@bdys I think the only way I can only help with your imaging is if I have access to it. Unless you are able to find the hyoid in the axial view. The best way to give me access to your imaging is to put your CT files into an online folder like Google drive and send me a link to it.
This is what I had the tests done. I don’t know if I missed anything. I am still in terrible pain with ES symptoms. I don’t know what to do anymore. I just wanted the styloids to remove completely—my neck, ears, jaw, throat, and chest pains. I woke up the feeling of something in my left throat when swallowing movement and moving my neck. Feel neck swollen. One of the neuro team sais she doesn’t see the swelling. I told her I can feel inside the pain and pressure. I am still dizzy and spinning and feel the syncope episodes when standing and sitting up. When moving neck slightly, I get to feel like ready to pass out, and my breathing hurts All the tests the hospital doctor said it was okay. I am fighting to get the styloids remove completely. I have had enough of conservative treatmenta. The hospital doctor said my vitals was normal. They don’t understand about what the ES would do. Please input of what I could do when I see the case mgr and the hospital doctor. Here is the list of tests I had done so far.
Will send three more…
I’m so sorry that you’re in so much pain, & that despite all the testing you’re not getting any answers from doctors… To be honest, if it is ES causing your symptoms, then these tests won’t show anything, the only testing which would be helpful if up to date CT scans with & without contrast- if you can access up to date images then those we could look at & give you advice as to what to discuss with your doctors.
Sending you a hug & praying that your doctors will listen to you about getting your styloids removed properly
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Which CT scan w wo contrast? I don’t know which one. I am not good to look at the images because I don’t know how to find it. Now my symptoms are horrible
The CT angiogram of your neck will show your styloids & hopefully your hyoid too…![]()
I need someone to help look at these images. I don’t know what to look for, oh my goodness. I feel worse with my ES symptoms. I am frustrated. I don’t know if these are the right ones. I just don’t know what to look for. I’m upset.
@bdys see where it lists the different viewing angles such as “HEAD SAG MIP”, “HEAD SAG”, “SIPH SAG”, etc? Is there one that says “AXIAL” or is there any that when you click into it shows you this type of view?
I see there is scrolling to be able to see the moving thing. I don’t know what to call.
I’m in tears and not know what it is going to happen to me.
This is the series of images we want labelled “CTA HD/NK .9”
In this set of images, can you scroll until you see the hyoid bone? I’ve attached someone else’s images to help you locate it. It’ll be a bone (glowing white) that is shaped like a horseshoe.
This hospital discharged despite the horrible pain with breathing and choking. I’m debating of whether to go to different hospital. I am really feel like sick.
I’m having nerve pain radiating down from neck. My throat and neck are tight. Chest pain. Geez
@bdys - I’m so sorry the hospital is dismissing you when you’re in so much pain. If you have ice packs at home, try icing your neck for 15-20 min every couple of hours. If ice makes your pain worse, try heat. Keep your head & shoulders elevated when you lie down to rest or sleep. Over the counter lidocaine patches have been helpful for a number of our members. You can put them directly on your neck/face/shoulders wherever you have pain.
I annotated this image for you. It looks to me like your left IJV is fairly significantly compressed by your C1 vertebra & possibly up higher near the skull base by your styloid. Some of your pain could be caused by your styloid also squashing your vagus nerve as it comes out of the skull near where the styloid is attached & where the IJV exits the skull, too.
With what I’ve seen in your imaging, you’ll need to see Dr. Costantino or one of the other doctors we know of who do IJV decompression surgeries where the C1 vertebra is the main cause as it will need to have some of the bone shaved off to give your IJV more room to open which will allow your vascular symptoms to go away. Since there is no similar image of your right side, I can’t say if you have the same situation happening on both sides.
•Dr Peter Costantino, 4 Westchester Park Dr, 4th floor, White Plains, (914) 517-8056
http://www.nyhni.org/find-a-physician/Peter-D-Costantino-MD,FACS .
Does do online or phone consults.
I agree with @Isaiah_40_31 regarding the styloid, IJV, and C1.
And I really think you should look into your hyoid greater horns. I think your stroke-like symptoms could be coming from the carotid sinus(es), in which the hyoid would be most likely to blame if so. Unless your styloids are in direct contact with your ICAs, I think the only thing that could be causing the stroke-like symptoms would be the carotid sinuses. And the pain that you think could be caused by the styloids could actually be the greate horns rubbing closely to your carotid sinuses.
What a nightmare and all day for me. I am falling apart now and am in a lot of tears. My body is filled with toll. I’m heading home with horrendous pain and experiences. I still can’t breathe despite normal vitals. i want to thank some of you for showing me with drawing and words. I will say more tmw. I only get two Rx with Gabapentin and a muscle relaxer. I told the doctor I have been taking those for a long time. They kept saying it would help and go away. It won’t. Every time I move left slightly, my neck and throat crush and cause pain, burn, and such. When I eat, it is painful to swallow. Much more. My mind and my body are extremely harshed. I can’t think straight. I am felling down at this s moment.
@bdys - The sensation of not being able to breathe even though the testing shows your breathing is fine is evidence that your vagus nerve may compromised. You can try doing the following breathing exercise which will help calm your parasympathetic nervous system & may help you feel like you’re getting more oxygen: Slowly inhale through your nose for a count of 4. Hold the air in for a count of 4. Slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of 6-8. Repeat several times. This should help you relax & rest.
Tomorrow ask a family member to help you find the scan image @TML is asking for. I think having someone help you will take the pressure off of you & help you stay more relaxed. ![]()
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Quick question. When lying on the back, I feel like the back of my neck touch the pillow which makes my front and side neck to feel poke or gag something while the feeling of something in my throat tight.i can’t get this out of the way. Gosh that’s awful. How and what can I do?
Waking up at home. Now I am shaking and breathing hard because of suppression. But the hospital said my oxygen and vital normal. Now I am back in bed. This is not my normal. I want to end this and back normal. I’m tired of this. Sigh
I’m so sorry that you’re feeling this rough & that you’ve not been helped by the hospital visit- I can only suggest that you try to be reassured by the tests you’ve had at the hospital, that your lungs & heart are okay. You’ll have to try experimenting with different resting positions until yet find a way to lessen your symptoms- most of us find laying flat difficult with ES, so try resting propped up on several pillows, or on one side propped up & with pillows to stop you rolling onto your back. I found a V-shaped pillow helpful as it kept the pressure off the sides of my neck, you could try arranging pillows into a V shape & see if that helps, & if it does buy one online? You could try either ice or heat on your neck as ne of those often helps.
It sounds like your vagus nerve is being very irritated, so try the breathing exercises @Isaiah_40_31 suggested, and any relaxation/ meditation apps or videos on YouTube might help, as it looks from your photos as if your neck muscles have got very tense. Ibuprofen gel might help, & if you’re able to get any lidocaine gel or patches those have helped other members… It’s hard I know, but you don’t want to rush into having surgery with someone who doesn’t have experience, so it’s worth getting a referral in to one of the doctors who specialises in vascular ES; Dr Costantino might be good to try first.
Unfortunately I had to delete your images as your personal info was visible on them, hopefully you can get someone to help you with them, & can take your details off.
Sending you a hug & praying that this bad spell eases off
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