1. < Brain Tumor
Profile picture for mary963

What exactly happens before, during and after a Craniotomy?

Posted by mary963 @mary963, May 2 4:01pm

Can someone explain to me what exactly happens when you have a craniotomy to have a meningioma removed. I am very nervous and anxious and having doubts as to whether to have one done to remove my meningioma.

Thankss

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Brain Tumor Support Group.

Profile picture for jeanneoc
jeanneoc | @jeanneoc | Aug 8 9:02am
In reply to @maxwinsor "Its not bad. the worst part was having them keep you awake for a time after...." + (show)
Profile picture for maxwinsor @maxwinsor

Its not bad. the worst part was having them keep you awake for a time after. I had shoulder surgery and I found that way worse.
They knock you out. it sounds weird but your brain doesn't have nerve ending so you don't feel pain inside your brain when you wake up. they keep you awake for a long time after asking your name and if you know where you are and they look for signs of bleeding on the brain. get moving and doing things as quick as possible walk around your room if you can. I suggest using your brain as soon as possible it really helped my recovery.

Jump to this post

Thank you! Having craniotomy this fall and really wanted to hear things like this. Good advice! Any other suggestions ?? Hope you're all healed by now.
Thank you again!

REPLY
Profile picture for maxwinsor
maxwinsor | @maxwinsor | Aug 6 9:07am

Its not bad. the worst part was having them keep you awake for a time after. I had shoulder surgery and I found that way worse.
They knock you out. it sounds weird but your brain doesn't have nerve ending so you don't feel pain inside your brain when you wake up. they keep you awake for a long time after asking your name and if you know where you are and they look for signs of bleeding on the brain. get moving and doing things as quick as possible walk around your room if you can. I suggest using your brain as soon as possible it really helped my recovery.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for thomhorowitz
thomhorowitz | @thomhorowitz | Jul 31 10:56am

I have been a year out with a small recurrent leison, waiting to get into clinical trial for second line Rx. The pre op informed consent should be by the surgeon with enough time to answer all your questions. If not, go to academic center with enough residents and fellows to give you the time you need.

REPLY
Profile picture for thomhorowitz
thomhorowitz | @thomhorowitz | Jul 31 10:51am

Surgery is under anesthesia and may include EEG monitoring during procedure. post operative pain minimal. Staple removal can be a bit uncomfortable if escarp is heavy. I had about 40 staples and a few were buried so P.A. Needed to wear loops to find them all.

REPLY
Profile picture for jasonl1012
jasonl1012 | @jasonl1012 | Jul 30 10:51am
In reply to @lindasoheila "kdog: Thank you very much. But the doctors are of no assistance as it is just..." + (show)
Profile picture for lindasoheila @lindasoheila

kdog:
Thank you very much. But the doctors are of no assistance as it is just a business for them.
They have absolutely no time or interest.
That is one reason I have cancelled my Watchman implant also.
Nowadays, one does not even meet the doctor. One goes straight in to surgery without having questions answered, or any interaction with anyone.
It is all about the money.
I will possibly go for a second opinion.
My neurosurgeon, who has been practicing for decades, laughed at me as he stated that he thought I was joking about all of my strange symptoms.
He stated that he had never had such complaints by anyone:
hollow feeling in forehead,
bones cracking, total numbness in head.
I have difficulty walking, loss of balance.
Thank you for your response.

Jump to this post

Second opinion!! Go where you feel heard and they take care of you

REPLY
Profile picture for Randy Shields
Randy Shields | @randallshields56 | Jul 29 7:40pm
In reply to @lindasoheila "Greetings everyone: I have searched throughout the blogs, chats, and other, and cannot find anything pertaining..." + (show)
Profile picture for lindasoheila @lindasoheila

Greetings everyone:
I have searched throughout the blogs, chats, and other, and cannot find anything pertaining to my issue:
I had my frontal lobe craniotomy on 3 0 April 2025.
My right side of my head is numb, and the bones continue to crack and pop, even if I sneeze, cough, move my eyes too much, et cetera.
In addition, my right forehead feels as when one hits a watermelon -- just empty. I cannot wash my hair or touch the area as it is quite uncomfortable.
The CT scan shows that there is a change.
None of my doctors wish to assist in this matter.
Any responses, please.

Jump to this post

i read your message or posting and i have some of the same things going on with my head but mostly noticeable after a time. around me the people i love and am around most have heard me say these things and tell me time will heal some of them. maybe not what i remember as normal but now with time passing the year and them some. i would love to chat more about your post and things you are going through that we share, watermelon effect, vision. still have numb spots and uneven scaring, hair loss and have 9.5 months of my life i lost. this is all just starters. maybe we can chat further if you are willing.

REPLY
Profile picture for lindasoheila
lindasoheila | @lindasoheila | Jul 29 1:35pm
In reply to @kdog1957 "If you had the surgery on April 30 it’s barely been 2 months. You’re still healing...." + (show)
Profile picture for kdog1957 @kdog1957

If you had the surgery on April 30 it’s barely been 2 months. You’re still healing. I just had an MRI 5 months post surgery and it shows the skull healed but there are also some “changes”. There is some scarring around the location of the former tumor that the radiologist called encephalomalacia and gliosis. It’s pretty common after a craniotomy. Also the entire top of my head is still numb and the incision itches. They tell me it will subside over time. I agree that your doctors should be more on the ball, you should keep on them until they respond. Are you doing alright aside from the healing issues?

Jump to this post

kdog:
Thank you very much. But the doctors are of no assistance as it is just a business for them.
They have absolutely no time or interest.
That is one reason I have cancelled my Watchman implant also.
Nowadays, one does not even meet the doctor. One goes straight in to surgery without having questions answered, or any interaction with anyone.
It is all about the money.
I will possibly go for a second opinion.
My neurosurgeon, who has been practicing for decades, laughed at me as he stated that he thought I was joking about all of my strange symptoms.
He stated that he had never had such complaints by anyone:
hollow feeling in forehead,
bones cracking, total numbness in head.
I have difficulty walking, loss of balance.
Thank you for your response.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for kdog1957
kdog1957 | @kdog1957 | Jul 27 12:04pm

Yup, had first 4 treatments last week, only 26 to go. No bad effects as yet. Fortunately the treatment center is nearby so I can ride my bike there to maintain fitness during the treatment.

REPLY
Profile picture for animalsingrass
animalsingrass | @animalsingrass | Jul 27 11:04am
In reply to @kdog1957 "I also had a frontal lobe meningioma, not quite tennis ball size but still large enough..." + (show)
Profile picture for kdog1957 @kdog1957

I also had a frontal lobe meningioma, not quite tennis ball size but still large enough to cause serious problems. Based on reading other accounts frontal lobe does seem like the least bad area to have a tumor because it’s more accessible than in other areas. Since radiation and chemo were involved did you have a grade 2 or 3 tumor? Were the surgeons able to remove the whole tumor?Mine was grade 2 and completely removed, and the jury is still out regarding radiation treatment. The radiation oncologist was neutral on whether to have radiation treatment. The proposed treatment was intensity modulated radiation, 30 treatments over 6 weeks. I’m worried about long term cognitive effects of that much radiation to the frontal lobe. I’m getting a second opinion on that. Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery.

Jump to this post

Hi - how are you? Did you end up getting radiation?

REPLY
Profile picture for Randy Shields
Randy Shields | @randallshields56 | Jul 11 3:42pm
In reply to @lindasoheila "Greetings everyone: I have searched throughout the blogs, chats, and other, and cannot find anything pertaining..." + (show)
Profile picture for lindasoheila @lindasoheila

Greetings everyone:
I have searched throughout the blogs, chats, and other, and cannot find anything pertaining to my issue:
I had my frontal lobe craniotomy on 3 0 April 2025.
My right side of my head is numb, and the bones continue to crack and pop, even if I sneeze, cough, move my eyes too much, et cetera.
In addition, my right forehead feels as when one hits a watermelon -- just empty. I cannot wash my hair or touch the area as it is quite uncomfortable.
The CT scan shows that there is a change.
None of my doctors wish to assist in this matter.
Any responses, please.

Jump to this post

Welcome to the group.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.