I’m excited that I found a compassionate and caring doctor in Chicago! I will have a styloidectomy tomorrow morning! The surgeon will perform a transcervixal procedure and it should last around two hours. Not sure what to expect post surgery, so any advice would be appreciated!
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@Ritaweagle - What great news that you’ve found a compassionate/caring doctor to do your ES surgery & especially that he’s near where you live. If he’s not on our Doctors List, I’d love to add his name & contact information.
I will certainly pray for you tomorrow & over the course of your recovery. Things you can expect post op are that recovery will be up & down. The first week post op is when the swelling peaks (days 3-5 are the worst) & pain is the most significant. During the second week, pain begins to settle down a bit. It will take 4-6 weeks for post op swelling to subside enough for you to really notice some good symptoms decrease/relief, & then up to 12 mos post op for nerve symptoms to gradually disappear though most should be much reduced by 6 mos. after surgery.
•It’s critical for you to take your post op pain meds on schedule for the first several days to a week post op. Skipping a dose can let pain get ahead & trying to get the meds to “catch up” w/ a pain flare is not fun.
•Sleep w/ your head elevated to about 30º for several days at least as it will help reduce swelling in your neck & throat.
•If your surgeon hasn’t given you an Rx for a tapering dose of dexamethasone or prednisone to help reduce swelling in the first week after surgery, you should request it. Some doctors offer it, but others don’t feel it’s necessary, & many of our members have opted to request it a few days after surgery.
•ICE! Having 2-3 gel ice packs in your freezer so you can ice your neck for 15 min every couple of hours for at least the first week is helpful in reducing swelling & pain. Some people have found heat works better but the majority have preferred ice. Make sure to put a thin cloth between the ice pack & your neck to prevent ice burns.
Some members have had a sore jaw & most have a sore throat (from the breathing tube) for several days post op. You’ll want to have a soft diet available in case chewing/swallowing are initially difficult. That can include smoothies, fruit sauces, mashed potatoes, soups, soft cooked veggies, yogurt, etc. Protein intake is important to help w/ healing so protein drinks or protein powder you can add to your choice of liquid are also a good idea.
Please let us know how your surgery went when you feel up to posting again. We’re here to answer any questions you have during recovery. I’m excited you’re able to take this step tomorrow.
Thank you so much for this guidance!
I will have Dr Katelyn Stepan at Northwestern
Hospital. She has over 700 reviews and the majority are 4.8 an above. She really listens to concerns and cares about your quality of life. My symptoms have been milder compared to others experience. I just don’t want to have them
worsen. 
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I’m sorry for assuming your doctor is male. Most of the surgeons on our list are. We only have 3-4 women on our list. It will be nice to add another one.
It’s good to know your symptoms haven’t been terrible but I totally understand not wanting to have to live with them because even mild symptoms are distracting. I expect you’ll have a wonderful outcome. Just be patient with your body while healing. Rest when it asks & start back into your activities w/ baby steps when you have some good days as opposed to jumping in w/ both feet as an aggressive restart will increase symptoms again.
Wishing you well tomorrow!
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BTW - her practice is focused on head and neck cancers, so I knew she would know her way around the sensitive stuff in the neck! She was a friend’s surgery for a totally different reason and she really appreciated Dr Stephan’s conservative approach.
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Many of the doctors on our Doctors List are skull base cancer surgeons so she fits right in. I’ll add her tonight. 
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Best wishes for a successful surgery! Will pray all goes well for you, and let us know how you are doing when you’re up to it…
I think @Isaiah_40_31 has covered pretty much everything to help you prepare, would just add that some of the painkillers prescribed can cause constipation, so remember to take something for that too!
God bless
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Good afternoon! Surgery is done!! It took about two hours and I was in recovery for about 1.5 hours or so. Neck very swollen, pain currently around 2 (surgery was at 7:30am). I’ve been icing and just taking Tylenol at the moment. Family is very supportive (daughter is helping with drain as hubby is a little squeamish and she has had surgery with drains before). I will go back to get drain removed on Thursday. Interesting post-op report. Looks like the calcified ligament was about 1.3cm. Photos below with my doggo, Bentley, keeping me company! 
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@Ritaweagle - Your incision looks really good. I LOVE the picture of your faithful dog keeping you company! I was dog sitting my in-laws’ papillon when I had my first ES surgery. He’d been trained as a service dog & didn’t leave my side very often for the first week after my surgery. It’s very comforting to have a furry companion even when there’s good family help, too.
I’m glad Tylenol is enough to keep your pain at bay & hope it stays that way. You may find that your pain increases a bit Wed - Sat. as that’s when swelling usually peaks, however, having a drain may help prevent that peak swelling period from being as intense as it is w/o a post op drain. Great that your daughter is sympathetic & helpful! Good job with the ice & head elevation (I see the pile of pillows behind you 
). I’ve noted before that the first couple of days post op is the recovery “honeymoon” period when the anesthesia & other surgical meds help keep pain reduced a bit thus the warning about a pain increase a little later in the week.
Please continue to update us. We’re here for you. I hope your recovery goes smoothly & w/o any hiccups. 
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Wow, you’re doing well to post already! I don’t envy you having the drain for that long , that was the worst part for me, I only had it overnight though…Glad that your daughter can help with that & lovely to have your doggo for company!
Take it easy, praying that it’s been successful 
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So, night two was rough. Just can’t find a comfortable position to sleep and I feel like I went 10 rounds with a boxer! Sore back and chest from this semi-reclining position and anesthesia is my guess. Took Tylenol in the early morning hours, but it got lodged. In my throat sideways and took a while to make its way down. Hubby is getting me liquid Tylenol instead. I’m just going to continue with ice, meds, and rest.
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That’s so exciting! Please keep us updated. Do you mind if I ask you who your doctor is? I’m seeing doctor Cundiff on Monday and he’s in Barrington, outside of Chicago. Good luck and many prayers.
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I saw Dr Katelyn Stepan at Northwestern Hospital. She is awesome!!
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Poor you, hard to get comfortable after surgery & the drain doesn’t help…hope the liquid Tylenol helps you, sending you a hug
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@Ritaweagle - Sleeping upright was the worst for me, too! It’s hard to get comfy & sleep well practically sitting up, but if I tried sleeping on just one pillow, my throat would quickly feel like it was closing up so head elevation was mandatory for me. I did get used to it eventually. I’m sure the drain is also not helpful since it really limits your sleeping positions, BUT it comes out tomorrow which will give you a little more freedom of movement when you sleep. It’s pretty uncomfy to sleep on the incision side for a while, & if you need help not doing so in your sleep, a U or V shaped pillow can help limit head movement.
I’m glad you’ll have liquid Tylenol going forward. I bet getting that pill stuck in your throat was miserable. Good that your hubby is there for you!
Please let us know how you feel once your drain is out.
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UPDATE: Day 3 post-op
Today I had my drain removed. The PA was a little miffed that the resident who sutured it in place didn’t put a little slack in the stitches as she really had to work at it to remove them. But, at the end of the day, the important part is the drain has been removed and I am UNTETHERED! I cannot tell you how good that feels.
During this appointment, the PA also looked at my throat and checked my facial nerves. All is good! Praise God!
I have been greatly blessed by the prayers and support of this ES community, my family, friends, and church family. Although I have experienced discomfort (mostly due to the drainage tube and sitting/reclining too long), my pain has been very manageable. I know that is not the case with everyone and I am sorry you have to go through that.
At this point, I only have to see my surgeon if I feel the need for it. I still have the tinnitus, but it may take time for that to dissipate, if at all. My biggest reliefs are: 1) a doctor who didn’t brush me off, but listened compassionately; 2) knowing the calcified ligament is no longer a danger of nicking my carotid artery.
Much love and I am here to support all of you in your journey to wholeness and healing!
Rita
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I’m so glad your drain is out & now you can begin healing without that impedance. I’m sorry it a was a bit of a traumatic experience, but it’s behind you now & the facts your facial nerve is in good shape & pain level has continued to be manageable w/ Tylenol alone are quite remarkable! God is faithful to answer our prayers, granted not always when or how we want, but He is faithful none-the-less!
I hope your healing continues as it has started - without much pain.
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So pleased for you! Thanking God for how things have gone so far & praying that the rest of your recovery goes smoothly, take care
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