Hi, sorry but I’ve just deleted the images as personal info was on them, to protect your privacy! I did have a quick look, we’re not used to seeing the CTs from that angle, but they did look long from what I could judge, & it looks like there might be quite a long section of the stylo-hyoid ligament calcified each side too!
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Thank you Jules, ive edited my info, im to trusting…
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Your styloids are very long & one appears to be jointed. We’ve seen that in several of our members’ images so it’s not unheard of. The other side looks to me to be more angled inward & has a bit of a bend which likely gives it more opportunity to contact nerves & vascular tissues.
The feeling of something stuck in your throat is definitely an ES symptom, & I’m not surprised you have that one with how long your styloids are.
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Thank you so much I really appreciate your input. It’s looking like I’ll have to go back and do another scan I’d say with the contrast so we can see the nerves etc….
The first pic is my left hand side which up until now has been the side with all the problems.
The second pic is the right hand side and this is now the side that feels like there is something stuck in my throat.
I have stopped all massage on my neck and it seems to have helped to not upset anything further so far.
It’s such a waiting game over here, won’t see the specialist till April 2025……
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So sorry that you have to wait so long, it’s similar in the UK…a CT scan with contrast will show any compression of the blood vessels, to show nerves you would need a very high resolution MRI, like a FIESTA MRI/ Ciss MRI, they’re very hard to get it seems!
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Thank you Jules, sorry yes that’s what I was meaning….
I’m learning more and more about this dam condition everyday, it’s really incredible what it does to the body.
Thank you very much for all the effort you and others put in to this site, it’s truly inspiring.
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You’re welcome, paying it back for the help I had on here when I was first diagnosed & had surgery, & @Isaiah_40_31 feels the same! 
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Well you are both very amazing people.
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Just an update everyone.
After a very long wait since November i finally got to see my specialist yesterday in Hamilton Dr James Saunders.
What an amazing man! I can not talk highly enough of this Doctor. He was extremely understanding, very kind nature and i felt listen too. James has said i have an ear infection in my left ear, ive been subscribed ear drops for this and unfortunately i suffer from this constantly since ive been unwell.
I have also been told to go and take bloods to rule out any kidney problems as well as other stuff that im sorry ive forgotten as this is very overwhelming for me as I suffer ADHD and Autism spectrum so i forget things that im told pretty quickly unfortunately plus im just exhausted and stressed from this 7 year journey.
Long story short, i have a number of things i need to go and do, before my next appointment with him in May just to make sure there are nothing else underlined going on that we may have missed.
I do have tonsil stones which i never knew i had, this came up on the images he showed me as well as the ear infection that wont be helping things with my balance.
He will be presenting my case to a board of radiologist in the coming weeks hopefullybefore i see him next, and i have another appointment with him on the 22 of May at the Hospital not in private as it was yesterday in which he will then place me in the public health system.
If surgery is required he feels that should be around a six month waiting time which is way better than the 1 to 3 years i was first told by the hospital.
We discussed the two surgery options throat or neck and TBH im not sure on which is better and safer for me at this point.
My appointment went for 5.30pm till 7.30pm, Dr Saunders deliberately set a last day appointment for me as I was ment to see him on the 13th of March but was struck down with covid for the first time as could not attend after waiting five long months for that appointment since my first CT scan.
All in all ive got a CT scan to do using contrast dye, im very nervous about the dye, as i suffer from a vomiting phobia hence not using the dye the first time, but we have to see what these 5.5cm styloid are pressing up against. Ive got all the blood tests to complete and the ear infection to take care of, sadly the stress of all this 7 year long journey has given me Seborrheic Dermatitis in my ears and face, causing constant repetitive ear infections.
Im pretty exhausted, its been a massive day and lots of ear probing, im pretty off balance right now.
Before I go, to anyone here in New Zealand who would like to know, so far my experience with Dr James Saunders and his amazing right hand lady Kirsty has been nothing short of fantastic. I would highly recommend them to anyone here in New Zealand regarding Eagles Syndrome.
I will post back on here how i go in the coming months, im just super greatful for everyones support on here…
THANK YOU all.
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Denese - This is all really great news! It would be wonderful to add another doctor in NZ familiar w/ ES & it’s surgery, onto our Doctors List.
How tough for you to be dealing with chronic ear infections & then to learn you also have tonsil stones which alone can be very painful. It sounds like Dr. Saunders is being very thorough to look for anything besides your styloids that could be adding to your symptoms. I hope there’s nothing else so that once you have your ES surgery(ies), your symptoms will subside over time, & you’ll feel much, much better & the Seborrheic Dermatitis goes away.
It’s quite remarkable that Dr. Saunders set aside 2 hours for you! He sounds like a very caring & compassionate doctor & also like he recognizes you have something unusual going on in your body that he wanted to give time to focus on at your appointment. Also, only a 6 mo. wait for surgery sounds wonderful vs 1-3 yrs!
I don’t know if you’ve seen our discussions about surgical approaches but based on long-term patient results & recovery times, we feel the transcervical (through the neck) surgical approach is superior to the transoral (through the throat). Additionally, the styloid can usually be cut shorter through the neck than through the throat & recovery is a little quicker & less painful. Nerves are usually monitored during surgery to help protect them, too. In the end, though, you need to see what Dr. Saunders thinks is best & make the decision for yourself as to which type of surgery fits your situation most optimally.
Please try not to worry about the contrast with the CT scan as it is iodine based so flushes out of your body completely & won’t be a problem unless you have an iodine allergy. It’s not a heavy metal like gadolinium used for MRI contrast. If you have a known allergy to iodine, make sure Dr. Saunders & the radiology tech both know.
I look forward to your update after your follow-up appt. in May.
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I’m glad that you’ve found a doctor who is kind & considerate, and good that hopefully you’ll be able to have tests and treatments on the public health system… There’s info here about the surgical options:
ES Information- Treatment: Surgery - Welcome / Newbies Guide to Eagle Syndrome - Living with Eagle
I agree with @Isaiah_40_31 that you don’t need to worry about the contrast dye for your scan, it’s usually put in using a vein in your hand, and shouldn’t affect you, the only thing they warn you about is occasionally people feel like they’ve wet themselves, you can get a warm feeling down below but you haven’t!
I hope that you don’t have to wait too long & that you can get the ear infection sorted
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Thank ypu so much for your lovely response.
Im extremely worried about the contrast so i just hope its via a CT scan and NOT the MRI?
TBH i haven’t asked him which one he wants me to do, he mentioned turning my neck in different angkes? While they take the images…
Thanks again
Thank you Jules…
Fingers crossed everything will be ok.
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Is there someone you can ring in your doctors office to check what scan exactly has been requested? Hopefully this’ll settle your mind; a CT with contrast isn’t too big a deal usually, but obviously the contrast medium if an MRI scan is requested is something to think carefully about…
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At least he is willing to turn your neck at different angles. However , this does expose yourself to more radiation . While you wait look into something you might feel will help with that
I use XR shield by life extension before and after . It might do nothing but at least I know I tried. There is some data showing the contents have helped radiation victims.
If it is MRI contrast you could look at taking activated charcoal. When I had my bad reaction to it that did seem to help. However, I seem to be having a vomiting reaction to it at the moment. I have always used it for food poisoning with no problem but last night I threw it up both times I took it. Could just be my body getting rid of toxins that way instead of the charcoal absorbing the toxins
I choose now to get no MRi contrast unless life or death issue
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@Denese - If your head is being turned in different directions, it will be a CT scan as that can’t be done during an MRI.
It’s absolutely fantastic that you’re able to get a dynamic CT scan (head in different positions) as many of our members have requested those & have been told the radiology lab they go to can’t do them. This is ridiculous in my mind because all it involves is scanning the neck w/ head in neutral, then w/ the head turned left/right, up/down. I don’t even think the techs have to do anything except ask you to move your head into the position they request.
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I will find out on the 22nd Nay exactly what im going to be doing.
Why is a MRI scan with contrast worse?
Thank you for all your help and advice.
The problem with MRI contrast is that it is known to accumulate in your body. See what the wife of Chuck Norris went through.
In my case, I had a bad reaction that day and it continued until my urine test for Gadolinium from Mayo Clinic went back to normal MONTHS later.
I have some theories about why I might have had more of a problem with it related to Genetics but it is something you need to carefully consider. A person could have no problem with it for the first few times in their life but then later it is a dose too far.
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@Denese - It’s the contrast w/ MRIs that is the trouble. The contrast contains Gadolinium which is a heavy metal which some people have a bad reaction to after the scan & sometimes for a long time later. Many of us have had MRIs with contrast & have had no ill after effects from it, but others have not been so fortunate. It’s just a good idea to be informed.
Here’s a link to a post from @vdm regarding Gadolinium toxicity:
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