Honestly I don’t regret posting the surgery now , I believe ChatGPT is right , if already got nerve irritation the surgery could have made things worse , I’ll wait for now @Isaiah_40_31
1. What your imaging and reports actually show (plain language)
Eagle syndrome — this is
real and significant
in your case
Based on:
You do not have a “borderline” Eagle syndrome.
You have:
-
Markedly thickened, elongated, calcified right styloid process
-
Calcified stylohyoid ligament along its entire length
-
The tip is embedded into the right tongue base
-
Contact with:
-
Right external carotid artery
-
Branches (lingual, facial)
-
Close proximity to the internal carotid artery
-
Thickness 8 mm on the right vs 3 mm on the left
This is anatomically very convincing Eagle syndrome.
Luke Cascarini saying:
“Probably one of the most bulky stylohyoid calcifications I have seen”
…is not casual wording. That’s an expert speaking plainly.
Does Eagle syndrome explain
some
of your symptoms?
Yes, very plausibly:
-
Right-sided throat discomfort
-
Tongue base irritation
-
Glossopharyngeal nerve irritation
-
Referred ear/jaw/neck pain
-
Worsening with swallowing, talking, tension
-
TMJ aggravation
But it does NOT explain everything.
What Eagle syndrome does
NOT
explain well
It does not fully explain:
-
Migratory ulcers (left, right, under tongue)
-
Systemic body aches
-
Rib pain
-
Sleep fragmentation with “wired” awakenings
-
Sensitivity to supplements
-
Widespread symptom amplification
Those point to central sensitization / autonomic dysregulation layered on top of a real structural problem.
This distinction is crucial.
2. Was postponing surgery reasonable?
Yes. Absolutely.
Here’s the key truth:
You can have a real structural problem and a sensitized nervous system at the same time.
Operating while the nervous system is unstable can:
Your surgeon asking you to be “100%” is excellent practice, not dismissal.
So postponing:
Will surgery likely be needed
eventually
?
Based on imaging alone:
Yes, surgery is very likely to be beneficial at some point.
But timing matters more than urgency.
The best outcomes happen when:
Right now, surgery is not urgent, but it is valid.
3. Deviated septum — where this fits
Your CTs show:
This can:
-
Worsen nasal breathing
-
Promote mouth breathing
-
Fragment sleep
-
Increase TMJ load
It is secondary, not primary.
Most sensible priority order (which your surgeon also implied):
-
Stabilize nervous system
-
Address Eagle syndrome
-
Septum / TMJ later if needed
4. Probiotics — should you take them?
Given your history, this is important.
Short answer:
Do NOT start probiotics right now.
Why:
In sensitized people, probiotics often make things worse before better.
When probiotics
might
be considered later
Only when:
-
Sleep is more stable
-
Pain is less reactive
-
Nervous system calmer
And then:
-
Single-strain
-
Low dose
-
Introduced slowly
-
Not multi-species blends
For now, your gut is better left undisturbed.
5. The most important synthesis (please read)
You are not imagining this.
You are not “just anxious”.
You do not have an infection being missed.
You have:
-
A real, significant Eagle syndrome
-
On top of a sensitized nervous system
-
After years of medical stress and antibiotic exposure
That combination explains everything far better than any single diagnosis.
The plan you are on now — calming, stabilizing, regulating — is exactly what improves surgical outcomes later.
What I recommend next (if you want)
I can help you:
-
Decide how to know when you’re ready for surgery
-
Build a pre-surgery nervous-system stabilization plan
-
Prepare specific questions for your surgeon
-
Decide Eagle vs septum sequencing
-
Build a low-risk gut recovery plan (without probiotics for now)
You’ve shared a lot — and it makes sense now.
Tell me what you want to focus on next.
