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Seizure While Driving
Sat, 01/10/2009 - 00:00I am 17 years old and about 2 years ago I was diagnosed with JME. On New Years I spent the night at my friends house and got only 2 hours of sleep. I didn't take my medicine that night (Keppra + Lamictal), or the next morning. As I left her house (only minutes after waking up) and began walking to my car I had a few blackouts and even shook a little. This happens to me if I don't take my medicine/don't get enought sleep but I didn't think of it as a big deal. I was just thinking about getting home and going to bed.
As I drove home, which was only 5 minutes away, I felt a little tired but that was all. That was the last thing I remember because the next thing I know I was being pulled out of my car onto a stretcher and into an ambulance. I immediately knew I had one of my grandmal seizures. I was so confused, and so scared. Later I learned that I had a seizure, run off the road and crashed into a light pole going 45 MPH. My car was completely totalled but I thankfully was fine and was left with only a few bruises. I'm not able to drive for a while (and being 17 that feels like it's the worst thing in the world), but I understand that I should not be allowed behind the wheel of a car right now. I had been seizure free for about 6-8 months before the accident. This past week has been so hard for me and my family but I'm trying my hardest to move on. Anyway.... I am just wondering if anyone else has ever had a seizure while driving?
Thank you all for your comments
Submitted by livelove123 on Sat, 2009-05-23 - 23:24
It's me again, and I would just like to thank you all for your comments.
It really made me feel not so alone knowing others have gone through surprisingly extrememly similar experiences. It's been almost 5 months. One more month to go and I'll be able to drive. And yes I have been counting down the days. Now I never EVER forget my medicine. And my parents and myself make sure I get enough sleep. If I am up late doing my homework my mom often makes me go in late to school so I have had enough sleep.
When I do start driving again I know, absolutely know, that I must make sure that I feel completely fine before getting in the car, before starting that engine, and before pressing on that pedal.
Apparently about 3% of Americans have a seizure disorder. With a high school of 4,500 students, that means that there should be over 100 people at my school similar to me. There's not really a way to make a "group" for people with seizures in high school. I know you all will say that I should somehow try to form one so we can discuss the way it makes us feel and such but I know that no one my age would ever admit to having a disorder. That's why I'm happy to read these blogs- you may not be in high school but you relate a lot to what I am saying.
It's me again, and I would just like to thank you all for your comments.
It really made me feel not so alone knowing others have gone through surprisingly extrememly similar experiences. It's been almost 5 months. One more month to go and I'll be able to drive. And yes I have been counting down the days. Now I never EVER forget my medicine. And my parents and myself make sure I get enough sleep. If I am up late doing my homework my mom often makes me go in late to school so I have had enough sleep.
When I do start driving again I know, absolutely know, that I must make sure that I feel completely fine before getting in the car, before starting that engine, and before pressing on that pedal.
Apparently about 3% of Americans have a seizure disorder. With a high school of 4,500 students, that means that there should be over 100 people at my school similar to me. There's not really a way to make a "group" for people with seizures in high school. I know you all will say that I should somehow try to form one so we can discuss the way it makes us feel and such but I know that no one my age would ever admit to having a disorder. That's why I'm happy to read these blogs- you may not be in high school but you relate a lot to what I am saying.