Would it be easy to find a link to the product you used? I ordered a soft collar off Amazon and while it’s okay-ish there’s something to be said about the pressure on the front of the neck. It recreates the choking feeling. I would love to get suggestions for other products that have worked for people.
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I’ve also come across this one by them too https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vdfCtVix_mw that lists 5 ways to help cci pain at home. I did the sub occipital muscle release yesterday and got rid of the pain quite quickly - I’m sure there is still tension but it relieved the majority of the pain. Just wish I could work out what and where the vagus nerve is being compressed. I think it’s at the base of the skull or toward the incision but just don’t know why or how to relieve it. Still haven’t been to see my GP about the steroids so might do that this week. I’ve also had a rash around the incision area that’s got worse since I went swimming (now more than 6 weeks ago). It started as in pimple type bump at one end of the incision where I also got redness. That one and the redness have since gone but Ive continued to get these pimple type bumps around the incision that are itchy off and on. They are very closely gathered around the incision but not on the actual cut line and one has also formed closer to the ear in line with where I imagine is the path up to the base of the skull cut. My surgeon said when I sent him a pic of the first one that developed that it was likely suture irritation - spitting suture. But these ones aren’t on the line of the incision. They are just all around it. It’s got worse in the last few days. I’ve been putting some baby nappy rash cream on it since yesterday but maybe need to get it checked out by a doctor.
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@BraveKat - I would definitely see your PC or a dermatologist about the rash. It sounds odd & before it spreads too much further it would be good to get it looked at. My initial thought was irritation due to dissolving sutures. We had one member who had trouble w/ her incision not healing well for almost 2 years then one day a suture surfaced & came out. It had been in there festering for all that time. Once it was out, the incision healed. Even though the dissolving sutures are supposed to be hypoallergenic, I don’t believe they are for all people.
This is good news, but the continued vagus nerve pain/symptoms are frustrating. Have you tried messaging @GrnyAny to discuss things she did to help hers heal post op?
I actually made one from a piece of foam I had lying around. It’s just a large rectangle (maybe 15cm long x 10cm high x 1.5cm thick) that sits inside a cotton pillow case to stop any chemical irritation on my skin. I place the foam piece in the centre of the pillow case and fold the pillow case over it until the pillowcase is the same height as the foam, and then tuck the top edge of the foam under my chin slightly and wedge the bottom edge so that it sits at the level of my clavicle at the bottom, making sure that it doesn’t touch my neck at all. The loose ends of the pillow case are pulled around to the back of my neck and then the whole thing is held in place by one of those Velcro headbands that are used to hold your hair back when you wash you face. I wrap the headband around the pillowcase and secure it just tight enough to stop the foam from moving out of place.
I find this works really well for sleeping or sitting as I don’t have any foam on the back of my neck irritating the muscles.
You could possibly buy a soft collar and cut it to size with scissors if you want to try it out. 
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A little about my story - General / Eagle Syndrome Stories - Living with Eagle
There’s some info in this most about allergies to sutures which might be helpful…
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Hi, thanks for your thoughts about the rash. I saw my PCP today and she thinks it’s a skin infection (staph) so on a course of antibiotics to hopefully set it right. I’ve felt like I had an infection 6 week ago but didn’t pursue it as I didn’t have a fever. I also got some prednisone (PCP said the other one you suggested was hard to get hold of). Wondering if I should just wait for the antibiotic to kick in first or do them both at the same time. I had a bad withdrawal from prednisone a few years ago so a bit nervous.
Thank you for all the advice. The doctor even used your explanation for the anti-inflammatory directions/dosage to make the script hehe.
I did try to contact @GrnyAny but unfortunately didn’t hear back. Hoping she’s online again soon
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I’d wait to take the Prednisone until you’re done w/ the antibiotic, @BraveKat. Steroids tend to lower our immune systems while we’re taking them. Since you need yours to be highly functional to get rid of the staff infx, taking it once that’s gone might be better. I’m sorry you couldn’t get the dexamethasone. I’d never had it before my surgery in Oct. What a difference in the way I felt while taking it vs Prednisone. I sympathize w/ bad withdrawal from the pred. I’ve never had a problem w/ the tapering dose but do get pretty nasty side effects while taking it.
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Thank you, that’s great to get some advice.
Not sure if it’s just like that here, but sounded like dexamethasone is hard to come by. Will see how I get on with the anitbiotics…might do the trick on it’s own
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