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Driving with epilepsy
Tue, 02/19/2013 - 19:48I could really use some advice and opinions. Months ago I had a seizure while driving. Luckily I wasnt hurt, I simply drove into the guide rail and no one else was involved. I havent had a seizure since and have been feeling great. Medicine levels are great too. My question is at what point do I drive again? I know the requirements legally and I have my license now. But at what point is it "okay" for me to drive. I spent 20 years of my life driving with epilepsy and never had a problem. But now that this has happened to me I just dont know how I go back to driving. If I go back to driving. I live in a place where the only way to do anything is to drive. Its a small town, luckily there is one very limited bus that I am able to take to at least get to the store. But this has left me unable to work or have any sort of life. So for anyone who may have had a seizure while driving or even anyone who worries about having one, how to you get to a place where you feel like its ok to get behind the wheel again?
Comments
Re: Driving with epilepsy
Submitted by pkdz on Tue, 2013-02-19 - 21:45
I went with the law, which here in Wisconsin is three months seizure free. I did some easy drives first, since I hadn't driven in over a year. I had at least three complex partial seizures while driving, which I only realized after the fact. Once I realized I was having seizures, I became familiar with the postictal state (the feeling of disorientation following seizures). I realized then that I had seizures while driving. Yikes. When I had a seizure in my 20s, I voluntarily gave up my license and I had to go through five years of assessments and paperwork to the DOT. When I started having seizures in 2007, the ER doctor told me that I could just not drive (rather than voluntarily give up my license.) That's the approach I took. I didn't drive again until I was three months seizure free. Good luck!
Re: Driving with epilepsy
Submitted by izzy16323 on Tue, 2013-02-19 - 21:47
Oh I know the legal requirements. I guess I am referring more to how you personally get back to the point where you can drive. I mean, just because legally I am allowed to drive or just because my doctor says I am okay to drive that doesnt really mean anything. I was allowed to drive before and out of the blue I had a seizure while driving and crashed my car. So even if you are legally allowed and medically allowed how do you get to the point where you personally allow yourself to drive knowing that there is absolutely no way to know when you might have a seizure.
Re: Driving with epilepsy
Submitted by toddswed2169 on Tue, 2013-02-19 - 21:37
you need to check on your states restrictions. You have to be a certain amount of time seizure free before you can drive. And that needs to be written by your doctor that you can get back behind the wheel.
Its called the honor system, and you need to make sure you get an ok from your neuro.
you need to check on your states restrictions. You have to be a certain amount of time seizure free before you can drive. And that needs to be written by your doctor that you can get back behind the wheel.
Its called the honor system, and you need to make sure you get an ok from your neuro.