[JeninFl]

I have been in here many times over the last few years. I have only posted a couple of times. To recap I had a SAH from an 8 mm right pica annie in November of 2006. I had a second bleed while awaiting surgery and had an emergency coiling. Good luck for me because later when they tried to clip it they found that it was wrapped around my brain stem and couldn't be clipped.
I also had hydrocephalus, viral meningitis, a pseudomenigocele, a staph infection, a fungal infection and pneumonia. Overall I had 6 or 7 brain surgeries in almost a year. Since the surgeries I have tried to be normal, I tried to go back to work, and I tried to forget that I have this hole in my head. They told me at my last appointment that I had significant recannalisation and would need more coils, but that I needed to recovery fully first. My last visit was in Feb 08. I lost my charity care and haven't been back yet.
I have had significant problems trying to get my life back. I still live with daily headaches. Almost any effort sends me to lie down for a while. I have blurry vision, and the ringing in my ears is driving me bananas. I forget what I am doing, not usually so bad, but it is hell on my cooking. I don't cook unless someone else is home so that I don't burn the house down. About two months ago I let something boil over and when I walked into the kitchen the stove was on fire. That was my sign. No more cooking when home alone.
I lost my job at the end of the year. The boss had to let someone go and I was the least responsible. Probably wouldn't have been so bad for me had it not been a family member. But it prompted me to file for SSI. I didn't have enough credits for ssdi. I had been off work for 2 years during the surgeries and recovery. I had to give up my drivers license for 2 years because I suffered a grand mal seizure when I had the second bleed.
On to my point. I had a medical exam for the division of disability about a month ago. Today I had my mental exam. I don't have any frame of reference I don't know whether to hope it went well or badly. I answered everything as honestly as I could but realized later that it didn't cover a lot of what I thought would be important. The Dr for the medical exam was very positive and told me that he would see about getting me some help. I don't know if he was just trying to make me feel better or if he was indicating that his report would be favorable.
I would really love to hear from anyone who has been through all this or is going through it. No one I know understands the process or what is even important to do. Now I know that I am in the waiting period. My case will be decided and then I will get a letter. I am expecting a denial from what I understand almost no one gets approved the first time around. I wasn't sure whether to put this in the aneurysm forum or the disability forum, but I was hoping for some input from some survivors. There don't seem to be many that post about this kind of info.
Sorry for being long winded, just had to get some of this out of my head. I would really appreciate any replies.

[Ging]

[Jen, please hang on, I know it can be very tiring to wait while your life is being evaluated by others.
Honey, I haven't had the issues that you have had, but you will get support from others who have and those who have had their on version of problems with aneurysms. Just know that all of us with aneurysms deal with the same issues but maybe not to the degree that you have. Some even have it worse. What I am saying is I hear and feel for you and will watch for updates from you. You will be in my prayers, Hugs to you, Ging