When to start driving again?

[girlwithadog]

So I finally started taking my meds after months of resisting and I've been on 500mg of Keppra twice daily for nearly three months. The first month was rough with sleepiness, light headedness etc but those symptoms went away and I started to notice the medicine was helping. My head has been more clear, I don't have those panicky feelings nearly as often, I don't space nearly as bad... I don't stop mid sentence for 5-7 seconds trying to figure out what is going on. I don't feel nearly as confused, I don't get the head spinning everything turning black feeling... Well I do get these feelings, the audio and visual distortions and wehat not I do get still but when it was once 10+ times a day of having these episodes I now get them about once a week. Different ways but I can tell not the difference and what's normal and what's not normal. I always assumed the visual distortions and what not were "normal" but now I know better. I'm becoming much more in tune with my episodes.
So they have gotten better which I am happy about but now I'm wondering, if I have these absent seizures and such, or just the aura that I get from time to time, it it ok for me to still be driving since I don't necessarily black out? I just go into an extreme state of confusion and what not. It hasn't happened while on the road and if I do get it on those days I avoid driving but should I be avoiding driving all together or is it OK to drive now that the meds are working?

 

[N Sperlo]

Number one, follow the law. Number two, make sure you are comfortable.

In my state, it has to be six months after your last seizure. Complex partial seizures do count.
Some states have to be more, some less. I don't know about other countries either. I have no idea where you are from either.

Every time I can't drive I have a very hard time. Driving is what I do for comfort and my cars are my toys.

 

[MrE]

Yeah I would recommend not driving period...I mean like literally...never again...just walk or take a bus or train...it's better for you and cheaper...besides less cars driving around means less pollution to this dying (but beautiful) planet...it's so sad really...the state of this world...let's all be "green" and electronic yada yada yada...if people would just wake up and be smart then things would be so much better...but it seems that humanity is still suffering from a primitive mindset and needs a giant slap from mother earth...anyway...yeah me and my wife have entertained the idea of getting rid of our car to help save money and mother earth (but that second part seems futile...or at least that's how the dark forces in corrupt power want you to think...that there is no real hope and thus society becomes a bunch of mindless wandering drones...a truly toxic reality with free poison and lies included)...but sometimes we need it...it sucks...so much conflict with trying to do the right thing...sometimes no matter what you do it's always...wrong...but hang in there darling...I know things will work out for you just fine :tup:

 

[toro]

I wouldn't drive. They seem minor, but they aren't. Even an aura. I've had a few minor accidents and I totaled my car once because I had an aura and missed the stoplight. All before I was diagnosed.

I almost got into an accident on the highway because I had a complex and kept missing the breaks, even though I hadn't had one for a couple months. My passenger had to pull the emergency brake while I was going 60. I didn't even know I was having them.

It sucks, I empathize. I really hate it. I haven't driven for nearly a year. But the alternative could kill you.

On the bright side, asking a hot coworker for car rides is a great way to meet people.

 

[girlwithadog]

Thank you all for the opinions and advice, I'm sorry I didn't get more detailed but...
I live in South Carolina in a very small town with no public transportation apart from over priced taxi cabs that always take at least an hour to get to your home. When I had my tonic clonic seizure I already hadn't driven for a year because my car was totaled (honestly not my fault I wasn't even driving but was in the passengers seat). When I had my tonic clonic the hospital informed me that my state had a three year rule, that they would have to report the seizure to the DMV and I would have my license suspended for three years. I was pretty frustrated since I'd already stopped driving a year before. The next year when I had my drop seizure I spoke to my neurologist finally. He told me our state doesn't have any mandatory reporting laws but they recommend waiting a year after a seizure if you are unmedicated and three months if you become medicated. I was pretty peeved that the hospital lied to me and a year later (since I wasn't medicated at the time) I went to the DMV to get my license back and it had never been suspended at all. I still wouldn't have driven as my drop seizure was while I was in a car (again not driving, my husband was driving me to work).
Once I started on the medication I had my license back but didn't drive. Once I was on it for two months I started making trips up the road to the gas station, taking my daughter to school (back roads) etc but I leave the high speed driving to my husband or if I am driving he knows to look out and be ready at any minute to pull the e break, but still I leave the driving mostly to him.
I'm just tired of being stuck all the time and every time I need to go out of town for specialists my husband is working and our family is always asking "well she hasn't had a seizure since 2012, why can't she drive herself?" but they don't get that there are other types where you don't lose consciousness. I have driven a couple times where it was so hard to focus on the road I'd slow down and drive 10mph on a 35 road because I just couldn't focus on anything. It's gotten better the longer I'm on the meds but it does concern me. What really stinks is that before the diagnosis and before the accident where my car was totaled (and I got a mild form of PTSD from), driving was my favorite thing to do. I'd drive across the country for mini vacations all the time. I put 100,000 miles nearly on my small car in the three years I owned it. I've probably only driven about 300 miles if that total in the last four years

 

[N Sperlo]

If you have had trouble when driving before, wait until even the simple partials stop. You want to make sure you are are making the right decision for the safety of those around you.

Honestly, I was having seizures while driving before I was diagnosed. I had no clue. I continued to drive just fine, but I had to stop until the doctor gave the OK.

Just be sure to make the safe decision.

 

[Belinda5000]

You drive when your not having any seizures at all, when your controlled.
In the state I live in You have to go 6 months sz free before you can drive.
To many ppl drive when there having sz's as it is.Your sz's can get worse at anytimeI know.

 

[MrE]

But if you do decide to drive anyway...please drive safe...take your time...breathe...and if you start to feel weird...pull over and call 911 immediately...take care

 

[RunningGirl85]

I know the feeling of no public transportation. Or I would use it all the time. That's how it is here and I couldn't drive for a year and I'll half. I haven't had any tonic - clonic seizures in almost two years and as far as I know I have never had a complex partial, but I do get a lot of simple partials. If I Start feeling even a little off I will pull over or not drive at all if I'm still home. I had someone drop me off at home one day when I felt off. Point being.... be safe. I know I get hours of warning before a TC... that's part of how I got my license back (and no loss of consciousness in a year and a half). Know your own limi6s.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Cint]

But if you do decide to drive anyway...please drive safe...take your time...breathe...and if you start to feel weird...pull over and call 911 immediately...take care

Why call 911? What good will they do?

 

[MrE]

Why call 911? What good will they do?

Why not? They'll do as much "good" as you allow them to...yep