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.
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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.
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Hi Mary Kate! I’m a little over 3 weeks post-clipping currently. While “normal” is somewhat subjective and your trajectory will depend on variables like age, lifestyle, chronic conditions (etc), I started feeling more like myself around 2.5 weeks. Granted my surgeon said I’m ahead of schedule, but my physical energy levels are back to baseline and I have no pain or swelling aside from tenderness around the incision.
Eating a balanced diet, walking regularly and staying active enough during the day so I can sleep well at night have been helpful. My surgeon also approved me to manage pain with ibuprofen which is vastly more effective than Tylenol in my experience, but get permission before starting it due to the bleeding risk.
You’re at the point in the timeline when you’ll start experiencing a clicking or popping sensation around the bone flap. It happened mostly when I would walk. This takes some getting used to and is a normal part of healing.
I also noticed cognitive improvement when I weened off the seizure meds.
Hang in there and let me know if you have any questions I can help with.
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Hello, my Annie was clipped eleven years ago. It took me about twelve weeks to get back to some kind of normal. It’s okay to take your time. I walked at home in the house and did some crafts and things to stay busy but followed my doctor’s advice and took my time. I pray you will feel better soon. 
Jj
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Hello Pelion3484! I had a clipping when I was 60 yrs old. I did not take oxy or keppra after at any point, just Rx strength ibuprofen so can’t speak to that. And my staples came out at 10 days. That said I felt mostly back to normal after staples were removed. I was driving after 2 wks. I did have head pain for months but I also have migraine. My energy came back slowly and I felt mild after effects for months. Just rest and give it time. Any new or worse pain or symptoms, especially that start suddenly, should be reported to your neurosurgeon team immediately.
Thanks so much for all the positive replies. Had stapes removed yesterday (19 days from surgery). PA cleared me for light driving and increased exercise. Follow-up CT in a month. So moving on the the scar management phase with Aquaphor now and sick d later. So progress but rest and ice will continue,
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Thanks for weighing in. I find the mental part so much more of a challenge. No longer in much head pain and had staples out yesterday and cleared to massage and hydrate the scars. Cleared to drive short distances and build in some light strength training, all of which is good. Follow-up CT in a month. It’s mostly the blah feeling that I can’t shake. Maybe partly Keppra related but staying on it for now. Eating fine and getting a walk in every day. So great to hear from others going through this - really appreciate you taking the time to write. Wishing you continued progress, too
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Hang in there. From what I’ve read and experienced, it’s pretty normal to have fatigue & a dip in mood. I went from fear/fight/flight upon diagnosis to being happy having made it through the surgery, then my body & brain de-escalated into a lull around week 2. I find it’s helpful to make sure my days have purpose, whether it’s something as simple are building a lego set, cleaning the house or going to lunch with a colleague. The downtime during recovery can make one feel lonely & listless.
Lastly, prior to surgery, I had been warned about some of the mood side effects of Keppra so I requested Brivaracetam which has been clinically demonstrated to have fewer side effects (it’s essentially the new & improved version of Keppra). If you plan to stay on an anticonvulsant long term, consider looking into it. I had a very good experience. The insurance copay is slightly higher, but it’s not significant - I paid $16 for a 10-day supply.
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