I’m experiencing a lot of issues with my stomach. I’ve had this before where I can only eat a tiny amount of food. I end up losing so much weight, as I just feel full constantly. I have had so many tests, but more focused on IBS side of things.
@Hamonrye - Your IJVs are significantly squashed bilaterally. When that happens, the vagus nerve also gets squashed as it is a “close bedfellow” w/ the IJVs w/in the carotid sheath. Getting your styloids shortened above C1 & getting the IJVs decompressed will also take pressure off the vagus nerve which could very well stop your gastrointestinal symptoms.
It looks from the top image that the transverse process of C1 is mostly to blame on that side. In the bottom picture you can see both your IJVs are pretty flat, but I can’t tell whether styloid or C1 is the greater contributor.
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Thank you so much for helping me. I have had really bad gut issues for the same amount of time as my head pressure, I literally cannot go to the toilet without taking lots of laxatives. I’ve had so many tests.
Dr Axon said he cannot see my images of my styloids/any compression. Do you think it’s worth contacting him again? I’m not sure I could send all the images myself?
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I would contact his office and see if you’re able to send them yourself, as the images clearly show IJV compression, I would ask how they can be send & get some tecchy help if you need it to put them in the right format? Please don’t give up, it’s worth seeing him looking at those images…
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I have tried again. His radiology team have said they have all the imaging, but on the two appointments I’ve had it’s not there (he can only see images of my head). I have a face to face appointment next Friday, with another CT scan. Hopefully, I’ll know more then. Thanks for your help.
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That’s so strange, hopefully you can have the new CT done and discuss the results with him in person next Friday! And have your images that you’ve posted here as a back up! 
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I saw Dr Axon who did my imaging again. He said my jugular veins are narrowed as they pass through the C1 vertebrae. I’m now planning to have surgery on this side in August. Thanks for all your help.
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I meant to ask what the recovery time will be like?
I’m so pleased that he’ll help you!
I had a styloidectomy with him, not a C1 shave - do you need both? Mr Axon puts a drain in to help with swelling and infection, that stays in overnight, that was probably the worst bit for me as it pulls a bit , is pretty uncomfortable and hard to sleep. Once that’s out the day after surgery then you should be allowed home. I took the painkillers they gave me in hospital, but didn’t really need anything stronger than paracetemol after the first couple of days. You’ll need to use an icepack around the area to help with swelling, and keep propped up too, but most of us with IJV compression are used to sleeping like that anyway! Eating/ chewing/ opening your mouth wide can be uncomfortable afterwards so it’s best to have smoothies or protein shakes or soft foods ready in case. (I had this for about a week after my first surgery, but not at all after my second!). And you’ll need to take it fairly easy for a couple of weeks, & don’t do anything strenuous or lifting etc for a few weeks, it’s hard to say for sure as everyone’s recovery varies.
There’s info in this section:
ES Information- Treatment: Surgery - Welcome / Newbies Guide to Eagle Syndrome - Living with Eagle
Hopefully others who’ve had a C1 shave will give you advice too, if you’re having that done as well. I think that there’ll be a bit more swelling with this, and you might find that the IJV compression symptoms ramp up a bit initially because of this, days 3-5 are the peak usually for swelling.
Let us know when you have a definite date!
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FINALLY!! I’m so glad you, Dr. Axon, & your imaging all finally ended up in the same place at the same time, @Hamonrye! August isn’t a terribly long wait for surgery either. I’m excited for you! 
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Thanks for taking the time to respond. I finally feel like I’m getting somewhere.
This was what Dr Axon put in his letter:
It was a pleasure to review you following your CT venogram which demonstrates focal narrowing of your internal jugular veins as they pass over the transverse process of C1 vertebra on the right side.
These are a little worse than the left and it is the right side where you have more symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus.
I think it is likely that your symptoms are a result of narrowing of your internal
jugular veins which in turn venous pressure and can cause the symptoms of venous congestion as described by yourself at previous appointments.
We discussed possible treatments and I feel that resection of the transverse process of C1 vertebra on the right side will open up the internal jugular vein. In my case series, 85% of patients who undergo this surgery note symptomatic improvement to a level where they are pleased.
Occasionally I need to perform bilateral surgery but that is more because some patients have persistent symptoms on the other side despite improvement on the side I have operated on.
sometimes I get a sharp pain in my throat, but he felt my styloids were of normal length. Would this pinching of my jugular veins cause all of my symptoms? As said previously I’m having lots of issues with food. I don’t seem to be able to eat much at all atm.
my surgery is booked for 13th August!
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@Hamonrye - Your styloid(s), even if they look to be normal length, can be thicker than usual, & have an angle or curve of growth that can predispose them to cause symptoms.
If you get the chance to talk to Mr. Axon prior to your surgery, impress upon him the trouble you’re having with swallowing due to the sharp pain in your throat, & ask if he considers the role of physical features (thickness, curve/angle of growth) of a styloid besides it’s length when considering whether or not it could be causing symptoms.
Did Dr. Axon go over your images with you? If so, did you get an idea of the shape of your styloids & the way they have grown (angle/curve) &/or how thick they are?
If he is unwilling to consider a styloidectomy along w/ the IJV decompression, then perhaps just getting the pressure off your IJV will be enough to help reduce the throat pain. It does make some sense that an engorged IJV could be putting pressure on nerves that could affect the throat.
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I’m glad that he’s agreed to do the surgery and feels that this will help… I agree that it’s worth asking him to still remove the styloid while he’s there?
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Thanks both
I will discuss with him. Will I need to rest for a couple of weeks after the surgery? I will check with Sam too. I may need the left side doing too.
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Yes, you will definitely need to rest for at least a couple of weeks, maybe more…
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I had the operation on Thursday this week. I feel my neck is really painful. I don’t know how successful the operation has been as Dr Axon didn’t really say. He mentioned something about more imaging, but I wasn’t really with it. No one said anything about driving etc. I will ring up hospital tomorrow. Should I get a discharge summary or something saying what was done? I realise it’s early days but feel a bit worried as I feel really rough currently.
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@Hamonrye - Feeling rough after a styloidectomy & IJV decompression is very normal. Recovery is not linear so going forward, you’ll experience days where you feel better then days where symptoms are worse. Healing is a bit of a 3 steps forward, 2 steps back situation for the first 2-3 months then forward progress may be more steady.
Days 3-5 post op are when the swelling peaks so it’s critical to ice your neck every couple of hours using a thin towel between skin & ice pack to prevent ice burns. Sleeping/resting w/ head elevation of ~30º will also help reduce swelling in throat & neck. Taking your pain meds on schedule (including in the middle of the night) is critical during this period as letting pain get a foothold is a bit difficult to reverse quickly. I decided to spread out my Rx pain meds starting day 3. It was a HUGE mistake which took 2+ days to undo & get back on top of the pain by taking meds as scheduled by my surgeon.
Feeling fatigued for up to a couple of months post op is normal, too. I believe it’s our body’s way of keeping us from jumping back into busy-ness too quickly so it has time to heal.
If you’re able to, take several short walks/day (5-10 min then gradually increase as you feel better). These can be around your house & w/ assistance if you need it.
Having a sore throat & jaw is also very normal for a week or more. Sore throat is from the breathing tube used during surgery & sore jaw from the jaw position during the surgery. That’s why we recommend having soft foods ready to eat post op. I used our blender (more accurately, my husband used our blender) to blend normal meals into baby food consistency so I could consume them. I also ate smoothies w/ protein powder (20 gm of protein is ideal), veggies & fruit + a little good fat (avocado, olive, coconut oil) to help keep me full longer.
You can suck on ice chips or fruit popsicles to help w/ throat pain & hydration.
I hope you begin noticing some positive changes, no matter how small, w/in a couple of weeks.
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Thank you for such a detailed response. I think I need to be careful when asleep, as sometimes I wake up in weird position, which can’t be good for my neck. I was trying to not take too many painkillers, but will go back to taking them more frequently. I really hope the right side helps and I don’t need the left done as well. Thanks again for all your support so far 
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I hope that you start to feel better soon, @Isaiah_40_31 has given you lots of advice, and it’s very early days so not surprising… Some members have tried sleeping with a soft collar to try & ‘protect’ their neck, whether that would be comfortable soon after surgery I don’t know, or you could try a V shaped pillow. It’s difficult when you’re asleep though to stay in one position!
I would think you should get a written summary, usually in the UK they send one to your GP and one to the patient, so I don’t imagine it’s any different if you’ve had surgery privately.
I couldn’t drive after my first surgery for about 3 weeks as my neck was too stiff to turn properly, I didn’t have the C1 shave though.
I hope that things improve soon, but try not to worry if you can…praying for you 
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This padded neck collar has helped me alot to keep neck strait during sleep and prevent flare ups.
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