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driving and seizures

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Posted 3/16/2011 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Please, how do I get my daughter to take the driving restriction seriously?  She had a grand-mal seizure (though not as bad as her only other one, 7 years ago) on Friday.  The doctor says it's illegal for 3 months.  She hasn't actually seen a doctor yet, but that's what he told me. 

She feels like she knows before it's happening, enough time to pull over.  She'll stay off highways and minimize it, but not give it up totally.  What can I do??

Debbie

Posted 3/16/2011 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Acheybody,

I went 23 yrs seizure free and I was of the strong opinion that if I were to have an "aura" or get that feeling just before a grande-mal while I was driving, I would be able to pull over in plenty of time, but since found out that it's like playing Russian Roulette, I was fooling myself. I had a minor incident in a parking lot and as a result, I had my licence suspended.I still drove for 2 yrs but I was just lucky that nothing happened. After driving my whole adult life and then having my licence stripped away, I felt like part of my freedom was taken away. It could happen at ANY time and you won't have time to pull over. So again I ask you is it worth the gamble?

Randy

Posted 3/16/2011 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Acheybody,

This is a topic that REALY BOTHERS ME.
Most people are of the opinion that "that will never happen to me." Well it seems to be happening more often than ever. It seems that the Ministry of transport is getting too leniant.

Randy

Posted 3/16/2011 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Acheybody,

You could go several years seizure free, then all of a sudden something could trigger another one without any warning. This happens all too often out of greed and the need to drive. Sometimes the seizure activity will not show up in any EEG,CAT scan, MRI etc and you'll think you're fine. In My Opinion you're acting very selfish and you're taking a huge chance.

Sorry for all the postings.  These are some of my previous posts.

As you can probably tell, I feel very strongly about this.

Randy

Posted 3/16/2011 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Acheybody,

Sorry, One more,

O K, so you choose to drive. Now try to get insurance. If the insurance Co. finds out that you have/had a seizure condition, your premiums will sky rocket or if you should have a minor mis hap ~ even if it's not your fault and the insurance Co. wasn't informed of your seizure cond. they will not cover you and you COULD be sued or wind up in a huge legal battle.

With this being said plus all all my previous comments, you have to ask yourself, "is it really worth the risk?"

Randy

Posted 3/17/2011 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
I totally agree! It's my daughter that needs convincing.
Posted 4/18/2011 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
I was a learner driver and now not allowed to drive for 3 years I think it is now. Honestly tell your daughter its not only her life on the line it is anyone elses who is unlucky enough to be on the road when she has a seizure. She does not have to tell anyone but I would stay off the road. It is too soon and the restrictions are there for a reason =/
Posted 5/29/2011 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
How old is she? Does she still live with you? If so, take her keys from her. If your daughter wishes to behave like a child, treat her like a child. Otherwise, you really have no other choice but to report her.
Posted 5/30/2011 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Debbie, you should gently tell your daughter that she is not only risking insurance coverage and possibly breaking the law, but is also putting other people's safety in jeopardy.

If family members/friends can drive her where she needs to go, it will be easier for her to give it up for the recommended time.

My mother has had grand mals periodically and has never driven in her life. I wish she had the same driving privilege I have, but my dad bought her an electric bike instead. ;-)

My dad always told me, Driving is a privilege, not a right.
Posted 6/9/2011 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Acheybody(Debbie)

Maybe you should let your daughter read these posts and then she will see how serious this is, and if you still have a problem with this, as mentioned above, report her, you could be saving her/a life.

Randy

Posted 9/15/2011 5:56 AM (GMT 0)
My husband almost had his dl taken indefinately after a break through seizure in 2004...but it was because he didn't take his meds for a few days because he was sick and couldn't keep anything down. So we went before a judge and explained and said that he needed to work....so the judge gave it back to him for work.....Now that he has had 3 at the end of 2009 he didn't drive for a long time...and since the one in July he hasn't driven yet. The one in 2004 was the only one the hospital reported to the dot....he doesn't take chances because someone we knew thru a friend drove, had a seizure and got smashed by a tractor trailer
Posted 1/20/2012 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate to your daughter a little bit. I had a seizure when I was 13. I am now 23 years old and have not had another seizure till recently. I have only had "aura's" in between. 2 weeks ago I had a grand mal seizure. I have now lost my license. I know that it is not 100 percent safe for me to drive. But after having my license for 7 years and have been very independent, it is hard to know I can't go any where. It is not easy taking in the fact that I will have to have my family coffer me around for the next 6 months. I'm not sure what to say to your daughter, but she is not alone. Dealing with seizures is hard itself, let alone having your independence taken away in no time. I will say not to force anything on her or argue about the situation, but that just makes it worse. I know from experience.
Posted 2/2/2012 8:54 AM (GMT 0)
It's so hard to let go of children who have clearly grown old enough to make their own choices.

But sometimes they have to learn the hard way.

If she lives with you, explain to her that YOU could be held responsible for her choice if something happens. I explained to my son that our insurance would not cover him if he was driving illegally and we could lose our home if someone sued us.

Of course, I now drive him every where he needs to go and I do so with love and compassion. It's hard being in your 20s and not being able to drive and I have great empathy for him.

I hope you can reason with your daughter. If she won't change her behavior after learning that her choices could significantly impact the whole family (not to mention if she hurts anyone during an accident!), you really have no choice but to eliminate any opportunity she may have to access the vehicle. I've actually taken all of the car keys with me to work when my son and I were in the midst of this battle. If you do this and she finds a way to steal the car, you may want to consider reporting her to the authorities.

She's old enough to suffer the consequences of her own choices. The most loving thing a parent can do is allow their child to learn their Life Lessons - even if it seems like they are choosing to learn them the hard way.
Posted 2/11/2012 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
tell her bull crap<I almost died twice due to that.Last one my windshild came at me and it was safty glass so it formed a ball.My car was airborn spinng at sun,so big ball of fire commin at me.After that I tried to change life and never drove again
Posted 2/11/2012 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
p.s in other wreck I was one mill meter from death,Nose bone was pushed up and into scull skull  Have metel nose and 5 metel plates in head.I had wreck at fire house with cop and ems.Cop got Dad was doing 100 mph, REALLY, sure i would die

derrick

Posted 3/31/2012 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
For the girl who wants to drive but still has grand mal seizures-I would say handle her very carefully because she may already suffer from self-esteem issues because of this condition and to take her license is already taking some of her freedom on top of having this medical condition.
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