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Driving and Absence Seizures

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 23:24

Since the end of 8th grade, I've had absence seizures, but I wasn't medically diagnosed until June of this year, and I just finised my Junior year of high school. When I turned 16, I did receive my learner's permit... I don't notice my seizures, but my family does, and from what I've heard, I have never had one while driving. When I snap out of it, I feel confused for a moment, and never once has that happened while driving, because I never felt confused like I normally do. But when I was diagnosed, thinking, since they are infrequent and mild, that I would be able to drive, even after the seizure specialist mentioned the driving with epilepsy law. I was wrong, it applies to me as well. And it totally sucks, being promised that I can use a spare car to drive to school my senior year, planning ahead what time I would leave for school, how I would get there, who I would drive, and then all of a sudden I told that I can't... until after my graduation (that's when the seizure free year would be over)... And to tell some of my close friends and family about it, to hear some say, it's for the safety of yourself, and others as well, made me feel like a complete hazard to the road! We learn in health class, that when you choose not to drink and drive, you will be saving yourself and others as well. I feel it's completely the same! It's been over a month, and I'm having a hard time grasping this... I constantly dwell on it, and I shouldn't be, but it was hard for me to hear...

Comments

Driving and absence seizures

Submitted by Carefulness on Wed, 2018-02-28 - 05:56
I can relate to what you are saying, when I have these seizures they can vary in volume and time but I think I'm fully 'conscious ' however I am informed otherwise. Most of my friends and family do not notice them occurring but I have watched videos of people going through these seizures and see quite clearly sometimes the person is gazing or daydreaming ..... My memory and word finding is terrible and forget things names places immediately and need to write everything down and hope to remember to read my notes. At times i think I can 'snap out of it' but the only way to be sure is to havemedical proof from neurological testing, guessing and taking risks with driving is i believe unacceptable!

Re: Driving and Absence Seizures

Submitted by amy71 on Mon, 2012-09-03 - 17:05

I agree it does SUCK!!! I'm 40 now and have had absence sezures  for about 30 years. When I was 19, I went and got my license anyway.. There were times I had a few fender benders, didnt stop me. One night I drove the wrong direction on the highway, didnt stop me. Got lost plenty of times, still didnt stop me.... Anyway, at 34 I had a baby and said I would NEVER drive with him in the car because i would be too paranoid something could happen to him. Kinda selfish of me when you think of it because that means im only thinking about my child and not anyone elses... About a year and half later my sons dad passed away with cancer. Then I didnt know what to do?? I figured I had no choice but to drive with him..Well, wouldnt you know it, the second time i had my son in the car i had a seizure, drove up a rock, and flipped the car completely over.  I havent driven since. Neither one of us was hurt Thank GOD!!!! Im not religious, but i knew that that was his way of telling me that i was going to have to live without driving.  I'll be honest, it can be awful somtimes/alot of times and seem not fair not to be able to just get up and go and get where you want, but you have to think of the way you would feel if God for bid you killed somebodys child in an accident, or how your family would feel if they lost you. So not fair.. Hopefully maybe they'll find the perfect med for you and you can drive in the future.

 Good luck.

I agree it does SUCK!!! I'm 40 now and have had absence sezures  for about 30 years. When I was 19, I went and got my license anyway.. There were times I had a few fender benders, didnt stop me. One night I drove the wrong direction on the highway, didnt stop me. Got lost plenty of times, still didnt stop me.... Anyway, at 34 I had a baby and said I would NEVER drive with him in the car because i would be too paranoid something could happen to him. Kinda selfish of me when you think of it because that means im only thinking about my child and not anyone elses... About a year and half later my sons dad passed away with cancer. Then I didnt know what to do?? I figured I had no choice but to drive with him..Well, wouldnt you know it, the second time i had my son in the car i had a seizure, drove up a rock, and flipped the car completely over.  I havent driven since. Neither one of us was hurt Thank GOD!!!! Im not religious, but i knew that that was his way of telling me that i was going to have to live without driving.  I'll be honest, it can be awful somtimes/alot of times and seem not fair not to be able to just get up and go and get where you want, but you have to think of the way you would feel if God for bid you killed somebodys child in an accident, or how your family would feel if they lost you. So not fair.. Hopefully maybe they'll find the perfect med for you and you can drive in the future.

 Good luck.

Well done, you are doing the

Submitted by Carefulness on Wed, 2018-02-28 - 05:59
Well done, you are doing the right thing! I hope in the future uour seizures will be fully controlled enough for you to be safe to drive again ☺

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