Driver's License...

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elizzza811

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My neurologist never sent my DOT papers in, and she said she'd fax them.

I got a letter today stating that my driver's license will be suspended "indefinitely" (irrespective of whether I'm experiencing seizures or not), just for not sending them in.

I called DOT to inquire, and they said that since they just started April's letters, it's possible my neuro did send them in, but they just didn't get to mine yet...there's no way of telling. But given the fact that these papers were given to my neuro on March 2nd, 7 weeks ago, and I had a phone argument with my neuro last Wednesday over the 72-hour EEG she'd promised, should I 'trust' that she sent these in on time?

I'm not driving anyway until this is resolved, but apparently if she didn't send them in, I'll have to pay a fee and go through a mess to ever get my license back, even if these seizures are diagnosed and controlled, and that isn't fair.

Plus my friends and family (most, not all) think I'm the one who is out of line here, and I'm finding this upsetting. Must I keep bending over for doctors to ram me up the butt one more time? Sorry...I'm just upset.

First this neuro pretends I just outright defiantly refused the video EEG, when in actuality, she'd agreed to the 72-hour one...or so I thought. Next time I guess I'll need to record my conversations. And now this? And many of my friends and family members are treating me like I shouldn't be upset?
 
My first neuros office lack of concern with paperwork caused me to go 3 months without a nickel of short term disability money from my employer.Even crying in their office about how I was a single mother with no other income didnt sway them-I had zero income and lived off credit cards for 3 months so i feel your pain
 
Oh, yeah. I understand your frustration.

I ask for a copy of my doctor's chart notes, and I review them for accuracy. I submit any changes/errors in writing, with my signature, to my dr's office. They are supposed to put it in your chart.

When I give the doc a form to fill out, I fill in all info that I can first, like name, address, etc. Then I put a huge post-it with the due date on it. I call in a week before the due date to see if it was completed and sent in.

Whenever my doc sends in a form, a copy is supposed to be in my chart. So I ask for a copy of it. Then if the insurance co, govt, etc. says they didn't get it I can resend a copy to them.

It seems like we HAVE to be paranoid to get the paperwork job done. Sad, but true.
 
Thanks. Supposedly it was sent in back in March. I called the DOT this morning, and they did finally receive it, and they're supposed to be sending me a second medical form that needs filling out by a doctor.

I'm confused though. May 18th my driver's license is 'scheduled' to be suspended, and by this date (May 18th), they need to have received my driver's license in the mail. But according to the girl, this will all depend on what this new neurologist writes on these new medical DOT forms. Since my appointment with this new neurologist isn't until next Tuesday, April 26th, and apparently it takes time for neuros to complete the paperwork, send it off, and then more time still for DOT to receive and 'process' it, how will I ever know if I'm supposed to relinquish my driver's license or not? I'll need to mail it at least 4 days ahead of May 18th for it to get there in time. But will I have all my answers by May 14th when I just got an answer today about paperwork that was sent in over a month ago? It's crazy.

I can't believe you had to live off credit cards for months either because they messed up your short term disability. That's insane.
 
Goodmorning All!

I have a question reguarding driving...My son has had gotten his permit about 2months prior to having his first siezure. My question is the Doctors told him he could not drive for 6months. Since its only his permit...do we need to report to the DMV he had siezures? or just take it upon ourselves not to allow him to drive? Thank you in advance for your help!
 
Well, I live in the UK jjandkylesmom but I know I had to hand in my license even though it was only a provisional and I hadn't start lessons yet. best thing to do is check with your equivalent of the dvla (is it the dmv? Whoever deals with providing licenses anyway)
 
Hi JJandKylesMom,

Here in Massachusetts, the neurologist is not obligated to contact the DMV, so it was my call. And I did not. I waited 6 months, and then drove again, but I never surrendered my license, and there's nothing on my record.
 
Thank you!

Thank you for the information! I guess I have another question...this time not about driving...but I do see these purple ribbons on some profiles and and was wondering when is the awareness day? Thank you again to all that have so very helpful!
 
Well, the purple ribbons are handed out to the Moderators, and I think they are also given to those who donate to CWE to help fund it (otherwise it's basically out-of-pocket for the founder, Bernard). You can read about that here: http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f26/premium-memberships-help-support-cwe-1877/

In addition, Epilepsy Awareness month in the U.S. is November, and there are often events scheduled then. But different states will often hold their own awareness events. For instance, there was just a Walk for Epilepsy in March in D.C. that some CWE members attended.
 
Just to let you know, I got a notice yesterday that my driver's license was to be suspended. But then today I got a notice to disregard that notice, they finally got the medical paperwork from my neurologist, and my driver's license was officially restored.

But I called DOT, and since my neuro's diagnosis was syncope, apparently I'll be going through all this all over again, because now they want the doctor to figure out why I lost consciousness and fill out another form, which will be coming in the mail. I just hope it comes by Tuesday.

I know these are seizures though, so I don't plan on driving anytime soon.
 
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