Invisibly Handicapped

Brain surgery, even for non-malignant tumors, can leave a person with post surgery symptoms, handicapped for a job search. Anyone, young or old, can suddenly feel weak and fall or have a minor seizure or a terrible headache and perhaps find out that they have a brain tumor that seemed to come from  nowhere. Many of them are malignant tumors but that is seldom determined until surgery, and any kind of surgery on the brain is no light matter. Brain surgeons do the best they can and their patients are eternally grateful, but when the brain pan is opened, any kinds of after-effects can happen. If  the tumor is cancerous, treatments begin but if the tumour is benign, there is still a long period of recuperation for most patients. The after-effects of brain surgery that turn out benign, are varied and while some persons are left with seizures or paralysis or blinding headaches,  others may be afflicted with invisible symptoms such as the inability to concentrate for longer periods than normal, have vertigo so that walking requires strict concentration to not fall  or that they need to sleep frequently throughout the day. Most of these symptoms do not go away entirely. All of these latter folk, need to eat, shelter and feel independent and may find out that suddenly their working lives have ended and that they have to depend upon such as disability insurance - if it is available to them. The insurance folk want proof of the need for disability insurance, naturally, but how do you document "proof" for violent headaches, inability to concentrate or walking with dizziness or are in need of sleep during the day?  What kind of work can one do with these problems? Hundreds of people plead whip lash injuries or back or knee strain  and have x-rays to prove they can't work and these folks are accommodated with monthly pay checks from government, but there are none of these "proofs" available for those with brain surgery complaints. How then, can they earn money to survive? One glib individual behind a desk offered: "guess you have to go on welfare then". For a post-surgery person with a good education, clean life-style, a fine work history, he or she, doesn't want to hear that kind of  thoughtless and condescending remark. Doctors can't sign disability forms without proof and they are the ones who must do so but only if there is proof. It's the law.