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Seizure While Driving

Sat, 01/10/2009 - 00:00

I 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?

Comments

Re: Seizure While Driving

Submitted by tonialpha on Tue, 2010-04-06 - 22:57

I had them when I was working in the police dept. a long time ago.  I had people honking at me.  I would slow down very slow.  I did not know I had different auras that lead to seizure activity.  I was going to college and suddenly I had the same aura or spaced out feeling in class and I woke up in the health room on campus.  It was embarrasing to me.

 I lost my license.  I had to tell my sgt. and he told me that I had to go to records and work in the station until I got my license back.  I soon found out that I had 2 types of auras.  I felt I was under control.  I ended up in the ID section and worked in fingerprinting and crime investigation.  I never got my license back and had to leave.

The Neurologist told me to go back to school because I had the intelligence to do anything I wanted to do.  He suggested that since I knew how to work w/ people to be an attourney or work in the medical field.  I went back to school and went to Social Ecology.  I needed a job.  He then suggested to be a EEG Tech or become a nurse.   I became an EEG Tech.  I worked in the field for 15 years.  I was married and had 2 children.

At first it seems like a limit.  It felt like the pits.  The Neurologist stated I could do anything and the seizures will get better.  I changed my interests, the seizures were still occuring but I did work.  I still not drive. 

It's like turning  lemons into lemonade. 

I always found a good job.  I started at the bottom but I ended up in a good position.  I have not driven since then.

I hope things turn out well, but you never know your challenges.  You are strong and you will be able to deal with it and you have the ability!  I found out and things turned out great even if I do not drive.

I had them when I was working in the police dept. a long time ago.  I had people honking at me.  I would slow down very slow.  I did not know I had different auras that lead to seizure activity.  I was going to college and suddenly I had the same aura or spaced out feeling in class and I woke up in the health room on campus.  It was embarrasing to me.

 I lost my license.  I had to tell my sgt. and he told me that I had to go to records and work in the station until I got my license back.  I soon found out that I had 2 types of auras.  I felt I was under control.  I ended up in the ID section and worked in fingerprinting and crime investigation.  I never got my license back and had to leave.

The Neurologist told me to go back to school because I had the intelligence to do anything I wanted to do.  He suggested that since I knew how to work w/ people to be an attourney or work in the medical field.  I went back to school and went to Social Ecology.  I needed a job.  He then suggested to be a EEG Tech or become a nurse.   I became an EEG Tech.  I worked in the field for 15 years.  I was married and had 2 children.

At first it seems like a limit.  It felt like the pits.  The Neurologist stated I could do anything and the seizures will get better.  I changed my interests, the seizures were still occuring but I did work.  I still not drive. 

It's like turning  lemons into lemonade. 

I always found a good job.  I started at the bottom but I ended up in a good position.  I have not driven since then.

I hope things turn out well, but you never know your challenges.  You are strong and you will be able to deal with it and you have the ability!  I found out and things turned out great even if I do not drive.

Re: Seizure While Driving

Submitted by artbycynthia on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 10:17

Yes, I have had a seizure while driving.  Fortunately, my 15 yr old daughter was with me.  I had noticed the aura and de ja vu and told her I needed to pull over, but apparently before I could I was gone.  She told me she had to push me out of the way since my vehicle went into the other lane and she maneuvered us to the side of the road.  The next morning at church, she said an elderly lady was giving thanks to the lord that this truck swerved just in time and missed hitting her vehicle the day before!  This was the most frightening experience not only for me, but for my family. 

I have experienced the aura before 3 years prior but had enough time to pull off in a gas station and lay down with the vehicle shut off.  I don't believe I will ever take the chance of driving again...I could never live with the idea of hurting someone else or the pain my family would feel if I injured myself in such an accident.  It is hard being so dependent on others, but I just will have to adjust and get creative with my transportation possibilities. Thankfully, I still have two legs.

Yes, I have had a seizure while driving.  Fortunately, my 15 yr old daughter was with me.  I had noticed the aura and de ja vu and told her I needed to pull over, but apparently before I could I was gone.  She told me she had to push me out of the way since my vehicle went into the other lane and she maneuvered us to the side of the road.  The next morning at church, she said an elderly lady was giving thanks to the lord that this truck swerved just in time and missed hitting her vehicle the day before!  This was the most frightening experience not only for me, but for my family. 

I have experienced the aura before 3 years prior but had enough time to pull off in a gas station and lay down with the vehicle shut off.  I don't believe I will ever take the chance of driving again...I could never live with the idea of hurting someone else or the pain my family would feel if I injured myself in such an accident.  It is hard being so dependent on others, but I just will have to adjust and get creative with my transportation possibilities. Thankfully, I still have two legs.

Re: Seizure While Driving

Submitted by Tiffany K on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 14:37

Im sorry...  but what in the &#%$ were you thinking???  You know you have seizures. you know you're prone to seizures when you don't take your meds and don't get enough sleep which you did both of.  AND you didn't feel right just before you got behind the wheel.  Yet you drove.  You are extremely luckly you didn't kill yourself or someone else.  Did you have to drive that day?  You couldn't have called a parent or friend to pick you up? You couldn't have just hung out at that friend's house for a while?  Was it a life and death situation? 

Yes, having epilepsy sucks sometimes especially when your a teenager or young adult and want to do all the things your friends do, I've been there, but YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE.  Many people with epilepsy don't even have the luxury of driving you have to take that responsibility seriously.  I know this sounds harsh but it comes from experience.  I have had a seizure while driving.  It was the only the second seizure I'd ever had so I did not know I had epilepsy.  The wreck was terrifying, well the aftermath, I don't remember the accident.  I was extremely lucky too, I left with a few cuts & bruises and no one else was hurt.  That accident was years ago and I still remember how lucky I am everytime I go by where it happened.  I drive now but my grand mals are under control and I only suffer from complex-partials.  I live in a very rural area so public transportation is not an option, but I take rides as much as possible, and if I feel the least bit of tired or wierd or that I may have a seizure I WILL NOT DRIVE.  I am one of the lucky that does have my license but I am responsible about it.  Having a condition like epilepsy makes you have to grow up faster and be a responsible adult.  So, as soon as your ready to grow up and accept that responsibility you'll be fine!      

Im sorry...  but what in the &#%$ were you thinking???  You know you have seizures. you know you're prone to seizures when you don't take your meds and don't get enough sleep which you did both of.  AND you didn't feel right just before you got behind the wheel.  Yet you drove.  You are extremely luckly you didn't kill yourself or someone else.  Did you have to drive that day?  You couldn't have called a parent or friend to pick you up? You couldn't have just hung out at that friend's house for a while?  Was it a life and death situation? 

Yes, having epilepsy sucks sometimes especially when your a teenager or young adult and want to do all the things your friends do, I've been there, but YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE.  Many people with epilepsy don't even have the luxury of driving you have to take that responsibility seriously.  I know this sounds harsh but it comes from experience.  I have had a seizure while driving.  It was the only the second seizure I'd ever had so I did not know I had epilepsy.  The wreck was terrifying, well the aftermath, I don't remember the accident.  I was extremely lucky too, I left with a few cuts & bruises and no one else was hurt.  That accident was years ago and I still remember how lucky I am everytime I go by where it happened.  I drive now but my grand mals are under control and I only suffer from complex-partials.  I live in a very rural area so public transportation is not an option, but I take rides as much as possible, and if I feel the least bit of tired or wierd or that I may have a seizure I WILL NOT DRIVE.  I am one of the lucky that does have my license but I am responsible about it.  Having a condition like epilepsy makes you have to grow up faster and be a responsible adult.  So, as soon as your ready to grow up and accept that responsibility you'll be fine!      

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