@WEASEL - I had a very similar experience to yours in that I was diagnosed quickly. I had pain in the front of my neck for several months that was annoying. I kept poking around trying to figure out what was causing it & eventually found a hard lump under the left side of my jaw that increased the neck pain when I poked it. I went to my PCP who said it was an infected salivary gland & Rxed antibiotics which I didn’t take. A month later I saw my gynecologist & pointed it out to her. She said it felt calcified & told me to see an ENT so I did. The ENT I chose happened to know about ES & tentatively diagnosed me but sent me out for a CT scan for confirmation. When I went back for my follow-up appt to get CT results, the ENT doc was nearly doing a happy dance (a bit of an exaggeration 
) because I had bilateral ES that was pretty significant (not as extreme as yours though). All in all, I was diagnosed w/in a month or so of the time I found the hard lump under my jaw which was my styloid.
(Ha ha ,Isaiah… thought you were a guy!..it’s the name. ) OK so yes we were both very fortunate. Here in the Rep of Panama where I live ( retired here 15 yr) the medical system is less than average. If it’s run of the mill you are probably OK. Anyway, the doc looked at that dental film together…and the order for a CT scan with contrast in 3-D with cone was right on the mark. None of the diagnostic tests have been approved by my insurer yet so I am still in limbo. I was VERY fortunate to have that panalypse dental film on my own computer…and a doctor who listens, examines and have a brain to put it together. He has personally done 15 intra oral styloidectomies. He did not tout it as the end-all either. He was honest. He remains concerned about the vascular element and as well the orthopedic side of it all. I feel blessed to have a doctor like this one. lets see how it rolls.
No worries, @WEASEL, that mistake has been made by many people. Too bad the Bible verse I chose wasn’t written in Ruth or Esther. 
I’m really glad you have a doctor whom you can trust & feel is on your side. That’s huge & more than many of our members have. Please do keep us updated as to what you decide to do about surgery.
Weasel here. You have a great sense of humor. My dog’s name is Weasel…she is a girl…me too.
I had an ultrasound. No evidence of Eagle lurking yet BUT ( it’s a big but ) I have a 50% block with plaques of my right carotid discovered yesterday on ultrasound. The other side isn’t great either. So…looks like stroke prevention will trump Eagle . Next is a CAT with contrast and undoubtedly a Vascular doc . Not wild about the findings. Getting back to your name choice…I figure there is a divine plan here. No way I would have known about the plugged brain vessel had I not gone hunting eagles. Might have found out after I had a stroke !
God works in mysterious ways! I’ve seen evidence too many times to deny this special “technique” of His.
Love your dog’s name. Is she a “weasel”? Bet she keeps you on your toes if she is!
Thx for the sense of humor compliment. My son tells me I have an accidental sense of humor as opposed to one that’s on purpose. 
I’m sorry for the scary carotid findings but really glad they were caught before you had symptoms! Elongated styloids can also cause compression of the ICAs, & if undiagnosed, some people have died from strokes due to clots forming from that compression. Hopefully this isn’t a double edged sword for you i.e. you have the internal plaque blockage & an external styloid compression. I think that would be extremely unlikely.
I hope the CT scan gives a good view of your styloids as well as your carotids so you can get a better idea of whether or not they’re a problem. I think you’re making a wise choice taking care of what you know is wrong before further exploration of a “maybe” .
The creepy timebomb factor is unsettling. I live in the Rep of Panama. That adds an additional challenge. CAT scan with contrast and 3D next. Awaiting results of the Ultrasound and xrays. Took a ton of xray shots so something has to show a good styloid shot. If I have the combo of both plaque and external compression my hunch the radiologist should have seen it on Ultrasound. He was open to medical talk before the exam. I’m an R.N. and as well xray tech , speak some Spanish …esp medical ling because it’s basically the same. He looked. I’ll keep you posted as it rolls. Keepin the faith.
Well, good that they’ve discovered the stenosis, and hopefully the further testing should show if there is compression from the styloids…Sending you a hug & prayers for you too 
Thanks. Radiologist described what he saw as plaque. Pressures on either side were the same. ( a good thing ) More studies to go. Frankly I fear a procedure/surgery that could require blood. Here in the Rep of Panama most people got the vaccine. …so anyway. I am bummed fer sure…just the thought of it all. Thank you for your support and prayers.
@WEASEL - Totally agree about the issue of blood transfusion. That didn’t come up for me until recently when I realized that blood is screened for AIDS & other things but not mRNA vaccine. 
For those of us who have justified concerns about that, the solution is to donate your own blood prior to surgery so it can be used if a transfusion is necessary.
Side note, I’m not sure how invasive carotid artery surgery is but expect it’s done via the groin not by cutting you open further up. Thus blood loss is low. I had bilateral hip replacement last year, & a blood “recycling” machine was used to capture my blood, clean/filter it, & re-introduce it into my body, so even though hip replacement is a “bloody” surgery, my blood loss was minimal. I was astounded to learn this technology exists & am so thankful for it. If needed, that might also be an option for you.
Yes to all of it. Return to the USA would be the case scenario if I had to . I did that for my hip replacement. We’ll see as more is known.
Please keep us posted. I’ll be praying for you to have wisdom for all your upcoming medical decisions.
Thanks…I sure will.
Hey @Ladybug nope never got clarity from any doctor, new ent said oh its tmj but has heard of eagles but didnt give that a thought. Still fighting the fight with the doctors. Trying not to go crazy in the meantime. Tried scheduling another appt with ent and that isnt until june yet again so going back to primary care physician to see of she can help as she was the one who ordered the first cat scan 5 yrs ago but no one checked for styloids at that time just anything suspicious!
I’m sorry you’re still trying to get diagnosed after so long, @Sara. I hope your PCP is proactive in helping you with the CT scan at least! She can order the CT scan to look at the skull base, styloids, stylohyoid ligaments & hyoid bone & can request that 3D images are included along w/ the CT slices. That will make it easier for both of you to see what’s going on in your neck.