# Introduction **URL:** https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/introduction/23274 **Category:** General **Created:** [June 7, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/introduction/23274 "2026-06-07T00:19:25Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Showing post:** 3
### Author: ![Isaiah\_40\_31](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwitheagle.org/isaiah_40_31/32/3054_2.png) [@Isaiah\_40\_31](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/u/Isaiah_40_31) #### Post date: [June 7, 2026, 4:05am UTC](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/introduction/23274/3 "2026-06-07T04:05:50Z")
@Pamela1 - I’m very sorry for how severe your symptoms have become. Your styloids are quite long, irregularly shaped, & very pointed at the tips. It looks like you had your CT w/o contrast so I can’t comment on possible vascular contact your styloids might be making with either your internal jugular veins or internal/external carotid arteries. It sounds like you have significant vagus nerve irritation or compression being caused by your styloids as most of your symptoms can be attributed to the vagus nerve being unhappy. Your vasovagal syncope, though possibly vagus nerve related also sounds to me like it could be caused by compression of your carotid artery(ies) by your styloid(s) as that can cause the blacking out during the tilt table test, & your heart pain, though the heart pain can also be caused by your vagus nerve. I know because I had that, too, prior to my styloidectomies. The symptoms you mentioned that we know can be related to vagus nerve irritation are vocal dysphonia, possibly the head/neck/sinus pressure when speaking (though the trigeminal nerve could be contributing there), insomnia, temperature intolerance, & chest tightness/heart pain. Increased anxiety can also be related to vagus irritation. Here’s an illustration of where the vagus nerve is located in the body which may help you see why it can cause so many symptoms: ![Screenshot 2026-06-06 at 10.07.18 PM](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/ben_eagle/original/2X/b/b5dcaa715aecb5ee0d051f53e6b07a247f8418fe.jpeg) > [@Pamela1](#): > > It also shows that I have TMJ, my jaw is back further than it should be. Elongated styloids can cause a shift in the position of the jaw as the body compensates to accommodate the pressure the styloids are putting on smaller muscles & significant cranial nerves. We’ve had members mention that their TMJ issues stopped & jaw position changed once their styloids were cut back. The trigeminal & facial nerves are other cranial nerves that are often irritated by elongated styloids. These can cause the feeling of pressure/pain in teeth, sinuses & face. Here are illustrations of the locations of those nerves: [![](https://otosurgeryatlas.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/9a-1.jpg) ](https://otosurgeryatlas.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/9a-1.jpg) [![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/ben_eagle/original/2X/8/8610831ca068f5490b08d1458b18335d966c7b77.png) ](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/uploads/ben_eagle/original/2X/8/8610831ca068f5490b08d1458b18335d966c7b77.png) Have you had a consult with any of the doctors on our Doctors List for your state? There are several & getting at least a couple of opinions is a good idea. You want to choose a doctor who will use the transcervical (through the neck) approach to cut your styloids as close to the skull base as possible. If you want them both removed in one surgery then Dr. Hackman in NC is the doctor to contact as he is one of the few on our Doctors List who routinely does that. Here’s the link to our Doctors List: > [@Doctor Lists -- no discussion](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/doctor-lists-no-discussion/10245): > > US DOCTORS Familiar With Eagle Syndrome 2019. [Other Countries here.](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/doctor-lists-no-discussion/10245/2) THIS IS A LIST OF DOCTORS WHO HAVE HELPED SOME OF OUR MEMBERS FIND SOLUTIONS TO EAGLES OR WHO SOME OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE HEARD OF. The list is not exhaustive. The intent is to provide a starting point for those of us looking for solutions. THESE ARE NOT RECOMMENDATIONS! Some of these doctors have worked for some members, but not others. Please use your own judgement when determining which doctor to use. Alabama: •Dr Joseph … Here are also links to a post written by @Jules regarding ES symptoms & possible causes & one about ES surgery: > [@ES Information: Common Symptoms And Possible Explanations For Them](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/es-information-common-symptoms-and-possible-explanations-for-them/1389): > > ES Information: Common Symptoms And Possible Explanations For Their Causes: Disclaimer: These answers to common questions were put together for new members to gain a head start in finding information about Eagle Syndrome; to give you confidence to discuss issues with your medical team and to encourage you to research issues further for yourselves. It was compiled by a volunteer Moderator, who does not claim to be a medical professional, merely an informed observer and patient! The sources used… > [@ES Information- Treatment: Surgery](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/es-information-treatment-surgery/1385): > > ES Information: Treatment Available For ES- Surgery Disclaimer: These answers to common questions were put together for new members to gain a head start in finding information about Eagle Syndrome; to give you confidence to discuss issues with your medical team and to encourage you to research issues further for yourselves. It was compiled by a volunteer Moderator, who does not claim to be a medical professional, merely an informed observer and patient! The sources used are personal experiences… Finally here’s a post from one of our members who had terrible vagus nerve symptoms & for whom surgery provided excellent recovery: > [@Successful Surgery for severe Vagus Nerve Compression](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/successful-surgery-for-severe-vagus-nerve-compression/17250/15): > > It never ceases to amaze me how little doctors know about the vagus nerve and its impact on our body. I used to take 12 Imodium a day, 5 days a week, that’s how bad my issues were. I now know they refer to that as “dumping” and it’s because your vagus nerve is stressed. The abdominal pain I experienced was similar to pancreatitis and I was hospitalized several times because of it. I’ll share more about the gastro side of this in another post. This is a wonderful article about the vagus nerve and… Getting your styloid cut back close to your skull base should help immensely with getting your symptoms to resolve. --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.livingwitheagle.org/t/introduction/23274)._