The direct line for Dr. Lawton’s office is 602-406-3489 and the nicer and more helpful person there is named Idalis.
The nurse I spoke with today told me I didn’t need a referral, but now I’m not sure if that was for Dr. Albuquerque or Dr. Lawton, as she was helping me coordinate with both doctors. If Lawton’s office does say they require a referral, maybe you can start with the dynamic angiogram with Dr. Albuquerque and let him refer you to Lawton. His office number is 602-406-3158 and the helpful person there is named Reina, but she is a nurse or medical assistant, I think, so you’d probably need to start with the front desk.
Some good news today. My headache neuro sent over a referral to Dr. Nakaji. Fingers crossed that he or someone in the office is willing to take the case. Even if they don’t do the surgery, they are much more likely to know who will take the case.
Other members have found that the Mayo Clinic often don’t treat ES, so that appt might not be very useful…I hope that you can get somewhere with the other doctors
@Sonoran_Sunset how are you doing? Have you had any of your appointments yet? I’m finally scheduled for my angiogram with Dr. Albuquerque Aug 29th, then consults with both Dr Lawton and Dr. Santarelli Aug 30th, then surgery Aug 31st if all goes as planned. We arrive in Phx Aug 27th evening and stay for a few weeks if they do my surgery.
Hi! I am glad things seem to be program for you. Surgery isn’t something to be excited about, but I bet you are looking forward to being through it.
I saw the neurologist at my regular office. He concurred that it is likely Eagle’s or a hyoid issue. I haven’t had a response to my referral request to the doctor on the list at U of A medical center phoenix. I was going to call today, but my uncle died and I haven’t had time.
My appointment at Mayo has been moved twice, but is supposed to be Thursday. Even if they can’t help, I am hoping they have connections to people who can.
Lastly, I have requested that the neurologist do a referral to Dr. Lawton.
I haven’t had much time to work on this. I have to keep my job and it is the start of the semester.
Yes, I am definitely looking forward to being on the other side of this! Glad you got confirmation on the probably diagnoses! I really hope things can get moving for you with the referral and that your appointment at Mayo is fruitful!
Also, I am so sorry to hear your uncle died. My sincere condolences to you and your family.
Having a very busy life does make working toward ES treatment much more challenging plus getting appointments put off or changed around isn’t helpful either.
I hope your symptoms stay at a level where you can function well during this semester. I also hope if your neurologist refers you to Dr. Lawton that he will offer you a consult.
I’m sorry about your uncle. I hope you’re able to have happy memories of his life even though he’s gone.
Thank you. Starting the semester has been hard. Carrying a backpack, walking long distances between buildings, and 105+ temps is not a great combo with head and neck issues.
I just met with Dr. Turkmeni at Mayo. The original doctor I scheduled with called again this week to reschedule and let me know that the next available date was the end of October, or I could be transferred to Dr. Turkmeni. I took the appointment knowing it wouldn’t be fruitful. I was correct.
Dr. Turkmeni was nice, took the time to listen, and looked through my scans with me. I was able to advocate kindly a few times to ask questions. His images were not as good as any I had seen. He was adamant that it was not Eagle syndrome because my styloids are normal length. When I asked about dynamic compression, he said it wasn’t possible in that location with the IJV. I asked about the hyoid, and he emphatically said the hyoid cannot compress anything (which is inaccurate), but that the ligament can narrow the pharyngeal space and cause compression. I am fairly sure that because I have diagnosed and controlled anxiety, he was mostly just convinced I was overreacting. He repeatedly returned to images and said, “Since you have anxiety, I want you to see this again.”
He recommended returning to an ENT and getting a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). He said that would give me a lot more information on the hyoid. Honestly, that makes sense, but I am worried that would only look at the hyoid’s effect on swallowing. Every article I can find seems to identify this issue on a CTA, though. This talks about a carotid ultrasound being helpful.
Dr. Turkmeni also recommended a cervical-neck MRI, then a neck MRA, and after that, a Dynamic CTA. Of course, he won’t order them as this is not his area. I am going to try my other routes. I am also going to send a message through their system and ask him about having a Mayo radiologist review my existing scans. He mentioned that as something he could do, and I said I would like that, but we moved on and didn’t return to it.
I knew this wouldn’t be a useful appointment, but it is still a little discouraging.
Always frustrating when you know more than the doctor! We’ve had many members who’ve had swallow studies done & it’s shown nothing, sometimes it’s worth going through their hoops to rule things out, but if you’re considering seeing someone else then it might not be worth it? I hope you can get somewhere with your other referrals, and sooner rather than later!
We’ve had many members who’ve gone to a Mayo Clinic somewhere in the US, as there are many, & the results have been almost 100% ignorance about ES & the symptoms it causes. Mayo has a great reputation for many obscure health problems, but sadly ES is not one. I highly recommend you look for surgeons outside of Mayo. Since you have evidence of vascular outflow obstruction, I recommend you see either an ENT or interventional radiologist who will refer you for a dynamic CTA & MRV to look at your neck vasculature more carefully especially w/ your head looking up/down since looking down was what brought on your initial symptoms. Your styloid is very close to your carotid artery so you’re right, it could be poking it in certain head positions which can cause scary symptoms.
A few of our members who have the carotid version of ES have found wearing a soft neck collar (available on Amazon) to help keep them from putting their heads in the provocative position which causes symptoms has been helpful though in 105º+ heat that would be pretty miserable.
Hello @Sonoran_Sunset and fellow Arizonian and Educator!
I am curious to know the rest of your story thus far. I read your whole post.
I am in Tucson, but a patient of a headache Neuro at Barrow.
Discovered elongated styloids on my own last week and she referred me to Dr. Lawton, who I see on the 31st.
I hope your journey has progressed to relief!
