Hello old friends! I check in on this website frequently but haven't posted in a while. I know there are many new members.
I had my first ES surgery in April and it went great....felt wonderful all summer long. Then in September, I started getting sore throats, on one side only, so I knew right away what it was....ES on the other side. I had no symptoms on my left side until then. I let it progress and went to see my doctor in Indianapolis at the end of November. To my surprise, he said he would just take out my left styloid because nothing else seemed to be wrong with me. This surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. I wasn't feeling nearly as nervous about this one since I know he can do it perfectly and the results in April were amazing. '
But then this stupid snow storm decided to occur. I live 3 1/2 hours away from Indy so hopefully the roads will be clear enough to make it up there tomorrow with no problems. It just adds to the stress.
I am anxious to get it done as the pain in the last two weeks has not been pleasant. I am excited that hopefully this will be an end to my ES and as always...pray that all of you get relief also. I'll let you know how it goes...surgically and travelwise on Thursday. God Bless!
Back home again and surgery went fine once more. And yes, the trip to Indianapolis on ice covered roads was probably the hardest part of the whole thing. Surgery took him 2 hours. He did not stitch this time but I only have it taped this time. He did not have to remove any lymph nodes so drain was needed this time either. I have some swelling but so far not too much and of course, the sore throat is here....a few days rest and lots of ice cream should help me get through that. I am doing very well so far.
Kitty, I was actually his first patient with ES that he operated on. He told me on my first visit that ES is so rare in the world that he would never see a case of it....he would only read about ES in textbooks. He tested me for so many other things and finally decided to do the surgery when he ran out of other options. He is Dr Steven Brigance at IU Med Center in Indianapolis. I did a lot of research on him before I let him operate but his credentials were great and he specializes in neck in throat cancers. He also had the confidence to do it and I needed that.
Great to hear! The head/neck/skull base cancer guys seem to be the ones we need to look at when adding more docs to the list! ;) Congrats on making it through those icy roads! Oh-- and the surgery ;) hehe
Hi Tiki! Just checking in on how you are feeling? I think you have given my hope that a doctor can evaluate me for ES! I live in Chicagoland area and haven't had any luck. I've had a radiologist reading of enlongated styloid processes, but saw one doctor in Baltimore, Maryland that said that if she couldn't remove them through my mouth then she wouldn't do it. (Dr. Christine Gourin) She was fairly rude. Anyways, I presume you had external approach done?
I am feeling much better....no more feeling of something stuck in my throat and no more sore throat....these two symptoms came on in September. I am heading back to work on Wednesday...only two weeks off. And yes, Dr Brigance did it externally both times on me. I stayed overnight but honestly, this time...I could have went home. He made the cut much smaller and no stitches this time so I didn't have hardly any swelling. After coming home, I only took Ibuprofen a couple of times a day for the pain and for only 3 or 4 days. It is not a really painful surgery. A sore throat is the main after effect and a few days of ice cream and sucking on ice helps soothe that. IU Med would be much closer than Maryland for you...I am in southern Indiana so about 3 1/2 hour drive to Indy. If you would like his # let me know. He will definitely try to rule everything else out before doing this surgery but he did a great job on me and I feel much much better without enlongated styloids. Good riddins!
Tiki so happy you are feeling much better :) !!! Continue to heal well & good luck going back to work!
twoflecth 5, I had a similar experience w/ Dr. Christine Gourin, she was just plain nasty. I wish her staff would of just told me she doesn't want to be associated w/Eagles, like she told me, it would of saved me a lot of $ for the consult. I still have not had my styloid removed, but would do external approach, Seems to me like they would have better view & access for removal.
twofletch5 said:
Hi Tiki! Just checking in on how you are feeling? I think you have given my hope that a doctor can evaluate me for ES! I live in Chicagoland area and haven't had any luck. I've had a radiologist reading of enlongated styloid processes, but saw one doctor in Baltimore, Maryland that said that if she couldn't remove them through my mouth then she wouldn't do it. (Dr. Christine Gourin) She was fairly rude. Anyways, I presume you had external approach done?
Tiki
Fortunately I’ve had plenty of tests to date so hopefully not much more is needed. I’m not sure how this site works but I would definitely appreciate his contact information. Weird question, does he email his patients at all? I’ve had a few doctors in the past do that for follow up questions and I LOVED it! But I’m super glad to hear how well you are doing and your return to work! Makes me VERY hopeful!!! Thanks
Tbone…I wish I had known also. I was actually referred to her by one of her colleagues Dr Carey at Johns Hopkins and she knew that, so wish she would have told him also! Or maybe have been less rude since another doctor 1 door down sent me there!
550 N University Blvd Room 3170 Indianapolis, IN 46202
Fax 317-■■■■■■■■
I never communicated with him via email but phoned his nurse often and she was always prompt at getting answers for me. I'm sure you could ask his receptionist about email communications. Best of luck to you!
