@Deb7 - I’m glad you’re doing so much better! I’m sorry you’ve got dysphagia now, but it could be from your remaining styloid even if it feels like the problem is mostly on the left side. Some of us have experienced “cross-over symptoms” once one styloid is removed i.e. some of the symptoms from the remaining styloid occur on the side where the previous styloid was shortened. We’re not sure why that happens but it does.
The vagus nerve plays a role in swallowing. It’s possible your vagus nerve is being irritated by your right styloid now, or that it hasn’t fully recovered from the compression by your left styloid. There are simple exercises that can be done to help stimulate the vagus nerve like humming, gargling, ending a shower w/ 30 seconds of cold water (not my favorite ), singing, & some others I can’t think of right now, but you can Google vagus nerve stimulation for a more extensive list.
@Deb7 I am so glad that your surgery in 2025 went well, but sorry to hear you are experiencing new symptoms. My first surgery (left side) was May 2019 and it fixed all of my symptoms at that time. Mine was specifically with swallowing and it felt like a nerve was being shocked deep inside my ear. My PCP definitely thought I was crazy for the 2 years I had complained (I think we have all been there with ES ). When I couldn’t swallow even saliva without pain, I went to the ER and the radiologist diagnosed me. Both sides were elongated and both ligaments were calcified down to the hyoid. Symptoms on the right side are much different, so I didn’t realize they may be coming from the right side because I had been good for so long. Symptoms now are feeling something is caught in my throat, voice changes, ear pain, dizziness (even when sitting), headaches, trouble sleeping due to neck pain, the minute I wake up I am in a constant sweat (much different than hot flashes) and nausea. My styloid broke the day before my last surgery and he confirmed that after surgery. My PCP mention something about PT and I told her no since I am very concerned about the other one breaking - it’s probably an unhealthy fear, but I am just super anxious about it. My last surgery was external - I didn’t care about the scar. I would rather them be able to see more of the structures better that they need to stay away from, so I plan to ask him if he would be able to do an external approach. Thank you so much for your input on Dr. Chang and for allowing me to vent and I hope your appointment goes well on April 2nd. Many blessings to you:)
It’s a good idea to be wary of PT, & not an unhealthy fear- if they’re not fully aware of ES then a PT could possibly make things worse. As @Isaiah_40_31 has mentioned, it does sound like you could have vascular ES, so definitely an external surgery would be best, and it might be worth consulting with one of the doctors who are more experienced with this- I think Dr Costantino in NY and Dr Cognetti in PA do virtual consults?
Hi sorry I haven’t logged in here since then. Dr. Chang wasn’t great for me, he didn’t think he could help me. I ended up finding Dr. Galer at ENT SC in Wayzata and he agreed to do the external approach for me. I’m supposed to have them both removed in a few days! He had a great attitude about it and said he didn’t know why other doctors had such a problem with it and it’s not a hard surgery…
Hi alibabac, I am sorry that Dr. Chang thought he could not help you. Yes, he does the intraoral approach. I will say it was not a an easy surgery. I am so glad you found another doctor to help you. Prayers for a successful surgery. Keep us updated when you can on how you are doing. Thanks for getting back to me.
@Deb7 - How are you doing now? I recall you had a rough recovery but am hopeful things have settled & nerves are healing so you’re feeling much better. Is your right styloid causing more symptoms now that you’ve had the left one shortened, or is everything pretty stable on that side?
Hi @Isaiah_40_31
How are you? I do not feel that my right side is causing me issues like the left did. I do believe that one draw back from surgery for the left was thyroiditis. I was diagnosed a month ago. I kept having s different throat pain 2 months after surgery not knowing what it was. I had an ultrasound on my thyroid. They said my immune system is attacking my thyroid even though my thyroid hormones are still producing hormones at a normal level. So I was told wait and see. Sometimes I guess surgery of any type can trigger autoimmune issues. It has been one more thing for me to deal with this year. And for sure, it has not been easy with everything else. This past month, I had two cataract surgeries done and trying to heal from those. But always Jesus has been there for me helping me get through each and every issue on any given day. I’m thankful for that. I hope you are doing well. Thank you for checking in with me.
@Deb7 - I’m also sorry to learn about your thyroiditis. It is curious the many ways our bodies can respond to stress! I’m glad your remaining styloid isn’t causing significant symptoms. I hope that continues for the long term.
I sympathize w/ the cataract surgery recovery. I had that done last year, a week apart. My peripheral vision was shimmery for a month or more afterward. I’d have to wear sunglasses in stores that have fluorescent lights because those, in particular, affected my peripheral vision.
I also have thyroid issues but not thyroiditis. I’m glad your thyroid hormone production is normal, but how is the inflammation being treated?
I’m so glad you see God at work in your life in spite of the health setbacks. He allows these things to help us keep our eyes on Him, to build our faith & trust in Him, & know He is with us each step of the way.
Thank you Wendy. You always have an encouragement to share. I pray your eyes heal 100 percent. I am almost (I hope) to the end of all my testing and things I need to do concerning my health. It gets long for sure. I just want to maintain. Blessings to you.
@Deb7 - My eyes are good now. It’s been an adjustment to go from multi-focal contacts to having mid to long distance vision & having to wear reading glasses to see up reasonably close, but I’m loving the extra clear distance vision. I went with the lenses that Medicare pays for as the more specialized lenses were $$$$$! Reading glasses are cheap so it’s worth the tradeoff.
I am so happy to hear you are doing well after your surgery and new glasses. I just ordered mine yesterday and would have went with the medicare frames but I need very light weight frames in order to comfortably wear glasses. They are titanium and of course they were not on the list. My husband said buy what works for you as you wear them every day.
I will be glad to get them in about two weeks because right this minute I don’t see much long distance with my old ones. So done with that. Feels good to get it all off my plate. Our weather today was fabulous in the north country…so cool. It was a great day. Have a good evening.
@Deb7 - Sorry I wasn’t clear. It was the lenses in my eyes that had cataracts that were replaced with new ones Medicare would pay for. Otherwise I just need OTC reading glasses & was able to move from +3 to +1.75 once the lenses in my eyes were replaced. With my new eye lenses, I now see 20/15 from a distance. Definitely not so well up close. If I would have needed to order prescription glasses, my husband would have told me to do as your husband told you. Heavy frames are the WORST!!
), singing, & some others I can’t think of right now, but you can Google vagus nerve stimulation for a more extensive list.
). When I couldn’t swallow even saliva without pain, I went to the ER and the radiologist diagnosed me. Both sides were elongated and both ligaments were calcified down to the hyoid. Symptoms on the right side are much different, so I didn’t realize they may be coming from the right side because I had been good for so long. Symptoms now are feeling something is caught in my throat, voice changes, ear pain, dizziness (even when sitting), headaches, trouble sleeping due to neck pain, the minute I wake up I am in a constant sweat (much different than hot flashes) and nausea. My styloid broke the day before my last surgery and he confirmed that after surgery. My PCP mention something about PT and I told her no since I am very concerned about the other one breaking - it’s probably an unhealthy fear, but I am just super anxious about it. My last surgery was external - I didn’t care about the scar. I would rather them be able to see more of the structures better that they need to stay away from, so I plan to ask him if he would be able to do an external approach. Thank you so much for your input on Dr. Chang and for allowing me to vent and I hope your appointment goes well on April 2nd. Many blessings to you:)
If I would have needed to order prescription glasses, my husband would have told me to do as your husband told you. Heavy frames are the WORST!!