Driving with epilepsy

[eslucas]

I got my drivers license when I was 16. In my entire lifetine , I had gotten only 3 tickets (2 as a teen, last one 27 years ago), involved in 2 accidents, one I rear ended a guy when I was 17 and got hit by a drunk when I was 20.

My record was great for 27 years. Then I had my first grand mal May 2001 and I voluntarily relinquished my license.

For someone who is totally independant, and able to accomplish whatever goals they set out,to suddenly have to rely on others to "Take Them Someplace" is a bigger bust in the chops than the diagnosis of the disorder!

Asking, neighbors, friends and relitives to "please take me to the _____" (fill in the blank) just makes you feel less of a human. I am the kind of person who seldom asks for help. And to ask for rides when I appear to be so healthy just was awful. I wanted to drive myself to the store, do my own errands. My husband never had to do the business end of our lives before. He had left thet up to me, now it was dumped in his lap. Let's add resentment to my humiliation, and lack of understanding. We were overwhelmed. I cannot count the number of fights we had because of this (and still do)

In fact I was never left alone for the first 2-3 years. I had experianced a few drop seizures, a few "run like hell to anywhere but here" seizures (one of those in the car), 100's of simple, and maybe 20 complex. It was degrading. I wanted my space. if I was taking a shower and dropped the shampo bottle, someone would come running in thinking I had a seizure. I know they were scared too, but I was NEVER alone!

But somehow we managed. I learned to ride the bus system and was familar to the drivers. I even got a job on the Air Force Base.

Here in Nevada you have to be seizure free for 3 months. I finally reached that mark this past February and was able to reinstate my license. If you have never had the freedom of driving, than you really don't comprehend the stripping of your freedom when you lose that license for medical reasons. I have been taking a chance by driving short trips this past year, like up to work or the store. But I don't really do all that much driving now.

Just having that little plastic card brings me a sense of my old self back. To be able to do what I want, when I want.

Wow! Your problem losing the privelage to drive and the psychological impact it has had on you is very similar to my own. I know exactly how you feel. I had to stop driving 8 years ago. I'm also very independent but now I have to ask my husband to drive me places. You would think after that long I would adjust to the reality but it still bothers me all the time. There's nothing worse then having your personal freedom taken away from you. It won't be too long before my step-daughter will learn how to drive and the possibility of a 16 year old with a big 'ego' driving me around will be a big blow to my self-esteem. I know I will have to be the mature one and not let it get to me. It really sucks when you pay for 1/2 the car and you can't drive it. I guess we've put our 'egos' aside and be grateful that we have family who can drive us around when there are some people with epilepsy who don't have that help. I sincerely hope the negative impact of not driving lessens for you. Hang in there.