Hi Isaiah,
I think you were clear. I was saying I hope all goes well at my appointment too =)
It’s tough when you want to get back into your normal routine but your body isn’t as willing. I guess we all just have to have patience and let our body’s heal. Frustrating I know!
It IS frustrating. I’m dealing with that right now. My body says go but my head, neck, & back says WOAH SLOW DOWN! I am having a hard time finding a happy medium. I keep setting myself back over and over but don’t mean to.
I’m sorry Heather =(
How long ago was your surgery again?
It was November 3rd. The surgery spot in my mouth has completely healed and the pain there specifically is gone of course and all symptoms got better every day which was wonderful but last Friday I painted and moved some furniture and the pain came back on the left side (where I had partial removal intra oral) worse than before. Jaw pain, ear and skull and neck pain coming and going are back. I still need surgery for the right side later and it’s flared up too. I think I figured enough time had gone by but I was wrong. Please everyone take it easy longer than 6 weeks. It really is gradual even if your body thinks otherwise and I have learned the hard way.
I will definitely take that into consideration with my recovery. I also have bilateral ES. Surgery was on the left side and I’m wondering if I’m going to start feeling symptoms on the right.
For what it's worth, my ENT said take at least 2 months off strenuous exercise/work & keep everything pretty low key. He said it's 6 months at least for full recovery. I agree w/ Heather that our bodies feel good & the brain says, "Let's do it!", but the aftermath is pain (albeit unexpected). I also need to have my other styloid removed. It stopped hurting when I was taking the pain meds after surgery but is starting to make itself known again. As hope springs eternal, I thought maybe it would just lay dormant for awhile. Oh well!!
P.S. Krista, I love that your dog is in your profile pix. Is it a Lab? We had lab mix siblings for 13 years. So much fun!!!! Now that they're gone, I dog sit all my friend's & family's dogs since we haven't gotten replacement dogs yet.
Isaiah,
Yes! His name is Rico (Suave) haha. He is a lab mix. We adopted him and they told us he was a lab/dachshund mix. Funny I know… I think he has a bunch of other things in him though. He’s 25lbs has floppy lab like ears, a spotted tongue, curly tail and brindle coat. I would love to do a doggy DNA kit on him haha. I also have another girl pup she is a lab mix also but she looks very yellow lab like. Dogs are so much fun! Love them so much
Ours were Lab, German Shepherd & Chow mix - 75-80 lbs. Lucky you to have a smaller size!! My in-laws have a Papillon who is the sweetest little guy. He likes to be carried around & cuddled. Such a cutie. I'm actually a "big dog" person but after my experiences w/ the Papillon, I may be converting ;)
krista3 said:
Isaiah,
Yes! His name is Rico (Suave) haha. He is a lab mix. We adopted him and they told us he was a lab/dachshund mix. Funny I know.. I think he has a bunch of other things in him though. He's 25lbs has floppy lab like ears, a spotted tongue, curly tail and brindle coat. I would love to do a doggy DNA kit on him haha. I also have another girl pup she is a lab mix also but she looks very yellow lab like. Dogs are so much fun! Love them so much
Butting in- we have a beautiful golden lab, Josie, and she is falling apart even more than I am, poor baby has been through the wars this year. Cruciate ligament repair, allergies, GME (brain inflammation), and now the squits which is taking a while to clear up. I can't imagine life without her (except having to clear up squits on the kitchen floor when you come down in the morning!). Yes they are wonderful to have around and to give you hugs when you're low!
Isaiah,
Aw sounds so cute! I am a big dog person too. Rico has a Napoleon complex though he thinks he 100lbs. So it feels like he’s a big dog lol. He also thinks he’s a lap dog. He’s always cuddling with me on the couch. My girl dog is about 50lbs and she is a complete sweetheart.
Jules,
=( It’s tough when they get older. My parents dog has been having some issues this year as well and its sad to see. You want to do whatever you can for them. They really are like family. My little one Rico is so attentive and aware of everything. On days that I have felt extra bad its like he know… he will be attached to my hip. When I cry he tries to lick my tears away. Its really very sweet. I love my pups.
Thanks for posting Krista3! I a have been thinking of you and praying for you. Take one day at a time and things will get better day by day!
Thank you Kay!! =)
Hello, I had my surgery 5 years ago. I have eagle syndrome on both sides. I believe because both sides of my neck were equally bad I did not realize the constant irritation that the bone causes. Now that the left side has been removed I always feel the right side. After my surgery I started getting 15 minute chair massages to help relax my muscles. I did this 3 times a week for several months. I then found a specialized clinic called the Myo Massage clinic using an advanced tecinque working on the small muscles in my neck. Though this tecinque is gentle it does cause discomfort because my muscles are still getting tight to this day if I over do anything, using a computer, I can still not lift more than a grocery bag, look up too long. I do not know the source of the my current pain if it comes from the left after surgery and irritation or if it is stemming from the right where the bone is still in place.
I requested to have my right bone removed but my doctor said since it was not causing me extreme pain he wanted to leave it.
I have a much better quality of life since my left side surgery but my healing is an on going process. I recommend anyone going through pain or this surgery to work on a total body plan.....de-stress life, be mindful......eat healthy.....sit and move in the world in a conscious way and find time to be greatful we are moving forward in healing....
Have a wonderful holiday and a even better healing process....
Ann
Thank you for your post Ann! I think I am going to need to have the right side done as well. I know its too soon to tell but that is my gut feeling. Maybe you should get a second opinion to get the right side done? I wish you all the best and may you continue to heal and get better 
Yay!! So glad to hear from you!!! xo
Ladies I have to ask. Were you scared of the risks? My ent wont do ES surgery...said its too risky cuz its by the main artery. Im so scared. I see a surgeon who specializes in this, in Jan. I wish I wasn't so scared to just go for it.
Hi Lisa,
I had no fear of the risks because my symptoms were worse than the potential risks. I currently have 2 ongoing post-op problems - half my tongue isn't working right & first bite syndrome which are both supposed to resolve in 2-6 months. The tongue problem exists because the nerve that supports motor function for the right side of my tongue was wrapped tightly around my extended styloid & had to be moved which caused it to become irritated & temporarily stop functioning properly. This is not the norm, but each one of us is built differently, & the surgeon can't know till he/she's into the surgery what nerves are going to be affected. Even w/ those problems, I have no regrets for having had the surgery & am looking forward to getting my second side done, hopefully in May. During the 2 weeks I was on post surgical pain meds, my left side stopped hurting & I thought, "Yay! I can live w/ this." Now that I'm almost a month out, the left side is getting a bit annoying again, so it's back to surgery I will go. I know this probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but it's my take on my situation.
:)
Isaiah 40:31
Lisa said:
Ladies I have to ask. Were you scared of the risks? My ent wont do ES surgery...said its too risky cuz its by the main artery. Im so scared. I see a surgeon who specializes in this, in Jan. I wish I wasn't so scared to just go for it.
Hello Lisa,
I too was afraid but after 6 years of extreme pain in my face and not much of a life I too the chance on the surgery. My doctor will not operate on my second side because my pain is not as bad. He said I need to wait to have that surgery. I have found that with working on my stress, body position, not lifting and looking down or up I and having therapy weekly I can control my pain. I do still have major issues but I can afford the luxury to have help to do the things I can no longer do. I work each and every day to lower inflammation in my body so I can heal myself. Diet, exercise and slowing down.
I went to a cancer specialist at the University of Miami who works on necks, he has done several of these operations but I felt I needed to do it. After surgery I worked with a tmj doctor to relieve pressure on my TMJ joints which were also inflamed. A therapist once told me the pain we face starts for one reason and expands.....no one treatment will rid of us of all our pain.....it is up to us to unpeel each layer of the pain using methods that we have access too.......you have a month to keep working on your inflammation prior to your Jan appointment....today I started something called threading to help the inflammation in my gums and teeth, I am committed to do this each morning for the next six months to see it there is a change......
One thing I do when I am scared is to research and read about things I can do myself to improve my chances to get better......even if you go through with the surgery getting your body prepared for surgery is something you can work on now.....
Enjoy your holidays and remember we are all on our own paths in life.....what works for one will not work for another but we all need to make choices.....and doing nothing is a choice.....
Ann
Hi Lisa,
I was pretty nervous for the surgery but I also wanted/needed to have it done. Since my left styloid was compressing my jugular vein and carotid artery it would have been more of a risk leaving it in. Plus I could not function. I was struggling with being at work and driving.