Hello Pooch83, I also have Epilepsy and i'm able to drive. Now i dont know what state you are in but for california it is that the ER doc or your doc will pull your license. Now did the hospital say that the wreck was cause by having a seizure?? In california they will pull your license for six month and then see if you can get it back.

Now for the insurance adjuster is asking for a letter from your doc about your seizures, i dont know if you have to give it to them. But i would sit down with your doctor and lay everthing out for him. Like you are starting over again in your life. Mostly tell him that if you lose your license you may lose your job. There is a chance that your doc may work with you on this, like tell the insurance adjuster that you ok to drive or something like that. But i don't know if your doc would do that.

I had a doc that wanted to pull my license and i told him that if he did that i would have to quite my job. So he did pull it but did tell me only drive to work and back and that was it. so that is what i did for a month.

One more thing, your can lose his license if he let you drive and if you get in a car wreck and it was cause by having a seizure. Like i said set him down and spell it all out to him.

Good luck i hope it works out for and please let me know what is going happen. If you dont mine.

Kyle

Pooch83, not driving is a challenge, but NOT AN INSURMOUNTABLE ONE. I gave up my license when I developed seizures after a tbi in 1985. I decided that the risk of having a seizure while driving and risking killing myself or someone else was NOT something I wanted with which I wanted to deal. I live in a section of Northern CA where the bus service is bad, but it exists. I just take along a book when I must use public transportation. I've also discovered the joys of walking and car-pooling. This latter solution may be the answer for you and work. Driving is nice, but it's certainly not necessary to work and lead a full life. GOOD LUCK.

Thanks to both of you. For one, I live in Louisiana. A small town where public transportation doesn't exist. And my doctor is well aware of my seizures and he never asked me how I'm getting around. But I'm sure he is aware that I drive myself. I will make an appointment to talk to him. I just got papers in the mail to be filled out by him, producing medical records of all kinds. I will explain all of this. I'm recently divorced and living on my own. I need to be able to drive to keep my job and support myself. I still have my license. The er doc didn't say for certain I had a seizure. He could only speculate. My doctor has all the tests results. I will ask him when I see him. I just have to keep trying. But it's working on my last nerve. My sobriety seems to be the only thing keeping me going right now. This is all very rough for me. Thanks.

I heard you cannot have seizures for a year, but it is 2 years and you can only have patitemals the walking and talking type because your alert.

now, I was just told once again by my doctor that you can't have any epileptic activity at all for 6-months before you are allowed to drive. seizure-free for 6 months? I don't think I've ever gone 6 weeks without having a seizure!! I'm 25, I've never had my driver's liscence at all, and having to be dependant on others to take me everywhere is soooo irritating!!!

I experienced one episode when I was about to get my learners permit, but it was while transitioning to another med...I was able to drive on time due to that being the reason for the seizure...I have since switched to lamictal, and have been on short term dis and have not been driving, I did experience a seizure for the first time in 12 yrs 2 wks ago, again most likely bc I didnt have enought of either drug in my system...I am also very scared of losing my freedom and drivers license...also very sick of the inside of the apartment...i wish you all the best, be safe and good luck!

LIKE I HAVE STATED IN MY PROFILE I'M DISABLED FROM SEIZURES AND CAN'T DRIVE BECAUSE OF THIS AND FEEL TRAPPED IN MY HOUSE. THERE ARE DAYS AND TIMES WHEN I WOULD LIKE 2 GO PLACES BUT HAVE NO WAY OF GOING. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DOESN'T EXIST WHERE I LIVE AND I TRY TO GIVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS A BREAK. ANY IDEAS?

Here's an update. I had a neighbor friend of mine help me with the car insurance issue. Now I have another appt. with my doctor about my driver's license. I will plead my case with him once again, stating the importance of keeping my license. I am a single woman, working to support myself. I have nobody to rely on for 6 months for a ride to work and such. I will ask if he will let me keep it, even if it's to drive to and from work for 6 months. I can't afford to lose my job. I've lost enough already. And to al1ne? Do have any neighbors around to help you from time to time? My neighbors where I live are giving me rides to work and places in town where I need to go. To give my family members a break. And I am truly greatful. Things are starting to look hopeful once again. Good luck to you.

Hi Kyle,
Just re-reading your post again. The insurance is ready to settle...finally. I go back to my doctor next Tuesday. He has the form that needs to be filled out concerning my license. I will ask him not to pull it. I will explain to him about losing my job if I lose it. I will also agree to do whatever he wants to prove I'm taking my meds as directed. That's all I can do. I'll keep you posted. Thanks.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation's website, for the state of Louisiana: *

Louisiana Driver Licensing Laws
Seizure-Free Period 6 months, with doctor's statement
Periodic Medical Updates Required After Licensing At discretion of DMV
Doctors Required to Report Epilepsy No
DMV Appeal of License Denial Yes

I live in the state of Washington, and, prior to my surgery, I voluntarily surrendered my right to drive -- and I live six miles out in the country where there is NO public transportation, just apple, cherry, and pear orchards. My reasoning was simple:
1) I wanted to be legal.
2) I wanted my son to have a mother,
3) I didn't want to hurt anyone if I had a seizure behind the wheel, and
4) being alive is a lot more important than being able to drive. As often as I was having seizures (petit mal, complex partials, and simple partials) It wasn't a matter of IF I had an accident so much as WHEN.

I live in New Zealand and if you have two seizures witin one year you aren't allowed to drive. I'm border line on that one. Much as I hate to say it, I'm glad for that, I frighten myself driving because I don't remember much of it - the driving I mean. I have to drive 3/4 an hour to work and it scares me. Anyway, that's my two cents.

Have a great day!

K

FREEDOM! I know your feeling. I've had 4 seizures, the first 3 were only when I was asleep, and the doc said I could drive after 3 months of being seizure free. Of course, this was when she thought they were nocturnal only. The last seizure I had (they're all grand mal) I was awake! There I was, just making a sandwich for lunch the next day and that's the last I remember. I woke up under the table and my husband carried me to the couch. Since then I haven't drove, doc said 6 months seizure free. Very frustrating. I feel like I've lost all of my freedom. I'm going stir crazy. I have an 8 month old, and I can't even buy her diapers without somebody helping me. We bought this house when everything in our lives seemed perfect, and we bought a house that is about 12 miles from everything because it was a better deal. So, I wait at home all day. And feel bad when I ask hubby to take me grocery shopping when he's had a really long day at work. I'm tired of calling friends and family to do everything. They (I love them very much) but they drive me crazy. It feels like they want to come help when I just want to be alone. When I need to take our baby to the doc or go myself, they are always busy. Its amazing how many appointments there are between a person with epilepsy and a newborn baby!

Anyway, good luck to you. I should look up my state laws too I guess. I've purposely not looked because I don't want to know if I am breaking a law if I do drive. (Though I don't, I'm following the doctors orders.) Because for all I know, my doc isn't versed in the state laws.

I don't drive, mostly because I want to keep my baby safe. I told my husband this and we got in a huge fight. He's mad that I don't want to keep myself safe. I think I would take the risk if it were just about me (and if it didn't bother him), and of course, if I weren't risking other people too. My grandpa got killed in a car accident by a drunk driver when my mom was young, so I never met him.

It's stupid but driving with epilepsy is pretty much like driving drunk. You don't know what kind of damage that you might or might not cause. But it's SOOOOOO stupid and unfair because I didn't do something stupid like get drunk, and then decide to drive. It makes me mad that life is unfair like this. Wish I could drive to a mommy group and make some friends. =D

yes its possible to drive while having epilepsey but it just depends on how severe ur epilepsey is.

hi. now first of all....if you have been seizure free for a year, thats in my state, you will be able to drive again. driving and having seizures is a very serious matter. could kill yourself and others as well. you dont want to go threw that, i am sure. loosing your license is not the end of the world. I had a car, was so happy, had many seizures while driving. could have killed my self alone with others. god saw what i was doing , when i was driving one day, i had a seizure, almost killed myself but my time wasnt up yet, i am still here, : ) so he got the message to my neurologist and had me to stop driving until my seizures were better under control....getting an vns inplant...may be a blessing. will send a signal to the brain when a seizure is about to happen and before it happens, we can stop what we are doing and let the seizure pass by. look into it. no, dont feel to bad about not driving, there are other means of transportation for those with an " disability ". If i was you i would apply for your disability again. to try to get some kind of benifits since you are saying that , is it your husbands, insurance will run out. you may just be a scared, dont be afraid. just a new way of adjusting to life. life changes every day for all of us. we just have to adjust and carry on. live the best way you can. the more you come to realize the problem , the better you will be able to handle it..........dont forget , you are not by yourself, and by the grace of god.....we are living a normal life. I am here for you always.....god bless you........loveya...hx