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Epilepsy and Driving

Mon, 06/13/2016 - 13:58
Greetings, everybody! I am 18 now and have had epilepsy since I was 12. My seizures occur anywhere between once every three months to two years depending on how well controlled they are. Anyways, after I started driving anytime I've actually had a seizure I haven't told my parents because I was worried that my license would get taken away (I live in a state where your license is suspended for 90 days if you have a seizure). I did not tell the DMV on the advice of my driver's Ed instructor (she honestly said my epilepsy didn't sound bad and she didn't want to deal with paperwork), but my parents do not allow me to drive for three months after a seizure. I personally agree with the state's more that take people with epilepsy on a case by case basis, because I know if I'm probably going to have epilepsy for the rest of my life 90 days won't honestly do anything if I'll probably have a seizure a few months or a year after. I personally do not think that my epilepsy would put me at risks for driving, and I also have an aura prior so I would have enough time to get off the road in case this happened. I also do not see how I could realistically apply this law to my life when I'm older: how am I supposed to have a job or any sort of a life when I'm older if I have to randomly not drive for three months? Right now, I have a part-time job and am dating and my family insists on driving me to everything now, which I find somewhat emberassing and I am honestly thinking of quitting my job because of this. I quit my schools cross country team after seizures at two consecutive meets and I don't really want quitting because of epilepsy to define who I am. I also know I can not pursue my dream of serving in the military because of epilepsy, too. One reason I am frustrated is because I know no one else with epilepsy, and whenever I have a seizure I feel different and bad, and most people I know can drive without having to worry about problems like this and they just seem to think my protests to not driving is unfounded and wrong, even when they don't even try to put themselves in my shoes. I'm not sure what the point of this, maybe just to hear other people's opinions who may have struggled with the same issue to weigh in on it to see if I'm just being unreasonable or if it's understandable.

Comments

OK so you have a seizure

Submitted by just_joe on Mon, 2016-06-13 - 17:56
OK so you have a seizure every 3 months to 2 years. When was the last time you saw your neurologist? When was the last time your dosage was changed? There are reasons for those questions.Each state has LAWS that are written to protect the people and one of them is driving and seizures. That law is to be followed even if it might hinder you for a short period of time. As for you not telling the DMV on the advice of your drivers ed instructor ( it makes no difference what she said or thinks) does she know what might happen if you have a seizure while driving? As for her dealing with the paperwork it is not her decission to fill it out she too can have problems by not reporting it if she is supposed to. Understand laws have regulations in them that can cause problems to anybody that knows you have seizures and that also refers to YOU TOO.Your parents do not let you drivefor a period of time since the law also would affect them. You think the state needs to take it on a case by case issue when each person is different just as their seizures are. You do not think your epilepsy would put you at riskfor driving.1. do you know that seizures can and do change over periods of time?You feel that you can pull over since you have auras.2. a person that has auras can also stop having them. Been there done that. I haven't had an aura since 1965. Without working how will you feed and cloth yourself? Without working how will you get the money to get your medications?How are you supposed to have a job or any sort of lifewhen you are older if you cand drive all the time? 3. A person can do thngs you seem to not think you can do without driving. I started having seizures when I was 12-13. I went 3 years without any seizures when back then the requirements were 2 years without a seizure. I was studying for my liense and had a seizure the day before I was going to have the test. That was back in 73. Since then I have gone 3-6 months without a seizure only to have one now and then. I have worked most of my life.I worked in many different carrers. I have been living and dealing with epilepsy for 50+ years, I have never gotten a license. I do know how to drive and can but only in an emergency. I wanted to serve but back then there was a draft. My draft card said 1Y elegiable in case of war or natural disaster. YUP it sucked. No one else you know has epilepsy... Have you asked everybody you know?? In high school I didn't know that there were other people I knew that had epilepsy.YUP three were 6-8 different kids in the school that had epilepsy. @ of which I had classes with.As for dating and epilepsy it wasn't eassy back in the 1960's either. Back then we didn;t get cars unless we got a used car and fixed it up. Dating can be done and was done and will be done in the future and parents do not need to drive you everywhere. Have you ever heard of DOUBLE DATES??? Ever think of catching a ride with a friend or someone you work with? OH and dack to dating I worked with Jonny Van and helped him get his car fixed. He knew I wanted to take someone. We traded thing off. My working on his car with us double dating.You want your parents to think about what you are going thru and put themselves in your shoes. Have you tried putting their shoes on? Have you researched enough to know that seizures can and do change. research can also show you that medication dosages can change. Medications can also not work like they used to because the body changes and one of those changes is it gets usedto a medication you have been taking. Been there done that. One of the best medication I had uses started causing problems. I had to be taken off it because I had gotten toxic on it after taking it for 35 years.1. If you haven't seen your neurologist in a period of time then see him. A dosage change could stop all your seizures, WHO knows.2. Always ask your neurologist questions. This post could be one of them since he can also tell you what he HAS TO DO if you have a seizure and you have a license. Since he can get in trouble for not following th regulations in the LAW.Research in here so you can find out different things that can be done to help you get seizure free.I hope you take this response the way I intended it to be takenJoe

Hi Josh,Having your parents

Submitted by nightfighter on Wed, 2016-06-29 - 11:39
Hi Josh,Having your parents drive you places is embarrassing. I went through this myself while I was I HS and College. I know it is a real pain in the ass but I can understand your frustration. The seizures could possibly last for your lifetime but please consider the value of other peoples lives. In my own opinion any person with this disorder has no business driving a car. I see people say they will have an aura which will give them enough time to pull over. This is NEVER a guarantee. Even mild seizures can easily progress into more complex seizures and sometimes a person does not have the capability to even realize he/she has been in a sz. I went through my entire life without a drivers license and am just glad I did not get careless enough to hurt another person. I would not let seizure activity stop me and turned my career into work for US Army Intelligence. Still a civilian but Intel. work was very satisfying. My best suggestion is to find a location and career where driving is not a necessity. Before working with the Army I was an X-Ray Tech. Hospital work was interesting and  I was on medication all the time... I know the value of human life and will never place myself into a position where I will be placing another person in danger again. Even without a license I tried driving 1 time in 1994 and really damaged the van I was driving. This was my wake up call that told me 1 time was 1 time too many. Good luck Josh , I know this is not going to be an easy decision for you.

Josh if I was in your shoes I

Submitted by nightfighter on Wed, 2016-06-29 - 11:53
Josh if I was in your shoes I would not try driving. I have had this disorder for 50 years. The 1 time decided to try driving I actually wrecked the car. Thankfully no person was hurt and I decided that I would never try again. Having an aura is no guarantee that you will have the time or capability to pull a car over. Just do not even try driving. The lives of other people are always valuable and you need to consider the possibility that you could kill another person. After coaching little kids for 6 years in baseball I just look at the pictures of these Kids and just say to myself.." I have done my best to be sure each of you will be safe as you drive on the roads ".  Not driving is a real pain in the ass but you can get through life without it. Good luck and God bless Josh. This will not be an easy decision.

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