It’s so hard when you don’t know what’s going on, I think you’ve described it pretty well…hope that it is down to swelling & irritated nerves, & that as the swelling goes down it improves. Praying for you, gentle hugs & have a great anniversary 
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Happy Anniversary!! 
I am sorry that you are experiencing strange and painful symptoms. Maybe my experience is anecdotal, but I too have noticed some poking pain after surgery. It is worrisome and can create pangs of anxiety but, I feel that it is phantom pain/pain memory that will take time to heal now that the elongated bone and/or calcified ligaments are no longer rubbing against nerves and poking in the neck.
Here’s to a happy, healthy and pain free 2020!
BG
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Do they let you keep the part of the styloid they cut out during the surgery? A bronzed styloid necklace like a little Italian horn could be a GREAT post-op gift!
They didn’t let me keep my gall bladder or appendix in a jar, I’m still salty about it…
Fingers crossed this time!
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Unfortunately the styloid still has to go to histology, so you won’t get to keep it! 
Years ago (1960s), my sister was able to keep her tonsils when they were removed. They were in a jar which she kept in her bedroom for years. It’s too bad everything has to “go to the lab for examination” anymore. I wanted my styloids, too! It seems to be a common lament on this forum…“Why can’t I keep my styloids?!”
Happy Anniversary, premedmom! Eighteen years is worth celebrating big time!
I think your description that the sensation feels like a tough piece of lettuce stuck in the back of your throat is pretty explanatory & also that you’re noticing swallowing difficulties. The vocal issue as well as swallowing can be caused by (drum roll, please…) the vagus nerve (big surprise, eh?!). I still have some mild swallowing issues more than 5 years after my surgeries - mostly with thin liquids like water, tea, etc. It’s annoying & if it gets annoying enough, I may ask my PCP for a referral for swallow therapy.
If your troubles are coming from scar tissue, I would think it could be thinned down (laser therapy?) or if there’s a flap, tacked down w/o having to go through major surgery again. A follow up & maybe getting your throat scoped would be worthwhile for sure.
I hope you’ve had a happy day & that 2020 brings complete healing for you. God is good. He has promised to never give us more than we can endure.
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Hahaha! That necklace cracks me up .
Happy Anniversary.
I am very glad to see you are healing well. The pictures of your complications, wow!
I keep thinking, if external surgery heals better, then what the heck am I in for with tonsils, styloids, (and hopefully) calcified ligaments (bilateral).
My chronic pain doctor seems to think it will heal over the weekend and my primary doctor should handle meds. 
(For those without chronic pain who are prescribed opioids, in general you see a pain specialist who handles all your meds, not the surgeon)
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Your chronic pain doctor is sadly mistaken. Next conversation, let him know it will be 2-3 months before you’ll be feeling like yourself again. He better be on board for you during that time or you will need to rely on your surgeon for your pain meds.
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Thank you! 
I had a pre op appointment yesterday and the nurse I met with said she will set my pain doctor straight.
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That’s a good nurse ! 
Good to hear !
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Surgery recovery update — 10 weeks post op
Surgery on styloid & hyoid in Houston tx. (Reference post #6 & #19 above)
Physically :
The scar is looking alright. I have not been diligent about the scar cream or silicone strips. I have 4 kids 7-17 what can I say 
! I often forget to take care of me but going to work on that. The swelling has lessened but i do still have some edema at times. My left lymph nodes are sometimes hard and painful so I continue to do the lymphatic fluid drainage massage. The hyoid area is extremely tender to touch so I don’t, even though I think we are supposed to to loosen scar tissue. I strain to use my voice a lot and still feel like the surgeries did a number on my vocal chords or nearby nerves. My hair can hide the scar these days.
As far as swallowing and pokey throat pain … it’s there. It’s Much less and more likely caused by scar tissue orally so not sure it’ll go away. I have to swallow thoughtfully and can’t talk and eat at the same time. Have a hard time sometimes producing enough saliva. I do not have first bite syndrome. My jaw still makes that crunchy crepitus sound and pops painfully often but not as bad as it used to. I’m nervous to see my dentist for a cleaning because I don’t want to open my mouth for that long!
Post infection meds tore my gut up. Just now getting over that !
Emotionally:
I’m much much less anxious and emotional on a daily basis. Amazing how taking down the pain level a few notches is like giving someone a new lease on life. And I’m thankfully past the hardest part I feel like. Grateful.
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So pleased that some things have improved, recovery must be hard with 4 children, I think you’re amazing 
We’ve had members come back on a year after surgery with more improvements, so things can still keep changing.
I do get a very dry mouth, along with dry eyes, it all started the same time as the ES symptoms worsened, so whether it’s dsmage to the Trigeminal nerve which has some autonomic function with that, or whether symptoms of an autoimmune disease I’m not sure…other ES members have had hypersalivation, so there does seem to be a link. If your mouth gets too dry there are gels or sprays you can get to help, although I found one of the sweeteners used in them did upset my stomach, so if you’re stomach’s still sore that might not be a great idea just yet.
I’ll keep praying that you continue to improve, thinking of you
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Looking good premedmom. The scar is not as bad as you think and will continue to get better.
I am glad to hear that you are less anxious. Less pain = less anxiety! I’m with you there! Post op meds are the worst on your stomach and intestinal system. Keeping track of what you eat and what the triggers are will help - though easier said then done, especially with your hands full with 4 kids.
I am 7 weeks post op and I still feel the pokey pain with some difficulty swallowing at times. I agree, I think its scar tissue. Thankfully, the incision and the surgical pain is easing (= less anxiety yay!) I too have FBS and its very annoying.
I am dealing with persistent shoulder and back of neck pain - lactic acid like pain deep in my muscles that wont go away. I had this issue for a few years correlating to my ES diagnosis. Massages and stretching helps a tad but I have yet to break through that pain. It may or may not be related to ES but I am hopeful that it will go away
My jaw line is still retaining lymphatic fluid. Its painful but waxes and wanes with the amount retained. I have organic argan oil (John Masters Organics - I am not a paid rep. 
) and use to massage my jaw, neck and shoulder. It not only feels good, it has a natural soft scent and is great for skin, scars (and hair.) I keep the bottle in a handy location so I can reach for it many times a day for a quick 5 minute massage.
I looked at the first photos you posted and its clear that you’ve come a long way.You will continue to heal - we both will!
Keep smiling. BG
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Hope things keep on improving for you too BG!
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Hi premedmom!
I was just thinking about you today & wondering how healing was going. So glad to read your update. You will continue to notice positive changes as time passes. It took some of my worst nerve issues 9-12 months to recover after surgery. The progress is slow & barely noticeable until one day you notice something that was annoying is no longer there. These are little gifts our bodies give us when we treat them well & are patient w/ healing. Juggling 4 kiddos will make the self care more challenging for sure! I’m not sure I could have handled kiddos & ES. You’re a champion for sure!
I think your incision looks great. It will continue to fade w/ time. It’s in a good location so as not to be super visible unless you tilt your head back.
I will keep praying for you, too. 
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Hi BG!
So good to read your update as well. I’m sorry you still have pokey pain & difficulty swallowing but I suspect that problem will improve as time passes. I promise that the FBS issue does become less intense with time, too, and will hopefully go completely away. Hooray for less anxiety as recovery presses on! I hope it goes away completely.
Prayers going up for you, too. 
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[I am 7.5 weeks post op from right side external surgery.]
I started to feel more like myself last week and now, I have sharp, shooting pains in the top of my head right side that started two days ago - like a nail being hammered into my skull. Within a few moments of the hammering most of the pain goes away unit the next one happens, sometimes many times an hour to several hours in between. I checked in with my doctor - she checked the back of my eyes for stroke symptoms and all looks good. She said its not a migraine and that its most likely neurological. I am starting on gabapentin 600 mg 2xday.
I am more swollen now than in days past so - as I mentioned before, the swelling ebbs and flows - so maybe the swelling is creating more pressure on surrounding nerves. I hope the gabapentin helps.
edited info one hour later.
Has any one who has taken gabapentin experience side effect? Do they wear off eventually? My side effects: my body and brain feel buzzy and I have brain fog. All this after my first dose. The hammer pain is reduced, so that is something positive.
Thanks!!!
[@Isaiah_40_31 should I start a separate post for nerve medication used after surgery?]
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Sorry to hear that you’re having a bit of a set back…good that the Gabapentin is working, it can often take a little while. These sorts of medications can give some side effects, it’s a balance with how much they help, & are the side effects worth it. I still take amitriptyline, if I take it a bit late I get headaches, I think it makes me a bit tired, but without it I wouldn’t sleep with the aching anyway. Not sure with the Gabapentin if there’s a better time to take it?
It does sound as if the swelling could’ve irritated the nerve, or else it could be healing, you can get funny sensations with that.
Hope things improve soon!
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For everyone with dry mouth and saliva substitutes. The ingredient generally used for products to help with dry mouth is called xylitol. Generally found in sugar free gum and over the counter products for dry mouth (for those with dogs… very toxic for them!!). Some people might experience gas, diarrhea, etc. It contains sugar alcohols. (It is also sold as a sugar substitute).
I really like Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse, available in the US, or the toothpaste. I don’t have to swallow it and it lasts for awhile. I take several medications that cause dry mouth. I am never without water, but sometimes that isn’t enough.
Just looked up alternatives… products with “ carboxymethylcellulose“ or “ hydroxyethyl cellulose“ can help, although I have never tried them. “Biotene Oral Balance” is one.
After my recent oral surgery (nothing to do with ES) the surgeon gave me little packets from a company called “GUM” as a mouth sore rinse. It doesn’t have the ingredients listed above, but it coats your mouth. Not a saliva substitute but it keeps your mouth feeling wet.
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First: my background is in pharmaceuticals amongst other things, but I am not a pharmacist.
I have had the Gabapentin side effects - 600 mg is quite a large dosage to jump into. Spacey, brain fog, sleepy, feeling all around weird would definitely be expected.
I was prescribed 300 mg x 3/day a few months ago (I have not had surgery yet), and I had the side effects you describe. I spoke to a nurse at my pain clinic who told me the side effects go away fairly quickly. That was not my experience… so…
My doctor changed my dosage to 100 mg/200 mg/300mg and I titrated up to 300 x 3. Many people go up to 600 mg/ x3 a day (T.I.D.)She did say it takes several days to start working. I have not had ES surgery yet. At this time it isn’t really helping me, but don’t let me discourage you.
I was given Gabapentin after a thumb surgery about 5 years ago and it worked really well, quite amazing. It was also prescribed as needed at 100 mg for tension headaches, no side effects.
The University of Washington pain clinic actually strongly recommends their patients who will be undergoing surgery start Gabapentin before surgery, as well as after. For anyone who has not yet had surgery this might be something to ask about.
Gabapentin falls under a class called, unsurprisingly, Gabapentinoids. There is another Gabapentinoid called Pregabalin, the brand name is Lyrica. I am switching to Pregabalin now. Before I have surgery, my doctor will increase the dose. According to my pharmacist, Pregabalin can be very effective for people who do not show improvement with Gabapentin.
In the US, or at least some states, Pregabalin is level 4 (Meaning a very low level) controlled substance, It is not addictive, but people have found ways to abuse it.Why anyone would abuse it is beyond me. Gabapentin, unfortunately, will likely soon join Pregabalin. All this means is that the prescription will have to be written by the doctor on paper or through a special e-script system.
As an aside: A few other classes of nerve medications are SSRIs/SNRIs (traditionally used as antidepressants - think Prozac or Cymbalta), some traditional Anticonvulsants (ex: Carbamazepine), tricyclic antidepressants (ex: Amitriptyline). Some can be used in conjunction with one another.
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