premedmon, your post is written so well. I can truly relate to most every part of it and love your positivity. [quote=“premedmom, post:51, topic:6425, full:true”]
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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Hi friends. I thought I’d send an update …
. — 1 year exactly post-op from intraoral oral surgery that was not successful. And 9 months post op from external surgery on styloid & hyoid (that included a bad infection) in Houston tx. (Reference my @premedmom posts #6 & #19 and more above).
Physically: Feeling well. On a scale from 1-10 of all
pain being gone (1 being all gone) I would be at about a 2-3. Yes that’s great news and I’m very happy.
The symptoms I do have now include … a chronic stuffy ear with occasional ringing in that ear on the side of my procedure. It is as if the nerves are still a bit angry. I have very loud and painful crepitus (bone crunching) in my jaw on that side as well.
I take a daily Celebrex to help with inflammation and pain that creeps up to maybe a level 4.
Most recently I have had some throbbing on that side, enough that my doc put me on a beta blocker as I also had some palpitations (related? Who knows.) Those symptoms are all likely due to the external surgery (My 2nd surgery on that side).
The most annoying symptoms since my surgeries are due to the oral surgery and include the balled up scar tissue where my intraoral procedure was done, lack of flexibility of oral cavity now, and less saliva production.
If Anyone is on the fence … I would vote NOT to do intraoral as this created an issue with swallowing for me. I absolutely cannot eat and talk at the same time or I will choke. Food tends to also get “caught” in a little pocket created from that procedure. It’s even been scary at time… once a tylenol got stuck there That was not fun as it dissolved. I will see another ent to correct the issue one day—if at least love to get scoped and figure out how the heck a pocket formed down by my vocal chords.
*I am very pleased with my neck scar. I’ll post a pic.
Emotionally : I am very relieved to be in a much better place with the pain control and Improvement of symptoms. I’m an open book. Message me if you’re in the Houston area and have questions about my doc.
Also I am really excited to announce that I was accepted into a physician assistant program. I start in Jan and will be a PA IN 2023! It’ll be my mission to be a voice and advocate for those facing eagles!
Scroll to compare my before and after pic. This is 9 months post external surgery.
CONGRATULATIONS!! So glad you’ve gotten into the PA program! I know you were working toward that end before your surgery. You’ll be a great PA!!
I’m sorry for the residual troubles you’re having from your surgery. Scar tissue bundles can be removed surgically (creating more ops for scar tissue build up?) &/or via massage/laser therapy. I understand this is deeper in your throat so massage might not be possible but laser probably is. You will most likely continue to notice healing of those pesky nerves over the next several months & even years.
I continue to be amazed that my FBS is still “getting better” after almost 6 years. I thought it would never go away, & now there are often several days between FBS events. It’s AWESOME!! Honestly, I do still have a little numbness along my jaw line & some tender spots around my jaw area on both sides, but they don’t bother me unless I poke them so I don’t poke them .
I also have trouble w/ my left ear & have recently learned that there’s a ligament below the earlobe on both sides, & mine is very tight/rigid on the left, so I’ve started acupuncture & massage therapies which seem to be helping w/ the ear/tinnitus/hearing issues this has caused.
Congratulations! I am so happy for you about the PA program! Finally being able to move forward must feel wonderful.
I remember your infection , but was so glad you were getting better.
Your story really speaks to me. I was scheduled for dual intra oral tonsillectomy and styloidectomies for January 3rd. It was actually delayed and during that time I started really reading about the surgery options. I started to get nervous. Then I got sick and the huge silver lining was I never had that surgery.
I am so sorry what you went through with the first intraoral surgery. I wanted you to know that you helped save me from doing the same thing. Goodness I am actually crying.
Please think of all the people you are helping by being here to share what you went through.
I have been an absolute emotional wreck about being pushed into having intra-oral, seeing this is just so helpful yet heartbreaking.
I finally figured out a way to share this…lol. This is my remaining styloid. I have a consultation in one week…(finally!!!) to discuss possible removal. I am tired but determined!
WOWIE KAPOWIE, shayney!! That’s one VERY L-O-N-G styloid! There must be calcification from your skull to your hyoid bone. No wonder your symptoms are miserable! Was the other one equal in length or longer or causing worse symptoms? Just wondering why this one wasn’t removed first. From your bio, I gather it had to do w/ your jaw issues. The doctor you’re seeing at Froedtert had better be willing to do surgery!!
Your appt is coming up before too long, thankfully.
Your incision looks pretty amazing for being only 10 days old! I’m glad it’s healing so well. Good job documenting! If/when you get the other side done it will be interesting for you to compare how it heals w/ the first side.
How are your ES symptoms? Do you notice continued recovery?
As far as symptoms go, everything that was obviously on the left side has either eased or resolved. The most noticeable being that my HR no longer spikes when I turn my head to the left. I have the FBS that comes and goes and some lingering nerve irritation in my ear, but nothing too horrible. I am noticing the right side symptoms more though.
It takes longer (at least 30 sec) but my HR goes up when I am facing right for long periods of time. I also notice an ache that transitions to a more stab like pain when facing right. Which leads me to believe I will have the R side removed.
I’m so glad for the good results you have so far from your surgery. That’s what we like to hear! I’m sorry abt the right side symptoms, but that’s often the case w/ bilateral ES. Once the first side is done, the second one makes itself known all the more. Plus you become more aware of the symptoms caused by the second side. When both styloids are in place, sometimes it’s hard to tell which one is causing what symptoms.
WHOA! That is a dagger for sure. Mine are 5.1 and 6.6 cm. I hope I can see mine some day if I get them out. Did you get to keep it as a souvenir? That almost looks like one of those Italian Meluca ? necklaces that people used to wear years ago but WAY MORE BADASS?? Hope your recovery is quick.
Interesting! You had significant ligament calcification in addition to elongated styloids. I’m glad your doctor removed the ligaments as well (hopefully they were removed at the hyoid bone). Because I have no idea how to accurately measure your styloids, I’m not sure how much was left after 3.1 & 3.3 cm was removed. Both styloids look thick at the top which can itself cause ES symptoms even w/o elongation. I see what you mean about the curve in your right styloid. Glad that’s gone. Getting a follow-up scan to look for regrowth of the styloids would be definitely worthwhile.
Thank you for your reply. I had a short look into my documents. They removed only 2.4 cm on the one and 2.9 cm on the other side of the ligament. I think they must be longer in total. At least 6-7 cm.
Hey TheDude,
The more you post, the more I think you should take another look at what’s still in there. Anything left behind stands the chance of causing problems like you’re having. The other question to wonder about is were the cut edges of the ligaments & styloids smoothed off before you were closed up or were they left in their cut off & potentially sharp condition? That can make a difference, too. Sorry if this seems too nit picky but we’ve found the little details of how surgeries are done can make a big impact on recovery.
! 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.
.
, but was so glad you were getting better.
Gwen
