@Isaiah_40_31 Im sure my mum had one of her slipped discs in a little plastic pot once! I might pass on the necklace though, even if it’s a replica! My styloids are chunky and it’d make for an ugly heavy necklace, plus I might have some anxiety having it near my neck. Amused by the idea though. 
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@Warrick , I’m sure the strangled feeling is irritated nerves, probably from the swelling, so hopefully that will ease soon 
In the UK I think the styloids will be sent off to histology so you definitely won’t be able to keep them…whether they could take a photo for you I don’t know…
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Just wanted to say I am glad you are benefiting from Mr Hughes help. It took me a long time to find him as Mr Axon was no help. It’s good to hear he is helping some other UK members. D
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Yes thank you to you for posting on this forum and sharing your experiences, I wouldn’t have found him without you!
I’m very happy with how the surgery went from a post op perspective with very little in the way of side effects or pain. Just have to wait and see if my prior symptoms will clear up at all now.
Today is third day from surgery so swelling may be still getting worse I suppose. My jaw is much stiffer today and I have a feeling of something stuck in my throat, but it’s not painful so much as just uncomfortable.
In finding it very helpful using a soft collar to strap around my neck with a frozen gel pack tucked inside to hold it against the wound. Much easier than having to hold it in place and I do think it’s quite soothing.
Very drowsy today though. Maybe the meds? 'm on celecoxib and paracetamol now. I’ve stopped taking the dihydrocodeine for now. Hopefully I don’t regret that later!
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I’m glad your op went well for you. I expect swelling will persist for at least first 2 weeks. Hope recovery is smooth. D
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Pre op - my advice is to empty your bowels fully in comfort of your own home before hospital admission. It reduces impact of pain med bowel issues & is easier than dealing post op in unfamiliar place. Can use usual chemicals for that. Or cytoplan enema bag with cooled boiled water, with relaxing bath, is much kinder way for your body. Not a easy topic to talk about. But acting pre op admission will help you be more comfortable post op. D
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My pre-surgical instructions are to take Miralax for a week prior to surgery to ensure I go into to surgery already having very soft stool and then continue on a stool softener during the period I am on pain medication (including what they use to sedate me during surgery)
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That sounds like a great addition to pre-surgical prep, @Chrickychricky. Thank you for sharing!
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So the last two days have been quite tough. Most of my post op symptoms have gone down. Numbness is tiny area above the Incision now. Jaw is no longer stiff and no pain on first bite. The Incision is now a bit more sore to touch, but worst is that my head pressure and dizziness came back with a vengeance.
Not sure if it’s from internal swelling / inflammation worsening the blood outflow? Or that I had stopped taking Apixaban for a week. Either way, I’m now taking Apixaban again and hoping to get these symptoms back under control.
It’s a little disheartening to have the same symptoms I was hoping to rid myself of, but I am trying to stay positive that this may be temporary! I guess I hoped for immediate sense of relief of the head pressure, but maybe that was never going to be the case.
That’s tough having the head pressure come back, hopefully it is just the swelling and it’ll settle down 
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Its very possible that the swelling itself will compress the jugulars, veins are very compressible so best to wait longer before judging i guess!
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It’s rare for anyone to get immediate permanent relief from ES symptoms though there are some that seem to go away quicker than others. It seems w/ IJV compression, the most common scenario is that the symptoms may be gone in the few days immediately following surgery due to the IV surgical drugs remaining in your system for that time but as those dissipate & swelling increases, symptoms tend to return for awhile until the swelling goes down in earnest. The whole process is gradual, & as has been noted, has ups and downs.
I hope the Apixaban helps but it, too, may take a couple of days to get back on top of your pain. ES from start to finish is an exercise in patience.
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@Warrick Hope you’re starting to feel better. I’ve heard things can get worse before they get better! Hang in there.
My worst pre op symptoms are tinnitus, visual issues, dizziness/balance issues & derealization. I’m really worried about feeling worse, even for a short while, but I’m assuming it’ll be a rough first week or 2.
Are you taking arnica? I always take it post op, as it can help with healing. Just keep resting, keep hydrated and eat lots of healthy food. You’ll probably wake up one day soon with some relief and then things will improve.
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Hi, post op swelling often results in worse symptoms and it takes time to improve. First few days before swelling kicks in can ge a brief honeymoon period. Also your brain is adapting to new blood flow if JVs are opening more. Taking steps to reduce neck swelling can help. Have already posted on ways I used to do that. Hope things get better soon. D
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Thanks all for your comments.
I’m not very good at being patient! Happily today has been better than yesterday so at least I’m on a better trajectory! A little bit dizzy but the head pressure feeling is not so bad.
In my mind the jugular vein would just spring back to full size and instantly remove the head pressure feeling! But I am coming around to the idea that it may need to regrow / shape itself slowly! And I suppose any space created by removing the Styloid may get swallowed up by swelling to start with.
I do think my blood pressure and heart rate seems to have lowered a bit post surgery. Before, my resting heart rate was rarely below 80, now I can get it down to around 60 at times, which is where I would have expected it to be.
I also don’t feel quite as severe lightheadedness on standing up quickly or bending over.
Still, at least no negative symptoms from the surgery itself. Now I just have a very itchy neck under the opsite dressing.
I think they said I should change it for a new dressing at 7 days but can’t quire remember. To be honest I’m a little scared of removing it in case there’s a gaping hole in my neck still!!
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I hate head pressure! I’m sure your symptoms will start to subside soon. I’ve had several surgeries and I think it’s always been a case of feeling ok, worse then better. The drugs go and the swelling increases. I guess like a bruise looks worse before it goes.
Do the dressing when they suggest. I bet you’ll be amazed at how much better it looks than in your mind!!! I always get my husband to look and confirm the situ before I look!
Counting down to my surgery… I’ve stopped working already as I feel so awful and I can’t sleep for tinnitus and pain if I roll on either side. When I’m out all bruised, I’m sure you’ll be enjoying less symptoms. 
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Sending you hugs @BabzieAM , hang in there and it’ll soon be your turn. Thinking of you
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@Warrick - I promise there won’t be a gaping hole. 
ES surgeons typically do wondrous things with the way they close the incisions so there’s barely a scar once healed. I only had steri strips on mine so could see it outright after surgery. I was impressed w/ how it looked.
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I believe I have steri strips too but there was mention of dissolvable stitches, presumably on the inside layers?
I just can’t remember all the information they gave me. I think I’m supposed to leave the dressing on for two weeks but I seem to remember them telling me to change it after 7 days. They gave me spares.
Bit nervous of pulling the steri strips off with the dressing as its very sticky!
@Warrick - Many doctors say to leave the steri strips on until they fall off by themselves. If yours are still stuck tight, it won’t hurt anything for you to leave them on for another couple of days. You can call Mr. Hughes ofc on Monday & ask for them to repeat the information about dressing changes & follow through then.
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