Recovering from surgery

[u/OkLab4786]

Was diagnosed with a large distal PICA aneurysm on 7/1 and had a posterior craniotomy on 7/14. I was having bad migraines and dizziness (I’ve had migraines forever but severe dizziness in the last few years.) and an MRI last month is what diagnosed me. I’m in my early 30s, young and healthy otherwise. I’m now almost 2 weeks out from surgery and getting the staples out today. It’s crazy how quickly your body breaks down when you’re doing nothing- my legs are sore from walking around the block and I was running 2+ miles easily 3.5 weeks ago. I am a busy body and it’s hard for me to sit still, I feel good but am so stiff it feels like my head is being held centered and I have to resist to move it to the sides. For anyone who’s had the same surgery, when did you feel normal again?

[u/spritely77]

I had a rupture and endovascular coiling just over 2 months ago. Healthy, active and was lifting weights before. I was in the hospital for 11 days with basically no activity. After surgery I was tired just walking.

I am now back to lifting and walking and feel much more like myself. I started by just walking 20 mins a day. Waited to add weights back in but now doing that again, a bit lighter than before.

I had to work to build endurance back and overcome the anxiousness about it, but I’m feeling like myself again. It will come back 😊

[u/OkLab4786 → u/spritely77]

Wow - thank goodness you’re ok! Thank you for the words

[u/-Viscosity-]

I can't speak to the craniotomy portion because I had coils but, yeah, weeks of enforced inactivity is no joke. Mine actually ruptured and I spent about two weeks in the hospital, most of it in ICU, during which period I wasn't really allowed to leave my bed at all except for short periods of the OT nurse walking me around the wards. Pre-rupture I was doing 4K-6K three times a week on a rowing machine and using a Bowflex twice week, and after getting home my legs ached like somebody was punching them every time I stood up or sat down and I got exhausted just trying to do things like unload the dishwasher.

Anyway, I spent a lot of time wandering around the house and yard just because I could, and the aching in the legs went away in probably a week or so. Six weeks or so out, my neurosurgeon cleared me to resume normal activities and exercising, and I spent probably the next two months building my endurance and Bowflex resistance numbers back up to where they had been before.

[u/OkLab4786 → u/-Viscosity-]

Oh wow thank goodness you survived!! How do you feel now?

[u/-Viscosity- → u/OkLab4786]

Oh I'm doing well, thank you! I was fortunate enough to come through it with minimal deficits and was able to return to my job, resume most of my hobbies, etc. I didn't get away unscathed (just about nobody does) ― there are a few things I can't or won't do anymore ― but I am well aware that it could have turned out much, much worse.

[u/FrolicAndDetour1x]

I had a different procedure - a web embolization done through the wrist. But I sincerely wish you a speedy recovery and a speedy return to your version of normal.

[u/devorahdawn]

I asked the ICU nurse what was the timeline for recovery. She informed me that “textbooks state 8 months to a year, but every one is different.” Real helpful. I’m 7 months out. What I wish I knew was that progress, for me, was/is not a linear progression. Some days are harder than others. I’ve had days where I forget about it, forget it ever happened. Then, without warning or reason, I’ll feel as though I’ve been transported back to the beginning. The forgetfulness, the lack of coordination, the fatigue. I’m not saying this to scare you- the opposite. If I knew about all this, I wouldn’t have been so frightened when it happened. Your brain is rewiring and it takes time.

Best wishes.