The tingling sensation in your face sounds like nerves (I used to get that), which should heal with time, could be up to 6 months even… Again, the foreign body sensation could well be a irritated nerve- it can be caused by that rather than an actual blockage in your throat, so hopefully that will settle with time as the nerves heal.
I’m glad that you’re noticing improvements, & hope that the worse days are getting less. 3 weeks is still early days, so I would go easy of the swimming, noting too strenous, you’ll still be healing inside!
Glad you can keep studying too!
Take care! 
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Quick update: Swimming went well, reckon I can start with easy stretching exercises and a few keepie-ups next week. Won’t go jogging though until the left side is done as well, too much of a concussion for the neck I’d suppose.
This is how the scar looks like now by the way.
It’s healing well! Once it’s healed even more, it’s a good idea to massage the area with some oil for scar tissue to stop it tightening too much.
Don’t overdo the exercise though!
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Just for a timeline, I did a 15k run 6 weeks after my first surgery. It did not end well. I may have told you this before. I ended up walking about half of it…the second half. Kinda stupid but I’d signed up for the event before I knew I had ES & wasn’t about to miss it. Listening to your body is your best bet in not overdoing.
Your incision looks great! My surgeon recommended Mederma cream for scar healing (it’s sold at many pharmacies & Amazon {of course}). I bought it w/ sunscreen in it as he also said to use sunscreen on the incision site for a year post op. Clearly there are several options for scar/skin recovery.
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Update four weeks after surgery: Headed in the right direction. I’m positive symptoms will 90% resolve once the left side is done.
That’s great that things are improving, do you know how long you’ll have to wait for the second op?
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Glad to hear things are going well, Michael!
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Don‘t know yet, I‘ll get in contact with my surgeon ASAP.
Hopefully in the near future though 
Second surgery will be on 30 May.
That’s great, not too far away! 
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Update six weeks after surgery: My right side feels quite all right now, most of the time. Of course there are still tingling sensations and the odd neck and throat pain, but it is way better than pre-surgery.
What I notice most is how freely I can breathe through my right side. My chest and stomach don’t cramp anymore and that weird coughing sensation, which I had whenever I started to heavily breathe in/out, ceased completely. My left side is still a shambles, though.
Can’t wait for the second surgery, 13 more days to go. 
Really glad that it’s worth having the surgery for you, & hope that the second goes even better!
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So glad to hear you’ve improved so much! I also hope you have great results from your second surgery & feel back to your old self once all healed!!
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Second surgery done, recovery seems a little harder this time.
I‘ll update this thread every week or so.
Interesting! Second surgery was a breeze for me & others have reported it being easier as well. Sure hope your post op recovery goes smoothly & quickly!
Thanks for the update, Michael!
Did the surgery take longer or was it more difficult for the consultant to perform this time? I hope things improve soon. Good luck!!! (I’m awaiting a date for my surgery in the UK).
Haven‘t really got the chance to talk to the surgeons yet. The neck/throat/chest pain just feels more excruciating this time, but it‘s getting better. 
So yeah, nothing out of the ordinary.
Hope that the pain goes quickly & that you soon recover. Thinking of you…
I’m so glad that it’s getting better
They did the same as on my right side, expectably: Shortened the hyoid bone and took out the stylohyoid ligament. Styloid process remained.
Slight improvements everyday.