Free public transport / notifying DVLA

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ma701ss

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Hi, I had my first seizure on 16th Jan. The doctors I've seen haven't actually said to me I should give up driving and haven't put it in writing but I've read I should give up for at least 6 months to see if it happens again. They don't know what caused the seizure, it could be my diabetes, it may not be.

All the DVLA sent me was a form to fill in to surrender my licence but it doesn't ask for medical details or give me any idea of when I could drive again.

Am I entitled to a free travelcard, etc. if I give up my licence?

Thanks,

ma701ss
 
when you can't drive were I live you get a half fare card. It's now called reduced fare card.
It depends what city your in, In how it works for the mass transit.It's Atlanta for me.
 
Since laws vary from state to state, you should give the DVLA a call to find out for sure what the process entails.
 
State, country, what's the dif... :) Anyway, contact the DVLA and/or your local epilepsy society for help.
 
Hi, I'm in the UK. I had to hand in my license to the DVLA. By law you can't get it back until you've been seizure free for a year. You're entitled to a free bus pass if you get turned down for, or get your license taken away for medical reasons. Either take your letter in to your local council office from the dvla saying that you're handing in your license for medical reasons, or a letter from the docs/specialist nurse/neuro will do pretty much the same job.

Sorry to hear about your seizure :(
 
Thanks. Just off topic a bit but wanted to say that the sezire really traumatised me for a few weeks and I went a bit panicky for a couple of weeks after, which changed my behaviour at work. My bosses although supportive at first I think started to wonder why it was affecting me so much, implying that seizures are no big deal and that people with epilepsy get used to these and straight afterwards just get straight on with their lives. Is this how it really is? I started to worry when it would happen again, ho wit would affect my life and family. It was a big deal for me and I'm only just coming to terms with it. Unless you've had one it's difficult to understand I suppose.
 
No, that's really not how it is. I had my first big seizure about 7 years ago and it was petrifying once I'd come round. From a physical point of view, achiness and tiredness can continue for days, and me personally, every time I have a big seizure it particularly affects my shoulders and back, plus anything else I've managed to twang, break or bruise.

From a psychological point of view it can really lower your confidence and there's always the fear it could happen again.

There seems to be a lot of people who think we can just get straight up and carry on the day no problem s, but can't say I've ever met someone with epilepsy who can.

Are you having any tests done or is the seizure being attributed to your diabetes?
 
I think because my sugars were low they've assumed it's diabetes related but it's the first time in 20 years. I've had to push for an EEG and an MRI (having both now). My middle back and ribcage are still in absolute agony after 3 weeks. Every time I sneeze it hurts even more! I feel like I've had a fight with :mrt:
 
You should see the doc about your back and ribs too, in case you might have cracked a rib or done damage to your back. Chances are that its muscle strain from the seizure but its worth getting it checked if they're still painful after 3 weeks.
 
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