another newbie

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

D

driven

New
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Hi all,

I already feel like I'm in hiding and I don't want to "hide" on here, so, I'm going to come clean ... but just on here, LOL.

I have not been diagnosed with epilepsy however I fear that is the underlying cause of problems I have. I'm worried about going to my doctor with this for one reason only: it's my understanding that I'll lose my driver's licence for at least a year.

I know that probably sounds ridiculous but I live in a rural area where there is no public transportation and I am currently job hunting. I'm already in serious financial trouble due to no income and losing my licence at this point would be a death blow.

Can anyone tell me if the licence-loss thing is absolute. I've been told it is but I'm trying to confirm that. Unfortunately, the seizures I experience are always while driving (light, motion and spatial patterns induce) and yet I've handled and coped with this on my own for 30 years. I've never had an accident that was related to these episodes and I always make sure I can get off the road quickly if I feel one coming on.

So - is it absolute? If come clean with my doctor ... does anyone think I have a chance to keep my licence?

Thanks for any input!!!
 
Where do you live? I live in Texas and it is illegal here for a doctor to report you to DPS. The rule is you cannot drive if you have had a seizure within 6 months, that being said...I drive
 
Hello JGB,

I'm a Canadian from Ontario. It's my understanding here that doctors must report you as they have a duty to do so. I've also been told that one must undergo treatment and be seizure-free for one year before the licence is given back.

I'd love to go to my doctor with this but I'm scared to death of what will happen!
 
Sorry, not up on the Candian laws...but lots of Canadians on here that can help you.
Welcome to our home
Jenn
 
Welcome driven

No need to hide on this site.

I'm from Ontario originally (Ottawa) but am in BC until I move back sooner or later. As far as the Ont. law is concerned you have to go a year without a seizure (used to be 3 years). If you can do that, with or without meds, you get your license back.

I've lived in rural Canada so I know how hard it can be without a vehicle. Actually I found most people to be very helpful in smaller communities. I got lifts that I'd never get in the city. What everyone told me was to get an ATV since there were dirt roads & paths that went everywhere the roads did, and more.

The problem is that you don't know if your seizures can be easily controlled. I think it'd be sad to not allow yourself to be diagnosed and possibly rid yourself of these spells for fear of losing your license.

In the meantime you might want to research the alternative options & various diets. A few people here have had success with the neurofeedback. http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/index.php?p=alternative-treatments
 
i agree with epileric. it will suck if u cant fix this and it would be as simple as taking a med. it mustve been very difficult for you dealing with this for the last 30yrs. i really hope u can come up with an alternative but if not, i think its time to tell the doc. what if it changes in degree. it would suck to actually get in an accident. i always think im in control then BOOM i have a seizure. not saying your like that but i've found in my own personal journey that it was better to come clean. altho where i live the laws are similar to texas. good luck with everything.
 
Welcome driven!

Sounds like a tough situation. I do think it's worth seeing the doctor if there's a chance that you can find treatment for the seizures. Here in Massachusetts you're not allowed to drive for 6 months after a seizure, but the doctors aren't required to tell the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. I have driven s ooner than 6 month period -- in part because I have a good handle on when I'm safe to drive and when I'm not. But it's definitely a personal decision about a calculated risk.
 
Hi there and Welcome!
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I used to live in Sudbury (well a tiny town called Onaping/Levack, near Chelmsford and Dowling) I just got my licence taken away but I haev never really driven anyway. Plus there is public transit. I will be able to get my licence back when I have been seizure free for a year. But I'm not sure I want it back

If I were still in my small town, I am not sure how I would get around If i did not have a fiance that drove (he drives me when hes off work to where ever i need to go) Do your parents live with you or near you? how about a boyfriend/girlfriend or buddy to drive you?
 
When did you have your last seizure, how many have you had. Do you have any idea what has contributed to your seizures.

Did you know that making nutritional changes MIGHT actually eliminate seizure activity?

So... there are some alternative things you can try while "waiting" to see a doctor. You just have to be committed to making changes in your lifestyle.
 
Hi Rae,

I've been reading your posts and that of your wonderful fiance. I think you're really blessed to have him in your life!!

Nope, there's no one to help as far as driving goes. I'm not in a small town - I'm in the boonies, period. The nearest centres are a 20-minute drive in either direction. I'm actually between Barrie and Orillia if you know this area. But I'm also job-hunting and, in this economy, I'm looking for work in Toronto - there's nothing up here. If I get a job there, I'll be looking at a 120-km commute one way. If it comes to that, I'm planning on taking the GO-train down to the city but even getting to the station will be a half-hour drive each day.

I'm not sure what kind of seizures I have, there appears to be so many different kinds. I do know they're related to photosensitivity and when they come on, my sympathetic nervous system starts to shut down. It's everything I can do to keep from passing out.

I'm also feeling like quite a whiner and complainer when I read others' posts on here and I realize that I'm very lucky my symptoms and problems are not far worse. My heart goes out to all of you and I think you are all amazingly courageous!!!!!

Again, I haven't seen a doctor and I know it's foolish to try to self-diagnose but I've been doing alot of research and, as my attacks seem to only come when I'm driving and I know that they are related to light and motion, it seemed quite plausible to me that it's photosensitivity seizures I'm having. When I investigated the causes of those, I did find that they can be caused by lesions or calcifications on the occipital lobe. And one of the causes of these lesions is celiac disease. I was dumbfounded by this because I was diagnosed with celiac disease when I was six weeks old. My parents though were told (way back then they didn't know enough about it) that this was a "milk allergy" and I would grow out of it.

I'm now almost 50 and found out only recently that if I actually did have celiac disease, then I still do. One doesn't "grow out of it." I'm kind of ticked at the doctors I've had too because I realize now that I've had problems all my life that are likely caused by this - anemia, digestive problems, migraines and sugar reactions - no doctor ever made the connection between those and celiac disease. And, of course, I've been eating wrong all my life!

K - I'm ranting now ... should probably take this to the "padded room" area. I'm really p'd at docs in general too when I think back on this seizure problem. I had three episodes as a teen where I did lose conciousness (none since). The last one was when I was 18 and I remember consulting my doctor about it ... her response to me was: "Are you sure you're not making this up?"
 
I wish my neurologist had mentioned diet when I was diagnosed -- there were changes I would have made right away if I'd realized they might help prevent future seizures.

Here's a link to a site that makes tinted glasses for folks who are photosensitive:
http://irlen.com/index.php
 
Hello Robin and Nakamova,

Yes, I absolutely agree that diet is huge in this. I'm going gluten-free and looking forward to a whole bunch of little problems (hopefully) disappearing entirely. I know that intestinal damage from CD can be reversed too - I don't know about brain damage but I definitely don't want to add any more to it.

I'm pretty lucky I think healthwise because I'm in pretty good shape for my age, so if this diet improves the things that do bother me, I'm gonna feel great!! (once I completely accept that I can never have another oatmeal cookie ;)
 
There are many many alternatives to oatmeal cookies when you are on a Gluten-free diet. My 7 yr old son is a coeliac, he was diagnosed in April as he had it so severely it was causing internal bleeding in his bowel. Due to his problems, the whole family has gone gluten-free, with the interesting side effect that mine and my daughter's seizures have almost halved in frequency. Another massive seizure trigger is Aspartame. Avoid at all costs. For Gluten-free recipies and advice try the Kitchen on here.
 
well its great that you know what system of your body shuts down (sympathetic vs parasympathetic) Have you thought about the possibility of moving? Back to a closer family member, or even just somewhere with a transit system? if that is an option to you.

What about trying an online, work from home job? like with a cable company or phone company. I know when I call into my cell phone provider, I actually hook up with someone all across canada (telus) and they do support right from home. I am sure that Bell Canada or even Apple has something like that.
 
Hi driven,

If your seizures only happen while you're driving due to the light and motion, spatial patterns, then please, please think of others. Maybe an accident hasn't happened yet, but wouldn't it be better to be safe than sorry?! Please see a dr. to find the cause of the problem(s).
I was seriously injured in an accident at home due to a seizure, so please remember, accidents can/do happen.
 
:cheers:

Welcome Driven.

Don't assume that your type of seizure will result in an automatic loss of license. There are many types of seizures and it does not sound like yours are tonic-clonic. Search out the help soon. Uncontrolled seizures 'can' do damage to your body in other ways. Please see a Neuro soon.

Remember one other thing about driving. I understand the impact it would have on your life. It is tremendous. However, when you mention "death-blow", it could be quite literal if you have an accident.

Keep asking the questions. Plenty of friends here to help you.

:cheers:
 
I hear you Cindy and Buckeye - I really do - and I'm taking every precaution I can to ensure that (a car accident) doesn't happen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom