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How Many Drive?

Thu, 09/06/2007 - 12:38
I'm just curious how many people drive? I'm at the point where I am on medication, its been 4 months, and my doctor is okay with my driving again. I am just waiting for DMV's approval. My history is I have had (2) gran mal seizures in the past 3 1/2 years. One 3.5 years ago and one 4 months ago. I am now on Tegretol. I did not have any history of seizures prior to this (at least not known to us but the doctors suspects I might have unknowingly) and I found out it does run in the family. I am 40 years old. I am a super-busy mom. This has been so hard to deal with. I am very lucky because I have a wonderful support system to shuttle us about, but I know everyone must be getting weary although they NEVER complain to me. Public transportation in our city is not only a joke-- it is unsafe. Part of me can't wait to get my license back. The other part of me is scared to death. I have already told my support system even if DMV does give me my license back there will still be days I won't want to drive. There are days the meds really get to me. I can handle the nausea, but there are days I feel "weak". I don't want to risk driving if I don't feel 100%. I would never risk my family-- or anyone else's. How does everyone cope with this? How do you cope with the physical as well as the emotional part? Thanks for any input. ~ Believe

Comments

Re: How Many Drive?

Submitted by Seruzies on Mon, 2008-03-31 - 22:06
LOL! In re-reading this topic, I had to take a look back at the times when I could drive from the day I turned 16, up until about a few years ago when I moved from a state with a 1 month wait to drive after a seizure to a 6 month to wait after a seizure. When I lived in a 1 month state, I worked for a Chrysler dealership, and had access to just about any Chrysler vehicle I wanted. I did drive a Dodge Viper that belonged to the owner of the dealership, he loved me, I was making more money for his dealership than he'd seen in years. I was Used Car Mgr. for the store, and drove just about any car I wanted to. I took full advantage of it too, one time for a week I was driving a 2 year old Corvette with only 6,000 miles on it. It had over 8,000 on it when I gave it back. I was allowed to drive any one year old used car on the lot and never paid for gas. I guess you'd have to say I was kinda' spoiled. Now, I don't even bother owning a car because paying insurance, registration, and upkeep on a car is a joke. If and when I do get my DL back, I don't plan on buying much of a car because of the cost of it, and the fact that I'll wind up getting rid of it before the current insurance policy is up. Six months after a seizure to not drive should not be  state law, it should be up to the patients Dr as everyone is different.   

Re: How Many Drive?

Submitted by Orien2 on Tue, 2008-04-01 - 03:54
It's only illegal if you get caught plenty of folks drive with revoked licences.  What are you worried about theorically we should already be  dead. 

Re: How Many Drive?

Submitted by bleedingheart on Wed, 2008-04-02 - 00:16
I started driving in 1985, while on Depakene. But I had a seizure in 1986 so I lost my licence for 5 years. Then I was on Tegretol and stayed seizure free for 13 years. In 2004 I had a seizure under a Doctor's supervised medication withdrawal. I lost my licence for 5 weeks because the doctor helped me get it back. I have been driving since then and no seizures have occured. Sometimes driving is not fun when you have to deal with the idiots who don't have epilepsy but have a attitude problem. But at least I can get the groceries in one trip. And I can give others a lift if needed.

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