Fantastic news that you have a date 
There’s info in the Newbies Guide Section about surgery, & links to some discussions about what to expect post-op, plus if you use that to search the past discussions it’ll come up with lots! Here’s a link to that:
ES Information- Treatment: Surgery - Welcome / Newbies Guide to Eagle Syndrome - Living with Eagle
Here’s a suggested list of questions to ask (although I guess right now even if some of their answers weren’t great you’d probably still want to have the surgery, you’ve waited for so long?)
- How many ES surgeries have they done and what was the success rate?
- Whether they’re going to operate externally, or intraoral- through the mouth. Whilst some members have had successful surgeries with intraoral, external is better for seeing all the structures, to be able to remove more of the styloids, & also there’s less chance of infection.
- You need to ask how much of the styloid he’ll remove- as much as possible is best- & anything left needs to be smoothed off. The piece needs to be removed too- some doctors have snapped it off & left it in! If the styloid is only shortened a bit it can still cause symptoms.
- If your stylohyoid ligaments are calcified, then any calcified section needs to be removed too.
- There’s usually swelling after surgery; you could ask if a drain’s put in to reduce swelling, or if steroids are prescribed. It’s not essential, but can help with recovery a bit.
- Will it be a day case surgery or will you need to stay in?
- Obviously ask the risks- we know from experience on here that temporary damage to the facial nerve is quite common, and also the hypoglossal nerve and the accessory nerve. These usually recovery very quickly but in some cases members have needed physiotherapy. There is also the risk of catching a blood vessel or having a stroke, but these are very rare.
- Ask if the surgeon monitors the nerves- this should be done to see if there’s stress on the nerves to avoid damage as mentioned above.
- What painkillers will be prescribed afterwards.
- Ask about recovery- most doctors either down play it or are genuinely unaware of how long the recovery can take!
We have a list of suggestions one of our members drew up for what to get ready for surgery:
Surgery shopping list - General - Living with Eagle
I would check at your pre-op about any medications you’re on & whether you should stop them and how soon before surgery- they should go through that but it doesn’t always happen & you don’t want to be refused surgery on the day! I took a B group Vitamin supplement after surgery as well, not sure if it did help, but it’s supposed to promote nerve healing…
Let us know a definite date & we’ll be praying for you!