I need your help! Seizures and Driving in Michigan

Hi.. First off..the verdict is already in.. "..my doctor still says that i may not drive for 6 months, since that is what Michigan law says" No matter what other tests say, you had a seizure, end of story. As far as other tests for epilepsy go, they are generally not given to anyone until they have more than one seizure, as MANY have only one seizure in their lives. "About half of the people who have one seizure without a clear cause will have another one, usually within 6 months." http://www.epilepsy.com/101/ep101_seizure.html There are varying types of tests. The EEG, (preiviously mentioned) directly measures the electrical activity in the brain; however, many people that do have epilepsy have negative EEGs. http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/eeg_normal.html Re:"I an almost 100% positive i do not have epilepsy, and that the seizure was simply a result of too much caffeine and not enough sleep" I found that statement rather funny as 1/2 of all cases of E are idiopathic (have no known cause) & if too much caffine and not enough sleep 'typically' caused seizures in people, epilepsy would be rampant ...especially at universities. Bottom line, for the sake of safety on the road, including your own, it makes more sense to cope for 6 months of not driving. Better that than drive & risk having another seizure and possiby die or be forced to live with killing somone. I wish you the best & 6 months will pass rapidly, ~sol

Hi Brau. Sol is right : 1. Your doctor has suspended your license 2. People who have a seizure usually have more within a short time 3. EEGs are not totally accurate. I had one turn out normal even though I had a seizure during the test. You'd best start looking for alternative arrangements. Not having a license can be hard, but it's not the worst thing in the world. I don't know where you live in Michigan but I imagine there is transit where you are. I get everywhere on transit. I used to work afternoons downtown and took our rapid transit line all the way in. I had to walk 20 minutes both ways. I now work mornings and I'm up at 3.30 am. I walk down to the transit line every morning, take it a few stops, and then catch a bus to work. While not having a license can affect mobility, you do have a choice in remaining active or not. :)

Brau, I live in MI too. When I first got the news I was just like you. I had spent the day at Cedar Point, was up late, and drank lots of caffeine but all that won't do a d**n thing to get your license back. The MI driving law doesn't specify epileptic seizures. Believe me I checked it thoroughly! Remember when you first obtained or last renewed your license at the Secretary of State and the person at the counter asked have you had any seizures or blackouts in the past six months? Having to answer yes to that question will suspend one's licsense. Maybe it was caffeine along with lack of sleep. I would get a second opinion and an EEG done to see if you do have epilepsy. If you do hopefully medication will work and you will be back on the road in no time. Six months is not really that long.