Yes don’t over analyze things those first few weeks (while at the same time looking of course for any serious concerns) and let the healing take its time. By the way, how much time are you getting off work? I’d you’re actively teaching, it’s good the surgery is toward the end of the school year, no?
Really good news, hope all goes well! That’s an impressive SP! Not long to wait…
Has anyone ever experienced vision issues where your vision doesn’t go blind but a black out for a split second. I’ve felt this a couple times while up and walking, but also with my eyes closed in bed where the darkness goes even darker for a brief second like a blink. Also, I’m posting my angiogram CT results. Other weird things are going on too like my kidney function has been all over the place. GFR is usually 98, then it went down to 66, then I stopped ibuprofen and it went back up to 88. Blood pressure is 145/96. Surgery is coming up April 9th…just other issues are causing unease too. Thanks.
It sounds like you could well have vascular ES then, which could explain the vision problems. Quite a few members have had blood pressure issues, so it could be ES or something else. Kidney function I haven’t a clue about, sorry!
Not long til surgery though, will add you to my prayer list!
Hi eaglet86,
Though I’m not a doctor, I would bet your kidney function will return to closer to normal over time when you’re not taking ibuprofen on such a regular basis. Even BP can be affected by that because ibuprofen is very high in sodium. I got stomach ulcers from taking too much Advil & Aleve even though I was drinking a lot of water w/ them. Every body reacts differently to the things we put in us.
As Jules said, the BP & visual blackouts can be attributed to vascular ES as well. Hopefully they will disappear w/ your styloid & you’ll have no hint of their existence after your surgery. Reminder: Sometimes symptoms take a bit of time to disappear post op so patience in recovery is key.
Please let us know how things go for you post op when you feel up to it. Glad your surgery is so soon!
Yesterday was the day I got this puppy out on the right side.
Dr. Pramod Sharma in Salt Lake City Utah performed the surgery extra oral. He is a neck tumor specialist with base skull training that use to work at the University of Utah and the Huntsman cancer institute. He told me he has done 20 something of these. I got out of surgery and they had me eating graham crackers right away. I had zero numbness and zero nerve issues. I woke up today having zero pain. Or swelling.I’ll stay on meds and ice as prescribed. I will say the anesthesia was the hardest so far for me. I had a hard time feeling ready to leave the hospital…it took me 2.5 hrs after surgery to leave in a wheelchair and I didn’t feel quite up to it still. They had me at the hospital pharmacy buying meds totally out of it. My wife is a saint. Bless her heart, she drove me 6 hrs in an April Utah blizzard yesterday( for a normally 4 hr drive). So I’m out of it and she tackled me, a 3 year old and a teething 6 month old…in a Blizzard. I wouldn’t recommend such travel day of surgery through a blizzard…but there is no place like home! So my healing begins. I’m gonna take it slow even though I feel good day one. I’m gonna take the full 3 weeks they gave me off for teaching. My doctor said My dream healing for you is for you to be walking normal and returning to normal activities on day one…except driving and teaching. He really only prescribed me hydrocodone and ibuprofen 800 mg for around 4 days worth. Which scares me. He said I should be back to teaching after a week. I’m like…I’m gonna milk the time off! I still have a left side 4.5 cm styloid process that hasn’t ever given me issues yet.
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Look at you! And look at what he took out! Looks like it could be a femur of a small cat LOL! You’re doing awesome! What a rockstar your wife is! Don’t you dare go back to work earlier than they say you have to and then before you know it it will be summer! Sounds like you found a really competent surgeon! I can’t believe you’re having such a good recovery! That’s awesome! Definitely err on the side of caution with activities. You’re less than two months out from even joining this website and you’ve already had it removed! I think you would agree the anticipation was definitely worse than realization with the surgery. Way to go dude! 
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That’s great- except for the journey, big hug to your superstar wife! Definitely take all that time off, as talking much will likely hurt! Try to rest as much as you can, God Bless
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eaglet86,
What an amazing outcome for your surgery! Your wife is a SUPER HERO for sure! What an awesome & devoted wife you have to have made that trek w/ you in horrible weather & w/ two young kiddos as well. She deserves a medal (& your undying devotion)!! 
Just a heads up - days 3-5 post op are when you’ll experience the most swelling so you may find your symptoms & pain flare during that period. Sticking w/ your pain med & icing regimen is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself. If you need more Rx pain med, you can contact Dr. Sharma for a refill & if he declines, try your PCP. Many people are able to switch to acetaminophen by the end of the first week & to ibuprofen by the end of the second week. It’s unwise to start ibuprofen too early as it’s a blood thinner & can increase the likelihood of post op bleeding.
I hope your remaining elongated styloid stays asymptomatic. Please keep this in mind though: It’s hard to know if the second styloid is contributing to symptoms until the first one is removed. Whatever the second styloid is causing often becomes pretty prominent during recovery from the first ES surgery. I say this as some people have felt their first ES surgery made no difference when in actuality it’s the remaining styloid that’s causing the remaining problems.
Praying for your recovery to be a breeze & that you’re back on your feet in no time.
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Thanks for the info about the doctor too, always good to have another name for our list!
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Just an update: Everything is going pretty good in recovery except for some sort of contact dermatitis from the betadine povidone iodine solution that they use in surgery prep. Everywhere that touched is giving me a rash with oozing clear yellow liquid that crusts over. This has happened to me before when I was young and came in contact with something swimming in a pond and it was on my legs. I have stinkin’ sensitive skin. The worst part is that it is mostly on my right ear(surgery was on the right side)…and it fills in my ear cannel with this liquid and clogs my hearing . My whole ear is in this swollen rash and it sucks worst than the incision! Anyone ever have this or know how to get rid of it? Do I need to worry about infection?
Ouch, that looks sore! I guess piriton or some antihistamine would help but you need advice as to whether that would be okay with any other medication you’re taking- I’d see my GP / PCP if I were you. Hope it gets better soon!
That ear just looks downright angry. Let us know what you decide to do.
Totally agree w/ Jules. I think it would be worthwhile seeing your PCP or a dermatologist. That’s certainly an uninvited guest to this party!! 
I officially stopped pain meds on day 7…was able to sleep on incision side last night. Rash is disappearing. I made it to Walmart yesterday and bought some LEGOs to play with my 3 year old today. I was able to feel around my tonsillar region with my finger just to make sure he got the bugger out, and I’m glad to confirm there is no longer any bony bulge paining my right tonsil any longer. I might run for POTUS in 2020.
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Hooray for Legos! Hooray for no more bone! You can do anything now - take on the world! You have my vote 
Great you can sleep on that side already, it was ages before I could with my first surgery! Keep healing!
Jules - I felt accomplished when I didn’t have to sleep elevated! The thought of sleeping on that side is a way off for me. Thank you for sharing - it helps:)
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eaglet86,
Great to read that your rash is going away. WHEW! That must be a relief. Excellent news that you were able to stop pain meds at the end of week 1 post op! Seeing improvement in the symptoms that bothered you most pre-op goes far mentally toward helping w/ healing. A positive attitude is so very important.
Love that you’re spending time w/ your 3 year old during your rehab. That’s an excellent way to “lay low” during recovery!
POTUS 2020 - HERE COMES EAGLET86!!