Just trying to get some advice from this group. Not finding what I need in the topic section. Had clipping 12 days ago for unruptured aneurysm (73 year old female) - high regarded surgeon. Was able to manage the rather dreadful constipation, which is now more or less resolved. On Tylenol only for head pain - stopped the OXY several days ago. On Keppra of course. Will get staples out next weekend hoping that provides a metal boost. Walking a bit and able to prepare meals and interact with family who are staying with me. Wondering how long it took for people to start to feel " normal? " Ive heard 4-6 weeks. but could be a lot longer. Any and all advice welcome! Thank you.
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Welcome Mary Kate! Thank you for starting a new topic which hopefully will help others find a quicker answer…. I can’t help in the healing from a craniotomy since I’ve not experienced one. We have many members who have had one and someone will get by to answer. But your query popped Merl’s often stated reply to how long which was something akin to how long a piece of string is into my brain. Meaning everyone is different, there’s a plethora of variables and no magic wand answer. Our brains have to have time to adjust to the new route the blood takes, the neurotransmitters, synapses, etc have to have time to learn the new route. This is a great time to learn to apply giving grace to yourself, much like you would do to a friend. Merl has had more craniotomies than anyone I know by the way. He’s part of the @ModSupport team.
Someone will answer you better than I, just be patient due to different time zones and schedules.
Hi Mary Kate, welcome.
I can’t speak to life after clipping, as I had a stent placed via endovascular, almost a year ago now. I can speak to how long it took me to feel somewhat normal, which may not be your experience at all. You sound very strong and determined!
I felt tired and taxed out mentally pretty easily for around three months post-stent. I had to delay work projects that required a lot of brain work, because I just couldn’t think fast enough, and the mental heavy lifting made my body poop out. I couldn’t (and still can’t) handle sunshine and heat the way I used to, it feels like the sun drains all energy out of my body. I have to be mindful when golfing and gardening. I didn’t drive for four months, as I found my visual tracking and processing to be slower than felt safe.
By five months, I was driving and traveling for work again, and by six months feeling much more normal. A year out, I just returned from doing three trade shows solo in three weeks, with no issues. I feel like my mental processing is back to normal. Like many of us here, I pay close attention to my diet and hydration, and I meditate daily.
Healing seems to take its own route and time for all of us. I’ve learned here to be patient with the process, celebrate returns to normalcy as they come, and normalize the changes I feel may be permanent.
We’ll be thinking good thoughts for you as you move through your particular version of healing. 
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I am so glad you found the group. I had craniotomies also. And I believe we all will experience recovery according to our environments and resilience. It will be 2 years for me August 2nd. I say the first months after you feel panicky about many things. Take away the stress of this timeline of how it should be. Have grace for yourself - learn to be okay with a lot of rest - others giving you care. Because adding stress will just delay your recovering. It is the pain meds that slowed your digestion - constipation. Get something to help until normal again.