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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 thompson5 on Wed, 2013-03-13 - 19:09
I know exactly where your coming from my seizure's were controlled I held a driving licence, I had been seizure free for about five years when on the way to work a had a seizure while driving I drove my car for about half a mile, I didn't hit any oncoming traffic I ran into two parked cars I couldn't remember a thing luckily I was followed by a man who's brother had epilepsy and he rang for an ambulance , I was in hospital over- night and on the way home the next morning with my wife we stopped at the police station and I handed in my licence, I have never driven again but every day I consider myself so lucky I didn't kill myself but worse still someone else as I could never of lived with that - as much as I loved driving I will never drive again even if I have to walk everywhere !!
Re: Driving with epilepsy
Submitted by izzy16323 on Mon, 2013-03-04 - 22:48
I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to reply to my post. It is so greatly appreciated and it helps so much to know that there are people out there who are going through the same thing I am. I have done a lot of thinking lately and I think I have decided to start looking into moving about an hour from where I am now to a bigger area where there is more public transportation. This could give me more opportunities to actually have a life, maybe even find a job. Not only that but it would put me closer location wise to being able to maybe find a neurologist that I have more faith in and who is more knowledgeable on Epilepsy than the doctor I see now. I have been stuck with him though because he is the only one in this area and I have no way to get to anyone else. There is a lot I need to look into before I can make any decisions but I am feeling pretty good about the possibility and the doors that it could open for me. Am still working on the switch from Depakote to Keppra. So far so good. I increase the Keppra this coming Friday. But anyways, thanks again so much for actually taking the time to reply to me. I am very grateful :)