Good Morning! Thanks for the chuckle and thank you for starting your very first topic! A+. Don’t worry about spelling or punctuation we don’t grade on those things, thankfully!
I ruptured so my story is a little different. What I’ve learned from our members, all our stories are a little different. There are similarities and most of what you’re experiencing is spot on. Many times the surgeons will say it’s nothing they did and we’re sent to a neurologist. But in my uneducated medical opinion coupled with a damaged brain I’d like to say if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like one, it isn’t a coyote now is it to them all. They’ve changed our blood flow, our brains need to get used to it when that happens in my opinion and experience. That wee bit of blood has probably sent some of your neurotransmitters on to a different road they aren’t used to being on and need a bit of time to get used to it. They’ll eventually get the synapses crossing over well enough but it takes time. Time to heal is what’s different for all of us. Some are rather quick and some need a lot more time. How much time is up to the individuals and the amount of damage their brain received.
I’ve a few questions if I may. How much time did your surgeon suggest to take off work? Some woman had me returning whilst I was still in NSICU 
. Seems six weeks is pretty much what most of our members get. What were the orders you received when you were released? I ask that because you chose the word “exertion” and I hope you’re following the weight limits set. Your surgeon will eventually raise those limits so don’t try to exceed it. But if you mean mental exertion, ease back a bit and see if that helps.
When we are in the helping fields, we tend to forget ourselves. When we get a device in our brain, it becomes a good teacher in telling us that can’t happen anymore and our focus becomes centered on us. It’s perfectly okay, it’s needed for us to heal. I share my neurosurgeon’s mantra all the time Hydrate, eat protein, hydrate some more and rest when needed. You’ll need to put a new tool perhaps in your bag on listening to what your brain needs.
I like water for hydration but my neurosurgeon added to that Gatorade (28 oz), 3/day plus twice that in water for many months after every angiogram. I liked some of the G2 flavors but the electrolytes can come from a variety of sources. Some members here in the past taught me about the powders I can mix in water. My neurosurgeon explained that it’s to help get rid of the anesthesia after effects, the dye out of the body and simply because the brain needs the hydration to function properly. She queries her husband when he tells her he has a headache on what he’s had to drink and eat.
The protein is because our brains are protein hogs. The RDN student that came by to have a chat with me in NCICU said 90 grams is recommended on daily intake. The WHO recommends 120 grams per day last I checked. It has been awhile. In NSICU I had a prescription for 4 or 5 of the protein ice cream per day. I wasn’t eating. I don’t like to eat when I don’t feel good, never have. But I try to make sure I’ve gotten near 90. After every angiogram I made sure to get over 90. I used protein yogurt and protein shakes. I’ve tried a lot of them and have settled on the plastic bottles instead of cardboard ones I used to drink as they shake up better. But there’s all kinds of protein powders available now as well. If I’m having a bad brain day I try to get some protein in right away along with hydrating, it really helps.
You might try part days at first and ease back into your regular workload. Dealing with others can be stressful so you‘ll need to get out some tools on helping with stress for yourself. Watch your triggers and give yourself some grace. When I was able to work, gardening was my thing on bad days at work. Pulling weeds was my go to as I could see I had accomplished something. I also took up a couple other hobbies which helped. I see you’re a singer/songwriter so you may want to lose yourself in music.
There’s also the need for us to watch our screen time. We have a member who started a topic on how to ease the eye strain with different devices. I can’t search whilst I have this opened, perhaps you can. I think it was a specific type of screen he found to be most helpful. Found it Post Surgical Headaches - Suggestions for Deal . I just had to open the site on another tab! There’s always work arounds. In my younger days I’d hop or barrel through obstacles, since I ruptured, I’ve found it easier to just go around them. I’m also older so there may be that as well. We can’t blame our aneurysms on everything we experience.
I’d also suggest you reach out to your surgeon and let the team know what’s going on through your portal. It never hurts to touch base with them, at the minimum it lets them know what’s you’re experiencing. They might just have another suggestion.
If you haven’t learned some relaxation breathing yet, try it. You will have to practice a multitude of times throughout the day and of course for several weeks. It’s really beneficial in helping us to keep our blood pressure down which we absolutely need to do with hardware in our brains.
There’s also this which may be helpful Some Early Warning Signs you may be overdoing it - what is your experience? - #3 by Karla and this Feeling off after flow diverter, looking for healing experiences - #4 by Moltroub . I don’t know why it’s providing specific responses and not just the title, so ignore that please. @FinWhaleFan has posted a lot of videos on relaxation and other helpful websites. I think I might need to ask her to make a couple new topics on them
Again, welcome to our group! Happy you found us! Most of all, thank you for sharing some of your story, it’s amazing how you were able to get imaged and a device in so quickly without having a lot of issues, good for you!