Driving with a known seizure condition

[ranman]

I went 23 yrs seizure free and I was of the strong opinion that if I were to have an "aura" or get that feeling just before a grande-mal while I was driving, I would be able to pull over in plenty of time, but since found out that it's like playing Russian Roulette, I was fooling myself. I had a minor incident in a parking lot and as a result, I had my licence suspended.I still drove for 2 yrs but I was just lucky that nothing happened. After driving my whole adult life and then having my licence stripped away, I felt like part of my freedom was taken away. It could happen at ANY time and you won't have time to pull over. So again I ask you is it worth the gamble?

Did you hear about the lady in Florida last week that had a siezure while driving and her licence was under suspention for medical reasons?

She drove her SUV through a school bus drop off area and hit some kids. (not sure how many were killed)

As well as facing criminal charges, she will be living with this guilt for the rest of her life and never be able to get insurance.

I'm sorry but I have a problem with people who have a KNOWN seizure condition and continue to drive and then there's me who has a siezure condition that has been under control for 25 yrs and I've had mine suspended. To me that seems very irresponsible.

I am also on disability for my epilepsy and ulcerative colitis so I really don't need to drive but I'd like to have that freedom again.

Randy

[fourstar]

Growing up in Nyc and moving to Montreal I never had to drive nor did I want too. Before I was diagnosed with epilepsy I went go cart
riding with my friends I was 10 yrs old and I crashed into a haystack. All my friends laughed at me, I was so humilated,I swore I never
drive, than I was diagnosed with epilepsy. When I got married to a quebecer he wanted me to learn how to drive in case of an emergency. I was terrified and learned the minimum, he soon realized I had no perception and driving was not for me. I have never
understood how anyone with epilepsy could drive,you just never know when you will lose control and the thought of hurting someone.
I could never live with that. But their are pple who do drive. I guess its a very personal decision. I now live in Portland ,Or and they have a good train and bus system. I will never drive and will always live with their is public transportation.

fourstar

[Mandi]

This subject is always very heated and interesting. Randy, so glad you made the post.

For those of you that don't know my story yet, I am in fact allowed to drive. I've had my liscense taken away before, but at the present moment have the green light to drive. I've only driven a handful of times since then however in about 9 months. I'm lucky enough to know when I can plan for my seizures. I never drive during my period because that's my danger zone.

It's such a really personal decision. My concern is people have a seizure, and 6 months later get the OK from the Doc to drive again. They think this means they are out of danger and they can't seize behind the wheel. That's simply not true.

I don't know where my opinion lies to tell you the truth. I just hope that we all are careful in making our decisions. Lives can be changed, and ended, in a matter of moments.

[andrew]

I've never been sure on the law, at least in England. You can't drive a year after having a seizure, but does that include auras as well?

It's hypothetical anyway in my case. I've never felt confident enough to learn how to drive and certainly not after getting epilepsy. I can basically function when I'm having an aura but my concentration's not great. About the same as if I'm extremely tired or have had a few drinks, and I wouldn't like to be driving then either. Most of the time you'd be OK but could you react in time if, say, someone suddenly ran out in front of you?

But like Mandi says, it's a personal decision. Not least because people experience auras in different ways. As a P.S: in Britain at least, if you can't drive because of epilepsy you can get a disabled rail card. And in some places, free bus travel as well.

Andrew

[heidihope]

I've only been driving for a few months. My dad gave me his old car when he bought a new one. He said he trusted me to use good judgement, and if I ever started feeling even slightly off, I had to call him or one of my friends. I've had once where I had to pull over at a gas station, b/c my right leg started shaking, and that's usually one of my first signs. I'd been following my boyfriend, on our way back to my place, so he pulled over as well, and drove my car home and went back later to get his. That was scary, but I have a lot of friends scattered around the town where I live, and I can call any one of them in a pinch. It doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing, I know I can get a ride. I think that's the only way I am willing to drive. Most of my seizures happen late at night, so I don't drive in those hours. If I wake up feeling off, I don't drive at all that day either. But I love the independence of being able to drive myself. I've never had my license taken away, or been reported to the DMV, and since I have a good warning time before a seizure, my reg. doc said it was really a personal decision, and so long as I was seeing her regularly and taking care of myself, I could drive. A lot of people say I shouldn't, but just as many say it's alright. I understand both sides, and while I was always afraid of driving before, I really enjoy it now.