Hi! Greetings from Barranquilla, Colombia. I agree that the recovery time after surgery should be more than a month. I returned to work after 15 days and I was still feeling unwell (it’s been 7 weeks and I’m still not at 100%). The area feels hardened and I think that’s limiting the recovery of the internal jugular vein. Take it easy if you can, in my case, it was very complicated to not return to work.
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@Andy89316 - You can do your own massage of the incision site. We recommend waiting until a month after surgery to start. Use some Bio Oil, vitamin E oil, coconut oil or whatever you like best to lubricate the area & then gently massage the incision area w/ your finger tips. I didn’t do massage per se but put Mederma scar cream w/ sunscreen on my incision for several months post op & my incisions ended up almost invisible. I can’t say for sure it was the Mederma that provided the good outcome as my surgeon did make my incisions in my neck creases so they would blend in there.
As far as soft foods go, not everyone needs them. We recommend you be prepared with some as it’s not uncommon to come out of surgery w/ sore or stiff jaw joints & a sore throat. If your jaw & throat feel ok immediately post op, there is nothing wrong with eating a regular meal right away.
FYI - Throat pain is from the breathing tube used during surgery, & the jaw pain/stiffness may have something to do w/ the position in which the jaw is placed during surgery.
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I needed soft foods for maybe 10 days after my first surgery, but was able to eat fine after my 2nd one! So it does vary…
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@Isaiah_40_31 @Jules Hi everyone, little over 24 hrs post op. Surgery went well and felling pretty dang good! Dr. Coughlin and everyone at Methodist was really great, knowledgeable, and caring. I had asked a lot of the recommended questions during the first appt, but forgot to ask about rounding at the break off point. Dr. C said its quite difficult to do much rounding and it really isn’t necessary in his view. He did clear me for Septoplasty about 30 days from now. I have to update him with my symptoms and post care progress in 2 weeks and in time my symptoms will determine if the R side removal is needed; I’m already planning on it. He did say after though that he was able to do a little rounding at the break off; which is at base of skull.
The procedure took between 70-90 minutes. Then observation for about an hour after I woke up; I was very hungry and thirsty. I had a cutoff of midnight for food and drink and wasn’t awake til 330 pm. So, had a bad headache and just weakness from the anesthesia. I got into my ride home, 4.5 hr drive, and focused on getting hydrated. Took a 2 hour nap and felt much better. Got some food and was feeling pretty dang good, just trying to process everything and see what changes I noticed, which I will mention later.
Dr. C is a really good surgeon for the head and neck. He has been doing ES surgeries for years now and does maybe 1x or more a month for years. He does dis-solvable sutures and glues the incision. Here is a photo of mine, Scar - Album on Imgur . The glue can be taken off in 2 weeks. My post-op is pretty easy standard stuff and just tylenol and ibuprofen for pain (which is minimal). I can eat and drink just fine which is great! They did give me a scopolamine patch just because my mom has a history of nasuea from anesthesia and we had a long drive. My voice is a little weak and I have some numbness in my neck (right under my chin), but I can already tell some improvements. He did say days 2 and 3 would be the worst for inflammation, but then its onto my new normal.
I really needed my swallow to improve, the pain where the styloid starts to go away, the Vagus nerve to decompress (GI issues), and my voice issues to go away. I can pretty much already tell my swallow is better, more complete, and less painful (granted the incision hurts some). My left ear seems healthier already, its not having the chronic discharge like the R side. The vagus nerve stuff may take a little more time, but a better swallow helps the GI issues. Granted I’m only 24 hours out and on pain meds, but my left side feels real comfortable at the styloid site. My voice is real weak right now just because the breathing tube and the incision placement, but I’m not worried about it. I kinda check in with all the parts of my body and everyone seems happy! I was confident, curious, and optimistic going into surgery and I made sure to communicate that to everyone when they asked, a positive mindset during tough times is important I believe and might positively influence those taking care of me.
I do plan on taking it easy, I can be out quite a while from my job and I really want to be happy and healthy for the first time in my adult life. It is very worth it to do lots of research and have an understanding of this illness, including surgical outcomes. The quality and experience of the surgeon is important. I am glad I saw Dr. Coughlin and am looking forward to a new normal!
I will share the styloid pic as soon as I get it!!
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What a great report, @Andy89316! I’m so glad all went so very well (minus you getting dehydrated & too hungry on surgery day!). Please keep us updated as things improve. Your incision looks really great!!
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That’s great news! I’m glad that you’ve noticed some improvements already, and hope that you see more in the coming days…keep icing & taking it easy! 
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@Isaiah_40_31 Styloid pic
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NO WONDER YOU’RE FEELING BETTER, @Andy89316! That’s quite a spike you had removed!! It looks like the whole thing. I hope you continue to feel better & better. 
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Wow, good that’s out! How are you doing today?
yeah! Mostly really good, pretty good energy. Incision is getting better, just some numbness along the jaw line, which is sort of expected, it has lessened quite a bit in the past few days. The mental aspect is interesting, just not waking up and living with so much pain, strain, and tension. I’m pretty confident I will need the R side done, but will more fully evaluate later.
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I feel like taking a print out of your bloody styloid with me to whip out the next time someone dismisses me and say “imagine this attached to your skull with the damage it could do”. Probably still wouldnt “get it”
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Really pleased for you @Andy89316 , must be wonderful to wake up in less pain & stress for you after all this time. After my first surgery my parents said to me I’d lost my ‘pinched’ look, it was from the pain and tension I guess.
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@Isaiah_40_31 Incision update, took 90% of the glue off. Much more comfortable and it looks good.
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Your incision looks AMAZING, @Andy89316! I had to really zoom in to see it. Mine’s still a bit lumpy at 3 weeks post op but I expected that based on my past experience with this surgery. I’m so happy about your excellent results so far. It’s the “silver lining” we hope for all our members after they have surgery.
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That’s brilliant, so pleased for you!
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This is such good news, I’m very happy for you. Bravekat went in for her surgery yesterday, let’s hope she is doing well like you. Congratulations Andy, thank you for sharing.
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Wow! That’s kinda freaked me out as mine are apparently 5.5cm in length both sides. So looking at how massive your ones look I really want mine out now!
So glad your doing ok, thank you so much for sharing.
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@Jules @Isaiah_40_31 Septoplasty scheduled for Dec 13. Initially it seemed denied by Insurance, but I guess just an optional thing the Dr wanted to do was denied. Looking forward to it, the Dr is really great, but its kind of a gnarly recovery; like sleep very inclined, no shower for 2 weeks, and kinda gross. I know it will help and just be patient, but still! I plan on getting some B12 soon to try to help with this jawline numbness I’m still having. Hope you both had a nice Thanksgiving
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@Andy89316 - That’s great news about the septoplasty surgery being scheduled but not fun that you’ll have another similar recovery to the one you are currently going through.
I think @Jules took a Vitamin B complex which is what I have taken for years due to naturally low vit. B in my body. If you’ve read that B12 is the specific B vit. to take for nerve recovery then that should be your go to. In my case my jaw line was numb for many months & didn’t ever fully stop being numb but mostly did. I only noticed it if I was leaning my chin on my hand & figured it was a small price to pay to be rid of my ES symptoms. 
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I don’t envy you that surgery! Will add that on to my prayer list for you…I’m UK so we don’t celebrate thanksgiving but I did think of all you US folks last week!
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