Think initially my tinnitus felt quieter and less bothersome but I did have a flare up for a few days. Now it’s gone back to normal, with it being louder in sync with times where head pressure and dizziness are worse. Usually with exertion or stress etc.
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@warrick Thank you. Stress levels very high… back at work and the derealization has also stepped up massively as a consequence! Everything still feels quite sore and swollen too. I just need some hope it will pass, as I’m not coping with the annoyance very well. Stopped the Ibuprofen yesterday (took for 10 days oops) and I think that can make it worse. It’s just so annoying!!
Hope you’re getting some results now… I’m not sure I’m feeling any benefits yet, but early days.
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It is still early days, obviously you’ve not had any choice about returning to work, but as @Warrick says, stress can make symptoms worse…my head pressure did go quite quickly after surgery, but I do notice now (years after surgery), stress, flying or heat are the only things which bring it back on a bit. You could well still be having some swelling, so this won’t help with the tinnitus or derealization. If you can still ice a bit hopefully that will help, @PatientD has posted tips to help swelling, there was a collar she mentioned which could help so I don’t know if you’ve seen that?
Sending you a hug 
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Sorry for the late reply, really hope your tinnitus has calmed down now.
I just got back from a camp today - I knew I wasn’t up to going for the whole week so I joined my family for the last two nights. I am really glad I got to go, as we have been every year for the last 10 years, but I think sleeping on a camp bed did me in. That, and running a second singing workshop after sleeping on a camp bed. Not to mention trekking about over the two fields all day. Had a massive flare and felt horrendous, with the worst head pressure I’ve had for a very long time. Ooops.
Thankfully it is calming down now.
No more long singing sessions for me for a while I think!
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@Jacqui glad you managed to have fun!!! I’m having so much less pain now, I keep doing more than I should then realising I need to slow down still!
Tinnitus bad and having nausea with it. Visual symptoms still as bad. I tried to get physio approved via Bupa and they said I urgently need to see a Neurosurgeon, so I’m back at Cleveland Clinic in a few weeks to see someone else! Might get the contrast scan and find out what’s going on. Anyway, pretty miserable. Still hoping for some kind of sudden improvement, but I’m not feeling that optimistic right now.
@Jacqui - It’s great to hear you were able to join your family’s camping trip. Sounds like a group campout with the singing workshop & trekking around in the fields. Good for you! I’m sorry it flared your symptoms but it was probably worth it for a few days of suffering afterward. I hope you can get back to singing sooner than later. Glad to know you’re seeing decent healing progress.
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@BabzieAM - I’m glad your pain is reduced but am sorry about the terrible tinnitus & vertigo. If you have/had vascular ES, your IJV may not have been decompressed by the styloidectomy alone so you may need to see Mr. Timothy to help you get that resolved. The contrast scan (either CTA/V or MRA/V) could be helpful. The CTA/V should be done dynamically. MRIs cannot be done that way though. Another option is an angio/venogram.
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@Isaiah_40_31 Thank you. I’m seeing a neurosurgeon called Mr Russo at the same clinic mid July, who I’m hoping might be able to help solve the mystery, then I can make the decision if to have the second done or not.
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@Jules @Isaiah_40_31 @Warrick @Jacqui
Bad tinnitus, nausea, now headaches and sudden leg cramps at night & head pressure back. Is this normal - day 14! Wondering if I need to call hospital number or JH secretary. I honestly feel awful, o can’t take it anymore.
It does sound exactly like the flare I just had whilst camping. I think if the area is still inflamed, with scars tightening up etc, this could be normal. I reckon you could be on the right lines with physio. Someone on here told me about a certain type of physio that can really help with scar tissue and healing. Bio something I think, sorry I can’t remember the details!
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I’ve called the Cleveland number as the head pressure and pulsate tinnitus is driving me mad and the headache this morning is preventing me from working. Hoping they call back soon.
I tried to get physio through Bupa and the GP who checked my X-rays decided I need to urgently see a Neurosurgeon, so I’m booked on 11/7 to see one. Wondering if there’s more going on than I know about. I didn’t ever have any evidence of IJV compression, I just guessed that was my issue, due to my symptoms. I didn’t have any scans with contrast, just the surgery based on pain and the size of them. He offered for the painful side. It’s doesn’t mean the other isn’t an issue. I think I really need these answers. Hoping the Neurosurgeon will help with that, then I can make a decision on what to do.
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Good luck, really hope you get some answers soon. Also hope the post op inflammation calms down so you can get some relief from that x
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So sorry that you’re still feeling as rough, I hope that you’re able to get some answers from the neurosurgeon, and that things settle down for you…it is still early days and you’ve not been able to rest as much as would’ve been ideal, so it could well take longer for you to see improvements. Sending you hugs and prayers for improvement 
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11/7 doesn’t sound like the date one would be given for an “urgent” situation. I’m so sorry you’ll have a bit of a wait @BabzieAM. I expect the stress you have from going back to work so soon after surgery & especially when you already weren’t feeling well has not helped your situation. If possible, let your husband do all the childcare this weekend & you rest & care for yourself to see if that helps. It might make a big difference.
@Isaiah_40_31 11/7 is 11th July in UK format, so only 3 weeks (NHS urgent is nearer 3 months now). I don’t feel ‘urgent’ referral means much on private insurance though, it’s just whatever the earliest a private consultant can do. Anyway, all booked and the Consultant looks good!
No rush, my 12yo has a sickness bug!!! There’s never any rest here!!!
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Oh no, hope the sicky bug doesn’t go through the while family!
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@Warrick @Jacqui @Jules @Isaiah_40_31
I assume this is normal at the 2 weeks? It does not look as good as Warrick’s picture and there are no steri strips!
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This is mine today so around 1 month.
This is worse than it looked on day 14 when I took the steri strips off. It did look very neat and almost invisible at day 14. Then quickly puffed up and got lumpy and stringy if you know what I mean.
I’ve been sunning it in the south of France for a week and I think the sun and swimming have caused it to swell even more at the bottom end, whereas the top is looking much nicer and slowly getting less lumpy.
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It looks really flakey and gross too. Whatever they put on my skin, something has disagreed with me and my skin has been peeling off ever since.