Hi Emma! You’re a state away and sending me just what I needed today!
Sometimes I feel so confused even about my own symptoms! I’ll wake up and feel a weird swallow. The day will be fine but occasionally I’ll have another weird swallow. I’m still on Tylenol PM just so I can avoid obsessing about it during the night.
So, recently I’ve been feeling like the tiny remnant of what is left of the click is not like the old click at all. I had pretty much determined the pre-surgery click was a) the ligament catching on something with each swallow or b) the hyoid snagging on something with each swallow. Especially after the first surgery, there was only a faint click on my second side and it could be felt way back at my skull right under my ear. Fascinating.
Right after my second surgery I was high as a kite. No more click. But then the swelling set in and I had a click again! THAT was bad. Minor freak out for close to a month. That bad click has died down. Now what is left is this weird, super weird, “spark” kind of sensation on the right when I swallow. I have absolutely no idea what it is. It does NOT feel like the snag click did. So when you wrote something about that nerve I thought - THAT’S what it feels like! A spark, an electrical, tingly pop in my throat that I can’t identify or really explain! I’m now going with it’s something nerve related!
This realization put my mind at ease this afternoon when I read your post. It was about 5:00 and time to make dinner. I not only made burritos but I put a batch of chocolate chip pecan cookies in the oven too!!! I felt happy. I felt calm. I felt like all this crap is going to one day go away and I’m going to be ok. I, like you, will shout out that I’m healed. I’m going to ride my bike down the street and yell “I’m all better” out LOUD. It won’t be tomorrow but that’s ok. Today was a big step for me after reading your post.
Lesson for today: this surgery takes a long time to heal from. Weird stuff happens in this part of our body. I don’t have to understand it all. The worrisome thoughts I have are distressing but nothing dangerous is happening to me. I’m having some weird after effects that I must tolerate for a little while longer.
Thank you for sharing Emma. I needed this today. I was able to enjoy my cookie(s) because of you.
Milestone today - I exercised! Just over 2 months post-op, I decided to take a class at the YMCA. It worked out that a spin class fit into my schedule - I’d never been to one before! It was super intense so I modified some but I felt great and was really very satisfied with the feeling of “I did it”! It was a long class so I had some time to reflect. Each time the instructor told us to “climb the hill” and stand up in a high gear, I thought of that as times like searching for answers, waiting for surgery, being afraid of after-effects of the surgery, etc. And the times we got to “rest”, I thought of loving family and friends that brought us meals, some extra naps I was able to take in recovery or some of the wonderful encouragement I’ve received on this website. It was a powerful experience. I will try to remember I’m still on my climb but I’m getting plenty of little rests too.
I love the way you visualized your workout, SewMomma! I need to start doing something like that when the going gets tough whether during exercise or in life! I really like the way you think!
I took a spin class once & for the rest of the day, I had this weird sensation that the lower half of my body was disconnected from the upper half. I think I worked it a little too hard. But that seems to be my modus operandi in life.
I’m so HAPPY to hear about the 4 day remission of the sparky click! TOTALLY AWESOME!! HOORAY for HEALING!!
That’s wonderful! So pleased for you & an interesting mental technique to get you through the workout, need to remember that one! When on my ES journey I couldn’t exercise, I was so envious of those who could, & decided when I could again I’d really appreciate it & keep up with it…oops, that lasted a year! Don’t seem to get round to it right now, apart from alot of walking. You’ve inspired me!!!
Question for those that have experienced pain on the already operated side: First surgery (left) 1/7/17, second surgery (right) 7/15/19 (3 weeks ago). Per Emma the second surgery can make the first side surgery angry. Does it logically follow that you have to repeat the healing on the first side? Please advise & thanks.
It’s not repeat healing but continued healing, sjlash. I think the nerve healing can take a few steps backward due to the swelling from the second surgery. They will continue to make forward progress in recovering though especially once all your inflammation is gone.
Hello! Just checking in. Last week I had FOUR days in a row of blissful, uneventful swallows. A tiny, single click came back this weekend only upon waking up on my right in the mornings. Weekend was better. Today late in the day I was on my back with my chin kind of to my chest reading a book and I had a single click when I swallowed. Got irritated but took a deep breath and just got up and did something else. Still have palpable fluid on outside of my neck and no sensation around the incision.
Got some good movies lined up to watch with hubby then school starts here Monday. Distraction is the on-going recovery plan. Eating well, sleeping well. Not where I want to be but not where I was.
Thank you for the update, SewMomma. You’re the picture of “baby steps” in healing. You’re doing a great job of exercising patience & finding ways to keep from getting discouraged. So glad for the 4 days of relief you had. You will get to a no-click-any- day situation before you know it!
Home school will keep you busy! It’s very encouraging (you may not think so, lol!) that it’s only when you’re neck is perhaps unusual positions that you’re getting the click…obviously the click isn’t happening under normal neck position…so hopeful?
Hello SewMomma!
Nice to hear you are making progress. Distractions are key. Too bad the click got in the way of reading. There is nothing like getting lost in a good book.
Enjoy the time before school starts. Keep looking forward.
Sending hugs and prayers.
BG
Thank you BG. It was an Algebra 2 book so I was indeed lost! Lol!!!
It’s the weirdest thing - it’s not the original click I had. It’s soooo faint and it’s only a single click. The original one was double when the hyoid went up and down with each swallow. It has to be something anatomically displaced by swelling or nerve recovery. But it really annoys me. I’ve decided to just try to run from it. Get up, roll over, ignore it. What good is it at this point to obsess? I’m at 10 weeks. That’s not that much time. Stuff is still healing. I really want to stop caring about it. It’s not terrible. It’s just “there”, you know?
Stuff is still healing but you are well on your way.
I have an extra half heartbeat (pre-ventricular contractions), normal for me and documented for as long as I’ve been with my doctor. I only started to feel them after the surgery - like beating out of my chest many times an hour. Just to be sure all was well I had a consult yesterday with a cardiologist and he confirmed that its nothing to be concerned about.
Trying to sleep when they happen was futile and would raise my anxiety. I could not stop focusing on it. I tried the rubber band thing around my wrist - when I felt the beat I would snap it to focus on something other then my chest. OUCH. I tried something more soothing instead - I rubbed my stomach, arm or legs with my fingernails and it worked! Thankfully, the sensation is subsiding. Maybe to much info but the point is whatever it takes to get by.
Happy Sunday to you all! To be fully transparent - I am having a rough morning and not even taking my own advice! I woke up this morning with a click on the right with each swallow - faint but there. Actually some were not that faint and felt way too much like the original click before I had both surgeries! This is a huge test of my patience and trust in God! I stayed in bed sad about it wayyyyy too long which threw my morning off which happens to be a 15th birthday here. I’m doing better now though. Convinced my muscles to get up and shower, make eggs and look at school stuff for tomorrow.
I can’t even listen to my own little sayings and advice sometimes. I’m like a stress ball and so upset that I’m having this dang symptom come back! But it goes away as I get up and move around and I’m still poofy on that side on the outside of my neck. I just wanted to share that I’m not always good at listening to my own self, lol.
Any time I write anything let it have the caveat “easier said than done”. But I AM TRYING! Proud of myself for eating breakfast and getting the day started. Climbing the mountain little by little. The second half of the day is looking good with birthday cake and pizza .
Well done for getting up & getting on with the day; hope the pizza & cake were good? You’re brilliant at visualising things; could you imagine you were another member on here posting that they’re anxious about healing, & think what advice you’d give them?
But aren’t we all bad at taking our own advice!
You’ve given so much encouragement to others on here & been so supportive…it would be lovely if your advice would benefit you too!
Keep strong, you know you still have swelling, & unfortunately for you it’s taking it’s sweet time to go…patience, patience, faith & patience! Big hugs to you, & a kick up the backside if you want it too!
I think I worked it a little too hard. 
But that seems to be my modus operandi in life.
but the point is whatever it takes to get by.
.