I saw Dr Hackman on Tuesday, 12/20. He was amazing! He spent about an hour with me. He went over my scans, etc. I do have IJV compression bilaterally which I suspected but didn’t know for sure. He listens. Asks questions and listens to the answers. I’m not used to that. He explained why the TORS procedure wouldn’t be the best for me. I’m going with the external approach of the incision in front of the ear and on the neck bilaterally. He couldn’t guarantee anything as this is the condition of Eagles. I’ll be happy with removing the styloids so I can hold my head up straight and in the right position without styloids in the way and the pain around it. That will help with everything. I’ll be grateful for any other symptoms that go away. My surgery is January 13th.
@Isaiah_40_31 and @Jules thank you for moderating this forum. I would never have known about Dr Hackman or the reality of Eagles if it weren’t for this forum. 4 years of my life were spent searching. I came across Eagles in 2020 and dismissed it due to thinking you could clearly see a styloid on a lateral cervical. My new TMJ doc saw my panoramic X-ray from 2021 and said “you know you have an elongated styloid”. I literally hugged him and said “it’s Eagles!”. So I turned back to Eagles, full force and here I am.
Thank you for this forum. I don’t know what the results of the surgery will be. I do know the “suckers” (that’s what I call the styloids) will be taken care of (my mafia voice lol).
So pleased for you that you have a date for surgery, and that you feel confident with Dr Hackman, great news! I’ll be praying that the surgery is successful for you
@Danielle1 - I’m so glad your surgery is coming up so soon after your consult. It’s pretty amazing that it was scheduled less than a month later!!! I’m confident you’ll experience good recovery from many, if not all, of your symptoms over time. It’s so great to hear that he gave you the time you needed & explained why he’d prefer to do the external surgery. A doctor who communicates well is such a gift!
I’m putting your surgery date on my calendar & will be praying for you (& Dr. Hackman) that day in particular.
@Danielle1 hey there… I have a consult with Dr. Hackman next week. Wanted to check in with you and see how you have done with recovery and if you have any suggestions for my consultation with Dr. Hackman.
Hoping you’ve seen significant relief and continue to improve TIA for any information you can provide.
Hi Leah! My surgery with Dr, Hackman was great. He’s amazing and gives you so much time during the consultation. Recovery takes a while and I’m still recovering on the left side. I have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (which I forgot to take into consideration) so any stress increases the swelling. I’ve had a few very stressful months. But, even with the extra swelling from my Mast Cell, I see a huge difference and the surgery changed my life. My neck can now sit in the right position and I can move my neck freely. The burning feeling I felt behind my ears (on my head) is gone. The thoracic outlet symptoms are gone. The brainfog is gone (my IJV was compressed). I can’t recommend Dr. Hackman enough. He takes the styloids to the skull base. I didn’t have the classic symptoms of something stuck in my throat or tongue issues. Dr. Hackman listens to you and doesn’t discount any symptoms you have. He’ll let you know if he feels it’s related or could be related to Eagles. He sits real close when he talks to you and listens intently. I continue to improve and thankful everyday for the surgery. You are in great hands. Please let me know if I can help in any way before or after your surgery.
Do you have images of your IJV compression? And was your C1 involved? Mine is rotated to the right and all of my problems have been on the left… for years. Was Dr. Hackman‘s solution to the compression just removal of the Styloids?
My vascular neurologist ordered an MRV and with those results he said I have no compression.
I still feel I have symptoms of it (I think) so I’m not sure what to make of that, but I’m not sure I need C1 addressed or not. TBD
Many thanks ))
Leah
feel free to answer whenever is good for you. (Brain fog!)