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Driving with Epilepsy

Mon, 12/29/2014 - 00:58

this isn't just about losing my license. I got my license back already. My family however is trying to convince me that I shouldn't be driving at all. ever.  They say that because i cant tell when my seizures are coming I am putting everyone on the road in danger everytime I drive and I am just being selfish for wanting to drive. My doctor has cleared me to drive but they say that doesnt matter. My family has been filling my head with scenarios where i have a seizure while driving and someone dies.

I would like to hear the opinions of people who know more about epilepsy. am i really just selfishly putting other people at risk when i drive?

Comments

WelcomeToday the time frame

Submitted by just_joe on Mon, 2014-12-29 - 08:40
WelcomeToday the time frame for getting your license back is minimal compared to when I was in my 20's. There are laws with regulations that require people to be notified when a person that has seizures to have their licenses restricted or revoked. If the dostor notifies the DMV then you can get it back. In other words the DMV can restore your license. Now that does not mean you should just go out and drive because yo uwant to. I know where you are comming from. I am the one whit epilepsy. I had gone 3 years without any seizures period. I have had no warning of having a seizure. I had been studying for my license when I had a seizure which was a focal seizure in which I burned  myself badly. I didn't take the test and I still have seizures from time to time. I know how to drive and wil if there is an emergency. Your family is doing what they think to pprotect both you and others. Think about what would hapen if you start driving again after being approved to drive and after a year or so you have a seizure? Could you get hurt? Hurt someone? Or even kill you or soneone else? . Or not control the car while taking a turn and run into a house or building? I know their thoughts. I also know what my thought were and I wanted to drive like everybody else was doing. I also know it can be restricting since I lived miles away from the city that had bowling allies, Movies theaters and anything else people wanted to do. I still went places but I got there with friends who drove. Double dates. I had some friends that had cars. I could fix some of the things they needed fixing so trade out was fine. Why not try going another 6-8 months to show you understand their issue but they can then see from your point of view... I will not tell yopu don't drive. I will tell you  if you are living under their roof then they control whats under their roof. If you think your parents or family are being hard on you then discuss this issue with them. Bring in the papers your neurologist filled out and what the DMV said and set down. Today medications can control epilepsy and seizures better then they did 15 years ago and newer medicatins are being worked on. There are other procedures that help.  Hope this helps and you stay seizure free.....  Joe

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