulder. He leaves about 10 mm behind given the increased risk with going for more. Impressed with Dr. Hackman, but not sure I would see him with so much nerve irritation afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/191 "2026-04-30T19:41:58Z")
@jobby99 - Thank you for the extra information about Dr. Ludlow. Leaving only 1cm of styloid is quite good & close enough to the skull base for most people to get great results from the surgery. ---
**Author:** ![jobby99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jobby99](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/jobby99)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/192 "2026-05-08T14:47:41Z")
It turns out it was 2 cm, so maybe he is just average in capability. Although, it technically resolved the ENT concerns and he is ENT. ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/193 "2026-05-09T04:24:39Z")
Resolving the ENT concerns is very different than resolving the patient’s symptoms! ---
**Author:** ![jobby99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jobby99](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/jobby99)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/194 "2026-05-12T19:05:49Z")
Yeah, he didn’t seem very concerned when I told him about the other stuff going on like it wasn’t his problem. But, it would be nice if the disciplines talked to each other more. He did state that it would not improve any other symptoms besides swallowing/throat, so I was not misguided in that respect. If I didn’t have experience with Nakaji, with wait time of about a year at the soonest given the testing at University of Minnesota involved (and 6 month wait there) before any possible surgery (if qualified for it), then I may not have made the decision to do it locally. I was choking on food all the time, so I had to make some decision soon. ---
**Author:** ![Jules](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/jules/32/404_2.png) [@Jules](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Jules)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/195 "2026-05-12T19:39:22Z")
It’s difficult to make decisions about surgery when you’re really struggling, it’s completely understandable that you needed the surgery done quickly! ---
**Author:** ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062/196 "2026-05-12T23:33:19Z")
I can totally sympathize with your choking on food symptom, @jobby99. That was one of my earliest ES symptoms. I’m glad for both of us that problem is history! [Previous page](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/dr-hackman-surgery-2-28-22-full-story/11062.md?page=9)