Hi CatNinja -
So sorry to hear about the rapid increase of your symptoms. I just went back & looked at your scan. Your styloids both look long to me, & it also looks like you may have calcification on your s-h ligaments. We believe that the calcification that causes ES increases w/ time. It’s possible you’ve had a bit more growth or that your existing situation has shifted around a bit & is now pressing more firmly on nerves &/or vascular tissues in that area. Compression of the carotid arteries or jugular veins produce the symptoms you’re experiencing - dizziness, light-headedness & migraine level headaches. The choking, facial numbness/tingling & swallowing issues are most likely due to irritated cranial nerves - the vagus & trigeminal (& others) are frequently affected by ES.
It would be wise for you to contact the ENT office well before your appointment to make sure the doctor you’re seeing is familiar w/ ES. You will save yourself the frustration of a useless trip if he is not.
Duck8384 is from your state & is seeing an ENT who is familiar w/ ES at Duke Hospital next Wed. Here is the link to her post from today for your information: A couple of questions