Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group
Epilepsy (often referred to as a seizure disorder) is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is commonly controlled with medication, although surgical methods are used as well. Seizures (or convulsions) are temporary abnormal electrophysiologic phenomena of the brain, resulting in abnormal synchronization of electrical neuronal...
So last Thursday while I was driving I had a seizure. All I remember is driving home from work during rush hour traffic. I started to feel a little bit funny and was going to pull over and then the next thing I know I'm on the side of the road with my car facing the traffic. This was a horrible exerience, so if you are thinking about driving and you are still having seizures I wouldn't advise doing it. Once I realized what happened I started panicing because I thought that I hurt someone. I don't think I did but I was still freaking out. I could barely move, I couldn't talk. The cops were there and asking me questions and although I eventually was lucid enough to understand that they were asking me questions and understand enough to come up with answers when I would try to answer all that would come out was garbled up mess. It made no sense and evenually the cops gave up asking me questions and just assured me that the ambulance was on the way. I now have absolutely no desire to drive ever. I've been having grand mal seizures since Dec 2010 and they are still not under control. I've been on numerous medicines but they either give me horrible side effects or I still seize. I'm trying my hardest not to give up but there are days when I really just want to throw all the medicine out the window. This past seizure has really hit me hard. Even though its been a week, I still am extremely tired and getting fatigued very easily. Today was my first day back at work, and I had to take the train. It took me almost 4 hours to get to work and by the time I got here I almost collapsed and was in tears. I just don't know how much more I can take. I keep telling myself that I can do it and I just have to stay strong and keep going. I know there are people out there that have it way way worse than me. I just guess right now is just a bad moment for me. I just want to be able to live a normal life without having to worry about seizures and without having to see my husband's worried face everytime after I have a seizure. It's heartbreaking.
I am driving again now and having weird visual disturbances and disorientation and dizziness. My grand mals are controlled now, I convuslions that I was awake for a few weeks ago but have not had a clonic tonic since feb 2011 and I am coherant enough to drive but that is always a fear in the back of my head.
We think my sister had a seizure a year ago at the wheel, she used to have seizure but had been seizure free for 20 years. Her seat belt severed her bowels, my nephew broke his neck and the car flipped upside down and burst into flames...they were rescued by an amazing man who managed to get my nephew out without paralayzing him, even though his neck was shattered. I am glad to hear that no one was hurt in your accident.
My step brother had a seizure on his motor cycle on the highway and managed to come out unscathed.
I have no idea why they are allowing me to drive, if I have the hint of not feeling well I don;t leave the house. My docs reported me again last year and this year but the MTO says it is not up to the docs it is their call.
I usually have very long aura's (several hours)
But that is for sure my greatest fear.
I am currently off work because I have been having a lot of dizziness and disorientation and abdominal seizures. I know the frustration of trying to work and it being so hard or just not doable.
My mind thinks like an able body person (when I get back to work) my body says otherwise. A minor car accident (our truck was hit by a hit and run driver) brought my pain and siezures on 9 years later I keep thinking I will get better. My doc finally told me, I will not get better....he may as well have punched me in the gut.
You may have to take some time off work or just be off work for your own health, wearing ourselves thin is a trigger for siezures. You need to take care of yourself for safety sake.
my body) I cannot. After coming to terms with this
I was able to move forward and have been seizure free for almost 3 years now. Having something that is semi unexplainable and not always controllable in everyone can play some serious mind games. Putting my confidence and trust in a higher power has made a major difference in my outlook on life.