My appointment with Dr Hepworth is next week. I could use a miracle. Praying he can figure me out. I know it’s a structural issue in my neck. So I was wondering who on here has been helped by him? Thanks everybody 
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I am in process w/ Dr. Hepworth (surgery at the end of Oct). We have had many members whom he’s helped & some with more complicated cases for whom he’s come alongside to give support & referrals to other doctors who can hopefully be helpful. I’m glad you’ve got an appointment coming up soon w/ him @JSwing! He’s a very astute diagnostician & sees obscure things other doctors miss.
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I had a televisit with him today. He was very nice and very helpful.
He was very concerned about my comdition. He said my left styloid has fractured and is on my artery. The right is also compressing but intact.
He also identified a leak in my neck at C6/C7. He suspects I may also have another leak lower down.
He said that in his opinion, I need to get the left styloid addressed as soon as possible. Even before the leak. He has asked I come as soon as I can, when his office is taking insurance, so about a month or so.
I am praying for your situation to get a miracle. I know from experience just how hard this is. I also have nutcracker syndrome, and he was familiar with it and said all of this is related.
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Wow! Are you really suffering with those things going on? How did he diagnose all of that? Thankful for you to have answers.
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Yes, i have severe ES on both sides and zero space between styloids and C1. It appears the styloids are grown to C1.
I sent him a copy of a DSM/CT myelogram I had, and he found the leak in my neck. He suspects I have another in my mid back.
I was diagnosed with Nutcracker at another hospital.
He said my spine was unbelievable. I have many multiple spurs sticking in my dura, 12 bulging discs and a herniated disc.
I am in level 15 pain. I honestly dont know how I am going to make it. It sure seems hopeless.
I pray not another person is going through this much, but I know they are.
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I’m so glad you had your telehealth appt. w/ Dr. Hepworth yesterday, @harrisonboy. It sounds like he may expedite your surgery due to the gravity of your situation. I hope the insurance situation gets worked out pretty quickly in his ofc. so you can get in this year to get your ES taken care of. He may be able to refer you to other specialists to help w/ your spine & Nutcracker problems as well. He seems to know/be aware of a lot of other specialists for more obscure problems.
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Thankful you got in to see Hepworth. I pray you get some relief very soon. 
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Hello @JSwing
I have had left sided styloidectomy
Last year September
I had no complications to speak of regarding the procedure and recovery
I really liked seeing him and have felt well taken care of during the surgery as well as follow up.
Wishing you all the best with your treatment and appointments.
that you are blessed with the miracle you seek
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I am leaving for Denver on Sunday to have an Ultrasound and CT Venogram of my neck and head at Health Images. Dr. Hepworth ordered these tests.
Has anyone had any experience with these tests?
I was in the ER again this morning. The headaches, nausea, and neurological issues are so bad, I dont know how I can make it out there.
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@harrisonboy - I will pray that God will give you respite from your symptoms so you can fly. Call the airline you’re using to fly to Denver & request a wheelchair for the departing airport & arrival (Denver) then do the same for your trip home. That will expedite you getting through security & to your gate & will save you the stress of moving through crowded airports which may help reduce your symptom during travel. You don’t have to be physically handicapped to request a wheelchair. The severity of your symptoms is enough to warrant you being helped that way.
The ultrasound will take about half an hour & is a fairly passive test as the only thing you’ll need to do is stop breathing for a second periodically when the US tech asks. I didn’t have a CTV ordered by Dr. Hepworth but it should also be a simple procedure where you’ll lie on your back for the scan. You will receive an IV for the contrast that will be given. It’s iodine based & may make your arm burn for a few seconds when it goes in.
I hope other members will share their knowledge, too.
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Thanks so much. What I am comcerned about is the flight. I wss in the ER yesterday and both docotrs were concerned about me getting on a plane because of the pressure issues.
Eagle syndrome and CSF leak.
I’m so pleased for you that Dr Hepworth can get you in this quickly, but so sorry that you’re feeling so ill & worried about flying. It’s not great with head pressure, I don’t think that there’s anything we can suggest to ease it, I guess that Dr H really needs these tests done his way? Is it worth seeing at least for these if you could have them done locally, given how ill you are?
…I’ll pray that you’re up to travelling and that your symptoms ease for this as @Isaiah_40_31 says
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From what I understand, he has a protocol that the imaging center follows, to insure he sees what he needs to.
He did say that if necessary, he could try and figure a way to do it in Arkansas, but I believe there is a risk that they wont do it correctly. I sure dont want to have to do this twice.
At this point, my wife and I are planning on trying to drive it. I am so sick and can barely function. We are scared to get on a plane with my pressure issues. If anything went wrong, i would be stuck.
I truly dont know how we are going to do this, but I guess I dont have a choice. Praying that somehow I can find the strength to get there and get the tests.
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I will be praying for you to have some relief from your symptoms and praying that God will give the doctors wisdom in determining the best way to help you. I’m sorry that you’re going through such difficulty and I know that it is difficult when you have to travel for medical procedures. My husband & I also chose to drive to NY for my surgery because I was concerned about the head pressure. It is really good that Dr. Hepworth has been able to see you relatively quickly. i haven’t seen him but have heard great things about his skill & caring. From all of the posts on here, Dr. Hepworth does seem to be one of the best.
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Bless you my friend.
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If you could drive that would be so much better, you can tilt your seat back & use pillows to get you as comfy as possible, take ice packs and have rest stops… & the head pressure worry will be alleviated…are you able to drive at all or feeling too rough? I got to the point before surgery where I though I would have to give up driving for a while as my off-balance feeling was worse with the motion… Praying for you 
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We have rented a van and are going to try and make it. It is 13 plus hours from my house.
I pray with all my heart I can do this.
My wife isnt feeling very well either, so this will be a miracle.
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God bless, safe journey
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