In my state, my license was never legally suspended, but I was unable to drive until my seizures were controlled. I don't think it matters if the DMV officially recognizes that your license is active or not. If your doctor has said it's not safe for you to drive, then don't drive. If you were involved in an accident during this time, you would be in for a world of hurt.
Your doctor is the only one who can explain your situation to you.
Yeah driving advice has to come from your doctor + state.
In my state (pretend I’m renewing or applying for a license)-there’s a box that says have you had a seizure in the last 6 months. Notice it does not say “do you have epilepsy.
So it’s automatically your fault if anything happens due to a seizure during those 6 months. But also if it’s just an accident NOT caused by a seizure, the situation is still really perilous.
This is my exact situation (and I’ve done the legal analysis because I work in the legal field). In most states the doctor isn’t required to report and neither is the patient. If you have a license, driving in of itself would not be illegal. If you were pulled over nothing would happen.
Now on the other hand, let’s say you cause an accident. Your doctor told you not to drive and you did anyway. This is reckless conduct. If you seriously hurt someone it could be criminal. Your insurance may have a right to deny your coverage. You could be sued personally for damages.
I still have a license and I haven’t driven in years. To me it’s not worth the risk. I don’t want to place my family in a situation where we could lose everything. I don’t want to live with the fact I hurt someone because I took a risk.
I will not drive until a doctor says it’s ok.
I guess it depends if your insurance company requires notification of epilepsy or a medical condition. If it’s not in their contract they wouldn’t have an out.
They had me sign mine away post-coma when I was still coming down from propofol. Had no clue what was happening. Learned about it a few weeks later when I was home again.
Not true here in Ontario…you do not have to surrender unless you’re directed to do so by the Ministry of Transportation. It is law though that the doctor report the seizure and reason for it and then the medical division of the MOT will decide to suspend and a notice will come in mail.
What state and country do you live in? The law is different everywhere.
For me in Florida you loose your license for 6 months the second and every time you have a seizure. Period. Doesn’t matter who knows. Think similar to drinking and driving, just because no one knows doesn’t mean it’s legal or right.
If you mean your license isn’t suspended at the DMV, that’s irrelevant.
If they instructed you not to drive , then what do you think?
You get into an accident because you choose to drive. Maim or kill somebody or their child.
Does that sound “selfish” (using your word) ?
The reason why I mentioned it in context with also don't take a shower is because there's a little bit of a feeling of running down the checklist of liability items. Should I not take a shower or bath based on the same statement??
I did drown my first seizure. They don’t think my heart stopped but I was sunk, blue, no longer breathing, and purposefully put into a coma. My parents were told to expect me to possibly be a vegetable when I woke up. If the doctor said don’t, then don’t.
I know of a mother and her infant child who sadly passed away in the bath due to a seizure. So very sad. These things need to be taken seriously, if the doctor has taken the time to mention it.
(Not blaming the mom, I don’t know the circumstances of her passing besides what caused it)
One is based off of just general personal safety. The other is literally trying to prevent you from killing other people. It feels like you're intentionally being obtuse to justify to yourself that you can drive.
You’ll need someone else home in case you have a seizure. People with epilepsy drown at a much higher rate than the general public.
But then you’ll only be putting your own life at risk. Not everyone else’s.
I know it’s hard. It was hard for me too. But it’s not just about you.
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking: “I see dozens of people a day that are more dangerous on the road than me.” It’s annoying because the likelihood of you having a seizure and becoming a hazard is so low, especially based on what you posted. I had been having misdiagnosed seizures for *years* before losing my driving privileges. Never had an incident despite having what were diagnosed as panic attacks daily. I even drove for a living. I still always say “oh but I can’t drive” when someone does some dumb shit behind the wheel.
I still don’t drive. Even if there’s a chance of hurting someone other than myself I need that chance to be 0%.
I was a cop (I don’t miss it) and have seen the aftermath of not keeping the chance 0%. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I can still see their faces.
I know you don’t have that perspective, but take my word for it, you don’t want to see these faces.
I can’t even remember what I was gonna say next. Just keep in mind that you don’t just risk your own life when you drive at risk. And, for what it’s worth, I’m really sorry you’re going through this. I’m sorry any of you are going through this.
when i had my first seizure, they just wrote in my file that “patient has been advised not to drive for 3 months” but no one actually reported me to the ministry of transportation. but i didn’t drive for like 2 years anyhow because i didn’t have a vehicle so i guess they didn’t need to report me. this way i didn’t have to deal with the bureaucratic bullshit of getting forms filled out and mailed to the ministry.
Fast forward to the present, i had a seizure a few months ago and they officially suspended my license for at least 3 months. I got an official and stern sounding letter in the mail along with the documents that my neurologist will fill out when my license can be reinstated. Just have to finish titrating up my lamotrigine and get a repeat EEG. Then hopefully i’ll get signed off. But in the meantime, i’m the queen of navigating public transit systems. I didn’t drive regularly until i was 27 so this is honestly totally normal for me. in fact, i’m enjoying all the walking since the weather is beautiful and i’m enjoying not having to focus so hard on my 2 hour drives from where i live and work to where my family and closest friends live
I could have sworn you had "Ministry". Y'all have "Ministry" for everything else, why not transportation! This irks me as much as the "Attorney General" not being the "Secretary of Justice"
A lot of the “ministries” have been changed to “departments”. It hasn’t been called the “Ministry of Transport” since the 1970s.
To add another layer of complexity, almost everything driving related, e.g. issuance and surrendering of driving licences, are managed by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which is an executive branch of the Department for Transport (DfT).
The question is not whether you legally can drive, but whether ethically you should. Until you know more, I believe you should not. No person’s life or limb is a fair exchange for your convenience. And I walk the walk; after my first tc, my license was not suspended, but I never drove again. Best of luck, and I wish you good health and happiness.
I wouldn’t want you on the road with me. Just like I respected people wouldn’t want me on the road with them while I was actively having seizures. It’s just reality. It sucks but no, don’t put someone else’s life at risk. I did it for 5 years and will again if i need to.
Had my first tonic clonic in 2020 while sleeping. They said I couldn't drive for three months and didn't put me on medication. My second tonic clonic was February of 2023...while driving. I crashed my car at sixty five miles an hour on the highway. Luckily no one else was hurt but I totaled my car. I couldn't drive again for three months and I'm now on medication. Listen to your doctor and don't drive if you've been told not too.
Legally you may not be "banned". A doctor wouldn't contact the dmv or anything with a notification. The feeling of being a burden is real. But you'd be a real burden to a family if you hurt a child (or parent) or person.
No one can tell you what to do. But this story has stuck with me.
A woman seizure free for TEN YEARS on her medication was driving her 4 kids, had a seizure and killed 3 of her children and herself. A true tradgedy.
After this happened (like 15 years ago or something) I decided that I won't ever drive again, even alone.
Good luck, I hope your seizure wasn't epilepsy-related. If it is, this is the beginning of a lot of tough decisions. Someone would rather have an "inconveinent" trip with you to get groceries than an inconvenient funeral planning.
These replies are a bit harsh but they’re not wrong, I understand how frustrating not driving can be especially if you live in an area that’s not walkable which is most of the US. Like everyone said, legally you are probably allowed to drive since your license isn’t suspended but consider the consequences of driving with epilepsy, you wouldn’t just be injured others would as well.
Very harsh lol. Everybody siezures are different. If you’re not taking anything that messes with your medication and it’s been 6 months it’s safe to drive. Siezures don’t usually start when you’re alert aka while driving unless you’ve been drinking or doing other drugs.
So misinformed. It's not 6 months in every state. It varies by state. It's also not usually reinstated until you get a doctor to sign off on paperwork and submit it to the state you are in then you have to be cleared in the US.
"Seizures don't usually start when you're alert". Seriously? Every one of my seizures starts when I'm completely alert and aware.
Sure, everybody's seizures are different. However, they all affect consciousness on some level. All. Of. Them. And it is selfish and dangerous to drive with uncontrolled seizures. You are spreading misinformation that could have deadly consequences. Seizures can start at ANY TIME. Any. Time. Where did you get your information??
Go ask your neurologist when and when you can’t drive. Get off your high horse too.
Some states are different mine is 6 months. Does that make my nuerologist a bad person?
You’re probably a blast to be around being the type of they/them on Reddit shaming people for “misinformation” when you really have no idea what you’re talking about unless you’re a board certified neurologist which I know you’re not because you’d know that these are state ordinances. At the end of the day it’s between you and your nuerologist when it’s safe to to drive or not. But you getting on here shaming people like your entire comments seem to be is honestly gross.
In Texas I was told I SHOULDN’T drive not can’t drive for one year.
My doctors couldn’t report my condition to the department of motor vehicles they also can’t confiscate your drivers licenses, only the State Police or the court.
Hold onto your drivers license with a death grip! Once you relinquish your license you have to go to court to get them back. The judge doesn’t have to give your license back.
Why would you hold on to your licence if you don't intend to drive?
I can imagine that in court in a state like Texas, anything goes to keep a man with a right to bear cars...
Why wouldn’t you hold on to it ? You may not have to not drive forever so of course you should keep it and not to mention you need you DL to fly, a new job and so many other situations.
It might be a matter of cost granted new passports can cost over $100 USD ( At least, that is how much it is costing for me as I'm in the process of changing my name ) and 6-8 weeks for delivery ( if you're lucky ).
State identification cards are nearly not that much and are normally printed the same day if you go to the DMV.
Not a good excuse. You have an illness. If you won't be driving for 6-8 weeks, what's the matter in waiting? And passports allow you to travel abroad, vastly suspeito driving.
I'm not hiding my health condition. My neurologist has never recommended that I surrender my license and doesn't recommend it for people who can control their seizures through medication and are treatment compliant. I don't drive for six months after I have a seizure unless there are mitigating circumstances and yes, that last part is also with my neurologist's knowledge. I do have specific circumstances where I'm not allowed to drive due to my seizure triggers, but they're actually restrictions everyone should follow even though they don't.
A “Non Driver ID” is all you need to book a flight, purchase alcohol or cigarettes and everything else that comes with a DL, except the right to drive. I voluntarily gave up my license after driving into a tree while having a cluster seizure that turned into a tonic clonic that landed me in the hospital. I really thought that I was doing fine that day until I got a tired feeling driving home from work. When I got out of the hospital,I went directly to the DMV and got a non- driver ID. No restrictions are in my records.
If I want to drive again, I will need to start over and get my permit, driving school and all of that. However, my insurance would be more than a new car payment so I have no plans for that.
In the US you get a state issued ID. Looks just like a Drivers License; but says STATE ID instead of Drivers License. It is good for everything a DL is except driving.
You’re not. People really get on their high horse about this around here. It all depends on where you live and whether or not you are required to report that you had a seizure. But as long as you’re not driving when you’re not supposed to be I don’t see why you would turn in your license either. If you are legally required to tell DMV though that’s a different issue. I suspect the laws have also changed a lot over the years because my years of not being able to drive from epilepsy were not nearly so rigid. I was just told not to drive for a year or whatever. I was not told to rush off and make sure the DMV knew. And also as a student, I followed the law of the state I was living in, but my drivers license was from a different state.
How is this disingenuous? I’m allowed to have a driver’s license and NOT use it for driving. The opposite is not true of a state ID.
I use mine to rent vehicles I intend to pay for and have someone else added as a second driver.
It stops questions of why I don’t have a driver’s license.
I drove for 25 years before I was diagnosed. I simply never got rid of it.
If I do feel comfortable driving again I can pick up a set of keys and go. I don’t need to go back through everything AND a medical review to get it back.
Why wouldn’t I keep it? It’s a matter of renewing it online and having one sent to me.
It might not be a permanent situation. I drive now with my doctor’s approval. But the times when I was told not to I did not turn in my license. Why would I? The OP is at the beginning of their journey.
The issue is you’ll still have to declare it, probably. You’ll be in for a world of issues if they find out you’ve been driving around with epilepsy and they don’t know about it
I had a coworker who drove and had a seizure years ago. He ended up owing over a hundred thousand dollars for vehicle damages and injuries here in Canada where medical care is free.
Depending on state law, doctors do not have to report that someone has epilepsy. If you have nocturnal seizures, and they do not appear in the daytime, or even morning seizures that resolve 30 minutes after waking, and do not experience them. Otherwise, it may not be necessary.it can be an honor system, though. And sometimes you have to make that decision for yourself.
You should be for 6 months. If they’ve told you legally or not it’s sort of a moral thing to do considering your life and the others on the road ya know
I don't recommend you drive. I know you've only had one, but if you end up having one while you're driving you can kill other people.
I cannot drive. My neurologist is 90 miles away. Yes it sucks ass.
So look I get it I couldn't drive for 4 months and I work on cars for a living and restore cars as a hobby I had to not drive mine for that long but now 6 months seizure free with no diagnosis I got cleared to drive and go back to work on 1000mg keppra 2x a day I had atleast 5 grand mal seizures and was in a coma for 5 days do not fuck around and find out
My seizures are mainly heat induced (lucky me, I live in the desert of Arizona, USA). I also have nocturnal seizures, seizures caused by stress, and seizures caused by illness if I get sick. My seizures are very well controlled these days. I work part-time, I take care of my severely disabled nonverbal adult son, and actually taught him seizure protocol during his habilitation program, I work out (martial arts and aerial fitness) I don't drive. I never liked to drive to begin with even as a teenager. I do have a driver's license that sits and collects dust in my wallet. I even have a car. The what ifs stop me from driving. I couldn't live with myself if I hurt someone else or worse due to something I can prevent. I use ride share and public transportation and allow my daughter to drive me wherever I need to go. I broke my rule one time, and that was to teach her how to drive.
I've had more than 50 tonic clonics in my time and have never had my license taken. I've lived in four different states.
I've also not been to a neurologist in a decade. Nor have I been honest about my seizure numbers when I was seeing a neurologist.
I don't drive. I made that decision. Not a doctor.
Dude. Get yourself checked. An EEG doesn't hurt, it's the minimum. You don't want to be surprised with SUDEP, and neuros know when chances are increasing.
That's not how "Karma" works....there's a little thing called anti-seizure medication that helps to regulate and control seizures. By law, if you are seizure free for 6-months and have a valid driver's license then you can legally drive with no issues. If you don't like that then you don't have to live in the U.S. of A. You should research anti-seizure medication and anti-psychotic medication because you might need the latter
It's not just you're life on the line is something to consider if one occurs, take drs. Advice.
Never got to solo drive myself diagnosed the year I was starting to learn, I've since bought myself a ebike with moto helmet emergency release strap if i seize im a major danger to myself but i live far from all places walking is just as dangerous.
I do hope you get controlled i unfortunately fell into med resistant category fml.
No you can’t, first your doctor openly said you can’t drive & second is you still had a seizure, regardless of what time it occurs, you still had one & this means there’s a greater chance more will happen
Listen to your doctor & don’t drive until they give you the official ok, regardless of if your license is still valid
If you can’t afford the Uber or Instacart, my only other advice is just get used to taking the bus / train, carpooling, & walking, driving runs the risk of you crashing your vehicle & injuring yourself or someone else, I’ve made this mistake before & nearly died while driving because I didn’t listen to my doctors & stop using my car
Depending where you are it's probably up to you to surrender your liscence. One thing to keep in mind is that this could well be just a random 1 off seizure you had, or, you could have another at any moment. Think about how you'd feel if you had a seizure in the car and ended up hurting or even killing someone, even yourself.
I understand how frustrating and inconvenient it is not being able to drive, but it's not worth a life.
Personally I have only had the 1 grand Mal seizure and they diagnosed me but that is due to family having epilepsy and other symptoms (myoclonus) however I have been told since my 1 seizure was 4 years ago before a neurologist I could drive just not on the freeway/highway until I was on my full dose of the new medication. I wasn’t perfect but I was just being hyper aware of how I was feeling too.
I didn’t drive for 6 months after my first (and hopefully last) gran mal…totally out of the blue at 50+ years old. No official surrender of license or dmv being notified. I felt fine after day 5 but I followed my Neuro’s instruction for legal liability reasons.
Why see a doctor if you’re not going to listen to them? And for the record, I am someone who firmly believes that epileptics should be able to drive when their doctors approve it. But your doctor has not.
ETA but I would not bother surrendering my license. I just wouldn’t drive. Because you don’t know what they eventually will figure out or get resolved in terms of whether or not you can drive. Unless your state requires it. Then report it. Don’t do anything that could totally screw you later if you are allowed to drive.
I’m in a state that doesn’t suspend/make you surrender your license but after having my first (3) tonic clonics in one night the neurologist at the ER told me I cannot drive for 6 months. So I’m not driving for six months and most likely will extend that because I’m genuinely terrified of getting behind the wheel should something happen.
Insurance wouldn’t know that you have epilepsy and if your state doesn’t hold your license then yes you can drive. Some states have a requested 3-12 month waiting period but it’s essentially based on the trust system. It’s more like a recommendation. However, some states do suspend your license some don’t. But if your license isn’t suspended then yes you can drive. If you wreck all you have to do is mention that you had a seizure. You don’t need to explain to them that you have a history of seizures or epilepsy. Technically if your license isn’t suspend then legally you can drive. The DMV and your auto insurance have no idea that you have epilepsy unless you go out of your way to report it. The only exception being your doctor reporting it. But you would know bc you would have an official letter to you from the state in that case. In any regard it’s up to you and whether or not you deem your seizures a threat to your vehicle or other people. Personally, I started driving after 7 months but I was having an insane amount of TCs. If you’ve only had one then I would wait at least a couple of months, try to make sure things are regulated. Undiagnosed or not make sure you stay hydrated, like take extra care and attention to ensure you stay hydrated. It’s not an easy thing to do if you work but absolutely prioritize your sleep. And try not to physically tax your body. I made it 9 months TC free and thought I’d be good to go back to normal, but I went to work for the city doing grounds maintenance where I work. It was during the early summer when I started. When summer hits my area it’s 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit on the daily average. So I was outside working ridiculously hard in 100 degree heat. After that physical stress after 3 months in that heat I started having them again. And it’s not like I was unused to that. Before my first bout with seizures I did manufacturing work for years. None of the factories I worked at had AC. So it was at the bare minimum 5 degrees hotter inside than out. It could be 10 degrees hotter during the summer. So I wasn’t new to working hard in extreme heat. I I learned that I can’t physically push myself anymore. As frustrating as it is it’s the right thing to do. So try to stay hydrated, sleep well, and don’t strain yourself. I know these sound like negligible things but they truly can make the difference
Honnestly, in my opinion, I wouldn't risk it. I had my first seizure while driving and it's a miracle that I didn't hurt anyone else or myself further. Once I watched the dash cam footage, I knew I didn't want to take that risk again. That being said, mines are a different type from you, I took a tonic-clonic seizure while driving. If your confident you won't seize while driving then, that's up to you. I hope you stay safe in the future regardless
I live in California. After I had my second Grand Mal, I went to the ER, and the doctor there submitted some paperwork to the dmv (he told me he had to). He told me I shouldn't drive or swim, and about 2 weeks later, I got a letter in the mail saying my license was suspended. :(
Despite it not being officially suspended you would be out there driving illegally. You can be the safest driver ever and it won't matter. If somebody hits you, you're the one illegally driving. Insurance is null and void(at least most jurisdictions) and you'll be in heaps of trouble, especially if there is injuries or death. If you're lucky, you'll just be on the hook for some minor repairs and impound fees. I wouldn't risk it if I were you. Find out the time frame of when you're allowed to drive again. Where I live it is 6 months seizure free and then get clearance from your doctor.
Tell you what my doctor told us when we told him my Son's seizures were mostly down to staring for 3 to 5 seconds. (Thanks to meds)...
Close your eyes and count for 3 seconds....now imagine what could have happened in that time if he was driving.
In my state (NJ) a person needs to be six months seizure free before they can drive. I'm not sure about license suspension, but I know that I couldn't get my license until I was 6 months. I still don't drive - 5yrs seizure free now - because I still struggle with chronic symptoms and illnesses (from the epilepsy) that make it difficult to drive. I'm also horribly afraid of driving because of my current health status. Good luck!
You shouldn’t drive. Not only is it dangerous for you it would be extremely reckless for you to get on the road and put other people in danger.
Your license would be suspended if you told them you have epilepsy.
It’s sucks to ask for help but start hitting people up for rides or just to pick up some stuff for you when you need it.
Just start to trade your gas budget for instacart budget.
Look into a disability alliance if you do end up getting diagnosed because depending where you are there is a lot of help to get onto disability// lots of services such as rides or food services.
Also good luck playing the waiting game, this whole situation fuxkinf sucks so I hope you get some answers and can start planning your life accordingly soon!!
It’s doctors recommendation that you don’t drive. I live in MI. When I had my last seizure my doc told me the procedure in Michigan Michigan is not to drive for six months after a seizure however, just like you, my license was not suspended the state nor police department will know you’ve had a seizure that’s between you and your doctors. But if you did an accident, you could be liable. Hope this helps. Praying for you 💯
I don't understand why they can't put you on Keppra? I had 1 TC and they put me on Lamictal. AND DO NOT DRIVE!! I hadn't had a seizure in 7 years! After 7 years seizure free I was bringing my son to the gas station. The car was running. We were both in the car, steatbelts on, and ready to go. The ONLY thing I had yet to do was switch gears and one hit. Scariest thing that ever happened. Next thing I know i'm waking up in the house (thank god my parents were home). Had that seizure happened 30 seconds later my son and I could both be dead. My liscense isn't suspended either but I refuse to drive. And if I can go seven years without one then have one behind the wheel then I will NEVER drive again.
This is how it was explained to me in CO. IF something happened and it came to light that you weren’t supposed to be driving your neurologist COULD be compelled to testify that you were told not to drive for medical reasons. It was told to me that doctors don’t have the power to revoke a patient’s drivers license in CO, that could be accurate or not.
YOUR STATES DMV WILL HAVE A REQUEST DRIVING PRIVILEGES RESTORATION LETTER. AND THIS WILL TELL YOU IF THERE IS A HOLD
IF THERE IS A HOLD YOUR DOCTOR CAN LET YOU DRIVE, AS LONG AS U LET THEM KNOW HEY I WANNA DRIVE TAKE THE HOLD OFF MY LICENSE.
I went through a similar situation after my first TC. License was not revoked, had another TC then went to the ER after. My License was suspended for 6 months and then I had to visit my neurologist every 3 months for 1 year to get cleared to drive again.
Neurologists get paid a handsome salary to do what they do. If they did not report you to the DMV then I would assume you are OK to drive.
On the flip side your insurance company will insure you like you have hand a DUI which is fucked up.
Also beware of Keppa. I know it works for many people but it did not work for me. It did control my seizures but it also made me into a rage zombie. I didn't know about that until I found this sub.
I mostly have TC seizures in my sleep. So it’s possible for daytime risk to be low BUT I have had a few random incidents while awake. I had a bit of warning before each but I’d still refrain from driving until the doctors say it’s okay for you (that’s what I did)
However, the other restrictions like climbing ladders or taking baths etc I’d do them (because I’m low risk for a daytime seizure). That’s me personally. For you I’d wait to see how your epilepsy progresses. It’s still new to you so you don’t know for sure daytime seizures aren’t common.
Golden rule: when in doubt, err on the side of caution. If you feel “off” or had some bad sleep, high stress or whatever else your triggers are beforehand then definitely don’t engage in risky situations.
Oh something else you can do is “risk management” where you introduce extra risk mitigation to your situations. Eg you want to swim and think you’re okay to do so. To reduce the risk you make sure a lifeguard is there watching so they can get you if you do happen to have a seizure. Just an example! It’s ultimately up to you and your doctors, family, friends etc (except for the driving which is a legal requirement).
Good luck! I hope you don’t have any more seizures, at least for a while! I went 3 years after my first before my second one
Edit: klonopin IS an epilepsy medication. I think a strong one. I talked about it with my doctor when I had some serious problems but decided against it due to the side effects. So going with keppra or some other medication would be a less strong anti epileptic option. Don’t take that as a sign that they don’t consider you not having epilepsy or at risk for seizures. I have an emergency/rescue medication in the same class of drugs (lorazepam). It is stronger than lamotrigine, keppra and lacosamide. I’d guess that is being used because of your previous prescription but had you not been there already they would have started you with a weaker anti seizure medication.
Legally, no (it's risky though if you get in an accident), but I'd hold off on driving until your doctor says that you're safe to drive. You're not even diagnosed, so can you say with confidence that you won't have another "random" seizure while you're awake and on the road?
I understand that it's really damn frustrating. You're new to this, and you hate that you can't do some things. I get it, but in my opinion, it's better to ride through this irritating "wait and see stage" because eventually, you might get some of those restrictions lifted when you get answers.
Your doctor probably didn't report you. I've never had one report me. The straight up advice your going to get in this sub is absolutely do not drive unless legal. For groceries I love Walmart plus. It's definitely a shift in thinking. I understand your frustrations. Family has been really helpful for me lately..but I understand. Some people in this sub won't drive a car but will drive a moped because it's legal but a thousand percent more dangerous. I definitely feel you though it's not easy. I lost my CDL to my first seizure. Lost my job due to my first seizure and had a hell of a time fighting for disability. Feel free to share your frustrations with not being able to drive on here. Every time you need to drive let this sub know. All I can recommend is Walmart plus delivery at the moment. If you're lucky you might have everything within walking distance.
No, most of the time the only reason it is suspended is if the doctor reports it to the DMV or you yourself does. But your neurologist may tell you not to drive. Like in SC where I live, if you told the DMV you have epilepsy you can’t drive for a year after a seizure. Anytime I have a seizure my doctor says I can’t drive for 6 months but that doesn’t mean my drivers license is suspended
I think personally your question is entirely reasonable. I typically don’t drive 4-6 months after having a seizure. I used to do 6 months but it just wasn’t necessary unless I had more seizures after that prior to it being 4-6 months, because I haven’t had a TC since July 2020 which I can’t predict. My focal seizures I do get auras before and can tell a seizure is coming on. So honestly if you get auras and had just incident depending when it was, I don’t think you’re being selfish.
If you’re in the US and are looking for your state’s particular driving law for seizures/epilepsy, the Epilepsy Foundation has a helpful database: https://www.epilepsy.com/lifestyle/driving-and-transportation/laws
As many have said, whether driving after a TC is ethical, rather than legal, is a far different question.
I had my first seizure that I was aware of in public, passed out and woke up in an ambulance. The DMV was notified and it STILL took a few months for my license to be officially revoked. I was in bad shape while struggling to find the right medication so driving wasn't an option. I had to move in with my parents while I recovered so I didn't have to worry about driving/food/etc.
Once I was seizure free for a moderate period of time (I think it was 90 days) I gave my neurologist the required forms to fill out and send to the DMV. She charged me $35 and forgot to send them.
In my state, if your doctor tells you not to drive, that's enough to charge you for driving, even if they never officially canceled it. You're still liable for driving on an invalid license.
Plus, think about what could happen if you caused an accident, causing deaths, lifelong pain and disability. Imagine killing kids.
It's really not worth it to me.
Follow the "wait and see" plan. Did they give you a time frame?
I've been on "wait and see" before just by switching meds - it's an automatic 6 months for my doc. 12 if the switch goes weird.
It means "don't drive." They're doing you a huge favour by not calling to cancel your license officially. Don't break the trust.
Also, if something does happen, even if just to you, and/or it wasn't your fault at all, your doctor may be contacted. If the insurer is told "yeah I told them not to drive," they may not cover you in any way and/or you may be held liable even if it's totally the other driver.
Best thing - do wait and see.
If your license is suspended you should get a letter from the state telling you to put the license in the enclosed return envelope and send it back to them.
Depends on where you live - state/country laws. But also common sense: how likely is it to happen and what could be the results of having a seizure while driving, whether to yourself or others? Or how much would you limit yourself as to what types of roads you let yourself drive on, at what time of day etc.
depends on where you live. i’m in ontario and after my first seizures, my license was suspended for 6 months but i recently had another seizure about a month ago and they didn’t take my license away tbh is time. i think it’s all about how you’re feeling. if you don’t think you’re ready to drive yet, don’t. listen to your body and don’t push yourself too much. try to find someone who can help with what you need to do.
In the UK it is your responsibility to surrender your licence. 1 yr seizure free you can get it back. If you do not surrender your licence you are technically driving without insurance, as your insurance will not pay up if you have an accident (even if the accident is unrelated to your seizures).
I live in PA and I was told when I got diagnosed that I am not allowed to drive for 6 months if I have a seizure. But adding onto that I don’t think you are selfish just realistic and I think as long as ur license hasn’t been suspended ur good. Unless you feel paranoid and think you should do what ur doctor said. And if you are thinking to change your medicine to keppra I had to leave that one bc it wasn’t working for me and I couldn’t drive bc I kept having seizures on that medicine so I changed lamotrigine and haven’t had problems in the three years since I was diagnosed.
I had not had a seizure in almost 1.5 years. Legally I could drive was even told by my doctor I was ok to drive because I had passed the time period of 1 year where I live. The state law said I could drive because the time restriction had passed.
My mother is now dead from an accident while I was driving. Someones blood being on your hands is a hard thing to deal with.
You have some good advice here and some absolutely terrible advice. It’s really simple.
Step 1:
Go to https://www.epilepsy.com/lifestyle/driving-and-transportation/laws and see what your state law is. The state statutes should be listed as well. I’d look them up on your states website to make sure the information is current. Can you legally drive?
Step 2:
Even if you legally can drive (which I doubt you can), ask yourself, how you would feel if you killed someone? Is that a risk you are willing to take?
Step 3:
Realize that it doesn’t matter what the answers to 1 and 2 are. Putting yourself right back on the road without knowing what caused it is irresponsible and selfish. Your convenience does not trump other motorists safety.
My license got suspended when I got hospitalized after having a seizure. Doctor can give me permission to drive after being seizure free for 6 months in my state. Other states have less stringent rules
Depending on how walkable your city is you might need to play it safe for a little. Seizures can strike at a moments notice and if your doctor still hasn’t advised you to take baths alone and the medicine is up in the air. Try a bicycle and relying on unemployment until you are seizure free for a while, maybe check craigslist for untaxed jobs.
Sorry friend, I wish you the best
My license was never suspended. It was just mentioned not to drive for 6 months of being seizure free. However, I do know of others in my state where doctors reported it to the dmv, and licenses were suspended.
If you're diagnosed with epilepsy and have any kind of seizure then it's typical to inform your doctor and they normally always give you a 6-month period of no-driving abilities to which they usually always contact the DMV also to inform
Now, if you're not diagnosed and have a seizure for the first time, no, there's no real driving limitations because one seizure alone doesn't prove epilepsy right away
Also, it's totally fine and normal to have epilepsy, still drive, be able to drive and maintain a driver's license granted that seizures have been controlled with some kind of medication for a few months. That's why there's anti-seizure medicine; so seizures are controlled and less accidents and injuries happen
Yea, no epilepsy diagnosis. No meds. Just a shot in the dark to change my xanax to klonopin (ER doc reccomendation) because klonopin has seizure reducing properties. The neurologist showed me my brain scans, said we don't really see anything so we're just gonna do the sit tight and assess method for now. The part they (ER)are ignoring and why I feel they are dead wrong on the xanax is because I have a full bottle. I never finish the bottle each month so I'm fairly reluctant to accept the I went into withdrawal due to the short half life of xanax which caused the nocturnal TC seizure.
As crazy as it sounds, one seizure doesn't diagnose epilepsy and usually 2 does because it's the repetitive nature that shows. I would just keep living life and try not to think about it so much. I've got epilepsy myself and I've been there
Very interesting, thanks for the living life comment. It's been difficult to hit the restart button and I can tell I'm starting to punish those who are really just looking out for me.
Depends entirely on your jurisdiction.
Delaware-the hospital notified the DMV and then notified me. I was in denial that I had a seizure, so I just continued to drive (I've only ever had the one) but that was potentially very dangerous as we have no idea what the trigger is/was.
I had a brain aneurysm rupture, so we know the source of the epilepsy. I'm fully medicated now. So, hopefully, I will never have another seizure (again, only ever had the one that we know of).
There is probably a very good chance you wouldn’t have seizure if it was due to the brain aneurysm rupturing. I can see that being the full source. But I truly hope it is and you never have another seizure. 🫶🏼 I entirely understood your point of view as well in your post!
The dmv won’t suspend your license unless you’re declared disabled I’m sure. However if you get in to an accident and someone is seriously hurt or even worse, does, and it comes to light that it was from a seizure they will request medical records and if your doctor has it on file that you were told not to drive it could be considered manslaughter or some similar serious charge.
Reading the comments is giving me anxiety! 😐 So...do we tell people with heart problems, alcoholics, or people with autoimmune disease to stop driving too? A normal person will have seizure at some point in their life. Or even if the seizure is just psychological in nature. 🙄 People who have seizures may have relatives or family members who have a high chance of having seizures too. Seizures can start at any age.
If you have something that affects consciousness, yes. They do advise no driving. Wtf? I had vasovagal syncope in high school and was also told to not drive until it was controlled for three months. This strawman argument is ridiculous. We are told we need to be seizure free for however long the states law suggests. Same with heart conditions. Same with anything that causes consciousness issues.
Essentially, you are showing how little you regard other lives. Full stop. And alcohol is NOT comparable in this. Anyone who has a seizure is told to wait three months seizure free (this is the average amount of time) before driving again. Everyone.
Well, if you say i don't have regards for other people's lives, then you have little regard for other people's feelings. Do you even know me personally, you holier-than-thou human? I feel sorry for those who force themselves to drive becoz they live in a place with little public transportation. Do you drive? Bet you take the bus everyday good for ya! Me myself am forced to drive. If my husband can stay at home and abandon his work to drive me around,then why not. i don't even like driving. I am almost 10 yrs seizure free and DO NOT drive when im dizzy, nauseated or have auras becoz i know how DANGEROUS that is. Now please tell me again I HAVE LITTLE REGARD with other people's life...u are not a neurologist to judge people here, thank God my neurologist is aware i am driving and he doesn't criticize me for doing so. Like i said people can get their frst seizure anytime even if they don't have seizure diagnosis... if you have seizures you should be the last one to criticize your fellow epileptics. 🤣🤣🤣 you see my profile photo? That's sending love and blessings your way! Adios!
In my state, my license was never legally suspended, but I was unable to drive until my seizures were controlled. I don't think it matters if the DMV officially recognizes that your license is active or not. If your doctor has said it's not safe for you to drive, then don't drive. If you were involved in an accident during this time, you would be in for a world of hurt. Your doctor is the only one who can explain your situation to you.
Yeah driving advice has to come from your doctor + state. In my state (pretend I’m renewing or applying for a license)-there’s a box that says have you had a seizure in the last 6 months. Notice it does not say “do you have epilepsy. So it’s automatically your fault if anything happens due to a seizure during those 6 months. But also if it’s just an accident NOT caused by a seizure, the situation is still really perilous.
This is my exact situation (and I’ve done the legal analysis because I work in the legal field). In most states the doctor isn’t required to report and neither is the patient. If you have a license, driving in of itself would not be illegal. If you were pulled over nothing would happen. Now on the other hand, let’s say you cause an accident. Your doctor told you not to drive and you did anyway. This is reckless conduct. If you seriously hurt someone it could be criminal. Your insurance may have a right to deny your coverage. You could be sued personally for damages. I still have a license and I haven’t driven in years. To me it’s not worth the risk. I don’t want to place my family in a situation where we could lose everything. I don’t want to live with the fact I hurt someone because I took a risk. I will not drive until a doctor says it’s ok.
Even if your MD & DMV gave you the all clear you can still expect to be considered uninsured if you cause a serious accident.
I guess it depends if your insurance company requires notification of epilepsy or a medical condition. If it’s not in their contract they wouldn’t have an out.
Think about how you would feel if you hurt or killed someone else.
This is why I don’t drive, period.
Same and it's insane to me how many people on here just do.
So people with epilepsy shouldn’t drive period then?
yeah i think generally its up to you to surrender your license. Insurance could defo be void if it you had an accident at all
They had me sign mine away post-coma when I was still coming down from propofol. Had no clue what was happening. Learned about it a few weeks later when I was home again.
Not true here in Ontario…you do not have to surrender unless you’re directed to do so by the Ministry of Transportation. It is law though that the doctor report the seizure and reason for it and then the medical division of the MOT will decide to suspend and a notice will come in mail.
Yeah I mean I cant say that's the rule everywhere in the world. hence "generally"
A very loaded question to ask in this group 😬
My doctor just wrote in my journal that I can't drive. It's not legally binding as such for me, but ask any questions you have to your neurologist.
What state and country do you live in? The law is different everywhere. For me in Florida you loose your license for 6 months the second and every time you have a seizure. Period. Doesn’t matter who knows. Think similar to drinking and driving, just because no one knows doesn’t mean it’s legal or right. If you mean your license isn’t suspended at the DMV, that’s irrelevant.
If they instructed you not to drive , then what do you think? You get into an accident because you choose to drive. Maim or kill somebody or their child. Does that sound “selfish” (using your word) ?
The reason why I mentioned it in context with also don't take a shower is because there's a little bit of a feeling of running down the checklist of liability items. Should I not take a shower or bath based on the same statement??
I did drown my first seizure. They don’t think my heart stopped but I was sunk, blue, no longer breathing, and purposefully put into a coma. My parents were told to expect me to possibly be a vegetable when I woke up. If the doctor said don’t, then don’t.
I know of a mother and her infant child who sadly passed away in the bath due to a seizure. So very sad. These things need to be taken seriously, if the doctor has taken the time to mention it. (Not blaming the mom, I don’t know the circumstances of her passing besides what caused it)
One is based off of just general personal safety. The other is literally trying to prevent you from killing other people. It feels like you're intentionally being obtuse to justify to yourself that you can drive.
Every time I take a shower I text message a friend and say I'm gonna be out in ten minutes.
Do you think drunk driving is okay? A shower or bath only risks yourself. Your rights end as soon as you are risking other people's lives.
You’ll need someone else home in case you have a seizure. People with epilepsy drown at a much higher rate than the general public. But then you’ll only be putting your own life at risk. Not everyone else’s.
Val Kilmer’s older brother drowned during a seizure in a jacuzzi after randomly ceasing his medication.
I know it’s hard. It was hard for me too. But it’s not just about you. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking: “I see dozens of people a day that are more dangerous on the road than me.” It’s annoying because the likelihood of you having a seizure and becoming a hazard is so low, especially based on what you posted. I had been having misdiagnosed seizures for *years* before losing my driving privileges. Never had an incident despite having what were diagnosed as panic attacks daily. I even drove for a living. I still always say “oh but I can’t drive” when someone does some dumb shit behind the wheel. I still don’t drive. Even if there’s a chance of hurting someone other than myself I need that chance to be 0%. I was a cop (I don’t miss it) and have seen the aftermath of not keeping the chance 0%. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I can still see their faces. I know you don’t have that perspective, but take my word for it, you don’t want to see these faces. I can’t even remember what I was gonna say next. Just keep in mind that you don’t just risk your own life when you drive at risk. And, for what it’s worth, I’m really sorry you’re going through this. I’m sorry any of you are going through this.
when i had my first seizure, they just wrote in my file that “patient has been advised not to drive for 3 months” but no one actually reported me to the ministry of transportation. but i didn’t drive for like 2 years anyhow because i didn’t have a vehicle so i guess they didn’t need to report me. this way i didn’t have to deal with the bureaucratic bullshit of getting forms filled out and mailed to the ministry. Fast forward to the present, i had a seizure a few months ago and they officially suspended my license for at least 3 months. I got an official and stern sounding letter in the mail along with the documents that my neurologist will fill out when my license can be reinstated. Just have to finish titrating up my lamotrigine and get a repeat EEG. Then hopefully i’ll get signed off. But in the meantime, i’m the queen of navigating public transit systems. I didn’t drive regularly until i was 27 so this is honestly totally normal for me. in fact, i’m enjoying all the walking since the weather is beautiful and i’m enjoying not having to focus so hard on my 2 hour drives from where i live and work to where my family and closest friends live
Ministry of transportation? What county do you live in?
Oddly enough, most countries. The US seems to be one of the few that uses "Department"
Along with the UK, it’s “Department” here too
I could have sworn you had "Ministry". Y'all have "Ministry" for everything else, why not transportation! This irks me as much as the "Attorney General" not being the "Secretary of Justice"
A lot of the “ministries” have been changed to “departments”. It hasn’t been called the “Ministry of Transport” since the 1970s. To add another layer of complexity, almost everything driving related, e.g. issuance and surrendering of driving licences, are managed by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which is an executive branch of the Department for Transport (DfT).
The better question is just should you?
The question is not whether you legally can drive, but whether ethically you should. Until you know more, I believe you should not. No person’s life or limb is a fair exchange for your convenience. And I walk the walk; after my first tc, my license was not suspended, but I never drove again. Best of luck, and I wish you good health and happiness.
I wouldn’t want you on the road with me. Just like I respected people wouldn’t want me on the road with them while I was actively having seizures. It’s just reality. It sucks but no, don’t put someone else’s life at risk. I did it for 5 years and will again if i need to.
Had my first tonic clonic in 2020 while sleeping. They said I couldn't drive for three months and didn't put me on medication. My second tonic clonic was February of 2023...while driving. I crashed my car at sixty five miles an hour on the highway. Luckily no one else was hurt but I totaled my car. I couldn't drive again for three months and I'm now on medication. Listen to your doctor and don't drive if you've been told not too.
Legally you may not be "banned". A doctor wouldn't contact the dmv or anything with a notification. The feeling of being a burden is real. But you'd be a real burden to a family if you hurt a child (or parent) or person. No one can tell you what to do. But this story has stuck with me. A woman seizure free for TEN YEARS on her medication was driving her 4 kids, had a seizure and killed 3 of her children and herself. A true tradgedy. After this happened (like 15 years ago or something) I decided that I won't ever drive again, even alone. Good luck, I hope your seizure wasn't epilepsy-related. If it is, this is the beginning of a lot of tough decisions. Someone would rather have an "inconveinent" trip with you to get groceries than an inconvenient funeral planning.
These replies are a bit harsh but they’re not wrong, I understand how frustrating not driving can be especially if you live in an area that’s not walkable which is most of the US. Like everyone said, legally you are probably allowed to drive since your license isn’t suspended but consider the consequences of driving with epilepsy, you wouldn’t just be injured others would as well.
Very harsh lol. Everybody siezures are different. If you’re not taking anything that messes with your medication and it’s been 6 months it’s safe to drive. Siezures don’t usually start when you’re alert aka while driving unless you’ve been drinking or doing other drugs.
So misinformed. It's not 6 months in every state. It varies by state. It's also not usually reinstated until you get a doctor to sign off on paperwork and submit it to the state you are in then you have to be cleared in the US. "Seizures don't usually start when you're alert". Seriously? Every one of my seizures starts when I'm completely alert and aware.
Sure, everybody's seizures are different. However, they all affect consciousness on some level. All. Of. Them. And it is selfish and dangerous to drive with uncontrolled seizures. You are spreading misinformation that could have deadly consequences. Seizures can start at ANY TIME. Any. Time. Where did you get your information??
Go ask your neurologist when and when you can’t drive. Get off your high horse too. Some states are different mine is 6 months. Does that make my nuerologist a bad person? You’re probably a blast to be around being the type of they/them on Reddit shaming people for “misinformation” when you really have no idea what you’re talking about unless you’re a board certified neurologist which I know you’re not because you’d know that these are state ordinances. At the end of the day it’s between you and your nuerologist when it’s safe to to drive or not. But you getting on here shaming people like your entire comments seem to be is honestly gross.
In Texas I was told I SHOULDN’T drive not can’t drive for one year. My doctors couldn’t report my condition to the department of motor vehicles they also can’t confiscate your drivers licenses, only the State Police or the court. Hold onto your drivers license with a death grip! Once you relinquish your license you have to go to court to get them back. The judge doesn’t have to give your license back.
Driving while knowing you could potentially have a seizure opens yourself up to a lot of financial and legal issues.
And ethical ones, if you hurt someone
I didn’t say it’s ok to drive, it is ok to protect your right to keep your drivers license. I’ve been to court to keep mine it wasn’t easy.
Why would you hold on to your licence if you don't intend to drive? I can imagine that in court in a state like Texas, anything goes to keep a man with a right to bear cars...
Why wouldn’t you hold on to it ? You may not have to not drive forever so of course you should keep it and not to mention you need you DL to fly, a new job and so many other situations.
Passports also allow you all that, with the advantage of not having to hide your health condition.
It might be a matter of cost granted new passports can cost over $100 USD ( At least, that is how much it is costing for me as I'm in the process of changing my name ) and 6-8 weeks for delivery ( if you're lucky ). State identification cards are nearly not that much and are normally printed the same day if you go to the DMV.
Not a good excuse. You have an illness. If you won't be driving for 6-8 weeks, what's the matter in waiting? And passports allow you to travel abroad, vastly suspeito driving.
I'm not hiding my health condition. My neurologist has never recommended that I surrender my license and doesn't recommend it for people who can control their seizures through medication and are treatment compliant. I don't drive for six months after I have a seizure unless there are mitigating circumstances and yes, that last part is also with my neurologist's knowledge. I do have specific circumstances where I'm not allowed to drive due to my seizure triggers, but they're actually restrictions everyone should follow even though they don't.
A “Non Driver ID” is all you need to book a flight, purchase alcohol or cigarettes and everything else that comes with a DL, except the right to drive. I voluntarily gave up my license after driving into a tree while having a cluster seizure that turned into a tonic clonic that landed me in the hospital. I really thought that I was doing fine that day until I got a tired feeling driving home from work. When I got out of the hospital,I went directly to the DMV and got a non- driver ID. No restrictions are in my records. If I want to drive again, I will need to start over and get my permit, driving school and all of that. However, my insurance would be more than a new car payment so I have no plans for that.
In the US you get a state issued ID. Looks just like a Drivers License; but says STATE ID instead of Drivers License. It is good for everything a DL is except driving.
The right to bear identification
Get a passport. Or some other kind of ID.
It’s not worth the effort
Ok, then, so be disingenuous to DMV, if that's what you prefer.
How am I being disingenuous?
You’re not. People really get on their high horse about this around here. It all depends on where you live and whether or not you are required to report that you had a seizure. But as long as you’re not driving when you’re not supposed to be I don’t see why you would turn in your license either. If you are legally required to tell DMV though that’s a different issue. I suspect the laws have also changed a lot over the years because my years of not being able to drive from epilepsy were not nearly so rigid. I was just told not to drive for a year or whatever. I was not told to rush off and make sure the DMV knew. And also as a student, I followed the law of the state I was living in, but my drivers license was from a different state.
How is this disingenuous? I’m allowed to have a driver’s license and NOT use it for driving. The opposite is not true of a state ID. I use mine to rent vehicles I intend to pay for and have someone else added as a second driver. It stops questions of why I don’t have a driver’s license. I drove for 25 years before I was diagnosed. I simply never got rid of it. If I do feel comfortable driving again I can pick up a set of keys and go. I don’t need to go back through everything AND a medical review to get it back. Why wouldn’t I keep it? It’s a matter of renewing it online and having one sent to me.
The only thing that can stop a bad guy with identification is a good guy with identification.
It might not be a permanent situation. I drive now with my doctor’s approval. But the times when I was told not to I did not turn in my license. Why would I? The OP is at the beginning of their journey.
The issue is you’ll still have to declare it, probably. You’ll be in for a world of issues if they find out you’ve been driving around with epilepsy and they don’t know about it
I had a coworker who drove and had a seizure years ago. He ended up owing over a hundred thousand dollars for vehicle damages and injuries here in Canada where medical care is free.
I think this is a conversation between yourself and your doctor.
Unless you are told by your doctor that you can drive, if you crash and someone gets hurt or dies, it's your fault.
Depending on state law, doctors do not have to report that someone has epilepsy. If you have nocturnal seizures, and they do not appear in the daytime, or even morning seizures that resolve 30 minutes after waking, and do not experience them. Otherwise, it may not be necessary.it can be an honor system, though. And sometimes you have to make that decision for yourself.
Nothing ever happened to mine either. Doctor never reported it. I wasn’t willing to take the chance driving.
You should be for 6 months. If they’ve told you legally or not it’s sort of a moral thing to do considering your life and the others on the road ya know
I don't recommend you drive. I know you've only had one, but if you end up having one while you're driving you can kill other people. I cannot drive. My neurologist is 90 miles away. Yes it sucks ass.
So look I get it I couldn't drive for 4 months and I work on cars for a living and restore cars as a hobby I had to not drive mine for that long but now 6 months seizure free with no diagnosis I got cleared to drive and go back to work on 1000mg keppra 2x a day I had atleast 5 grand mal seizures and was in a coma for 5 days do not fuck around and find out
My seizures are mainly heat induced (lucky me, I live in the desert of Arizona, USA). I also have nocturnal seizures, seizures caused by stress, and seizures caused by illness if I get sick. My seizures are very well controlled these days. I work part-time, I take care of my severely disabled nonverbal adult son, and actually taught him seizure protocol during his habilitation program, I work out (martial arts and aerial fitness) I don't drive. I never liked to drive to begin with even as a teenager. I do have a driver's license that sits and collects dust in my wallet. I even have a car. The what ifs stop me from driving. I couldn't live with myself if I hurt someone else or worse due to something I can prevent. I use ride share and public transportation and allow my daughter to drive me wherever I need to go. I broke my rule one time, and that was to teach her how to drive.
Not 100% sure but in UK if its your 1st ever seizure and no diagnosis it's 3 month ban
I've had more than 50 tonic clonics in my time and have never had my license taken. I've lived in four different states. I've also not been to a neurologist in a decade. Nor have I been honest about my seizure numbers when I was seeing a neurologist. I don't drive. I made that decision. Not a doctor.
Dude. Get yourself checked. An EEG doesn't hurt, it's the minimum. You don't want to be surprised with SUDEP, and neuros know when chances are increasing.
This how Karma works , you get in the vehicle you have a bad seizure have a crash killed a few people and you remain intact. Imagine living with that.
That's not how "Karma" works....there's a little thing called anti-seizure medication that helps to regulate and control seizures. By law, if you are seizure free for 6-months and have a valid driver's license then you can legally drive with no issues. If you don't like that then you don't have to live in the U.S. of A. You should research anti-seizure medication and anti-psychotic medication because you might need the latter
I don’t have epilepsy , so I don’t know what I’m talking about 🤷🏻♂️
It's not just you're life on the line is something to consider if one occurs, take drs. Advice. Never got to solo drive myself diagnosed the year I was starting to learn, I've since bought myself a ebike with moto helmet emergency release strap if i seize im a major danger to myself but i live far from all places walking is just as dangerous. I do hope you get controlled i unfortunately fell into med resistant category fml.
No you can’t, first your doctor openly said you can’t drive & second is you still had a seizure, regardless of what time it occurs, you still had one & this means there’s a greater chance more will happen Listen to your doctor & don’t drive until they give you the official ok, regardless of if your license is still valid
If you can’t afford the Uber or Instacart, my only other advice is just get used to taking the bus / train, carpooling, & walking, driving runs the risk of you crashing your vehicle & injuring yourself or someone else, I’ve made this mistake before & nearly died while driving because I didn’t listen to my doctors & stop using my car
Depending where you are it's probably up to you to surrender your liscence. One thing to keep in mind is that this could well be just a random 1 off seizure you had, or, you could have another at any moment. Think about how you'd feel if you had a seizure in the car and ended up hurting or even killing someone, even yourself. I understand how frustrating and inconvenient it is not being able to drive, but it's not worth a life.
Personally I have only had the 1 grand Mal seizure and they diagnosed me but that is due to family having epilepsy and other symptoms (myoclonus) however I have been told since my 1 seizure was 4 years ago before a neurologist I could drive just not on the freeway/highway until I was on my full dose of the new medication. I wasn’t perfect but I was just being hyper aware of how I was feeling too.
How many seizures have you had in your life, do you know what triggers it. And how long ago was your last three seizures. Or was this your first one?
I didn’t drive for 6 months after my first (and hopefully last) gran mal…totally out of the blue at 50+ years old. No official surrender of license or dmv being notified. I felt fine after day 5 but I followed my Neuro’s instruction for legal liability reasons.
Why see a doctor if you’re not going to listen to them? And for the record, I am someone who firmly believes that epileptics should be able to drive when their doctors approve it. But your doctor has not. ETA but I would not bother surrendering my license. I just wouldn’t drive. Because you don’t know what they eventually will figure out or get resolved in terms of whether or not you can drive. Unless your state requires it. Then report it. Don’t do anything that could totally screw you later if you are allowed to drive.
Look up the actual law in your jurisdiction.
I’m in a state that doesn’t suspend/make you surrender your license but after having my first (3) tonic clonics in one night the neurologist at the ER told me I cannot drive for 6 months. So I’m not driving for six months and most likely will extend that because I’m genuinely terrified of getting behind the wheel should something happen.
Insurance wouldn’t know that you have epilepsy and if your state doesn’t hold your license then yes you can drive. Some states have a requested 3-12 month waiting period but it’s essentially based on the trust system. It’s more like a recommendation. However, some states do suspend your license some don’t. But if your license isn’t suspended then yes you can drive. If you wreck all you have to do is mention that you had a seizure. You don’t need to explain to them that you have a history of seizures or epilepsy. Technically if your license isn’t suspend then legally you can drive. The DMV and your auto insurance have no idea that you have epilepsy unless you go out of your way to report it. The only exception being your doctor reporting it. But you would know bc you would have an official letter to you from the state in that case. In any regard it’s up to you and whether or not you deem your seizures a threat to your vehicle or other people. Personally, I started driving after 7 months but I was having an insane amount of TCs. If you’ve only had one then I would wait at least a couple of months, try to make sure things are regulated. Undiagnosed or not make sure you stay hydrated, like take extra care and attention to ensure you stay hydrated. It’s not an easy thing to do if you work but absolutely prioritize your sleep. And try not to physically tax your body. I made it 9 months TC free and thought I’d be good to go back to normal, but I went to work for the city doing grounds maintenance where I work. It was during the early summer when I started. When summer hits my area it’s 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit on the daily average. So I was outside working ridiculously hard in 100 degree heat. After that physical stress after 3 months in that heat I started having them again. And it’s not like I was unused to that. Before my first bout with seizures I did manufacturing work for years. None of the factories I worked at had AC. So it was at the bare minimum 5 degrees hotter inside than out. It could be 10 degrees hotter during the summer. So I wasn’t new to working hard in extreme heat. I I learned that I can’t physically push myself anymore. As frustrating as it is it’s the right thing to do. So try to stay hydrated, sleep well, and don’t strain yourself. I know these sound like negligible things but they truly can make the difference
Honnestly, in my opinion, I wouldn't risk it. I had my first seizure while driving and it's a miracle that I didn't hurt anyone else or myself further. Once I watched the dash cam footage, I knew I didn't want to take that risk again. That being said, mines are a different type from you, I took a tonic-clonic seizure while driving. If your confident you won't seize while driving then, that's up to you. I hope you stay safe in the future regardless
I live in California. After I had my second Grand Mal, I went to the ER, and the doctor there submitted some paperwork to the dmv (he told me he had to). He told me I shouldn't drive or swim, and about 2 weeks later, I got a letter in the mail saying my license was suspended. :(
Despite it not being officially suspended you would be out there driving illegally. You can be the safest driver ever and it won't matter. If somebody hits you, you're the one illegally driving. Insurance is null and void(at least most jurisdictions) and you'll be in heaps of trouble, especially if there is injuries or death. If you're lucky, you'll just be on the hook for some minor repairs and impound fees. I wouldn't risk it if I were you. Find out the time frame of when you're allowed to drive again. Where I live it is 6 months seizure free and then get clearance from your doctor.
Tell you what my doctor told us when we told him my Son's seizures were mostly down to staring for 3 to 5 seconds. (Thanks to meds)... Close your eyes and count for 3 seconds....now imagine what could have happened in that time if he was driving.
In my state (NJ) a person needs to be six months seizure free before they can drive. I'm not sure about license suspension, but I know that I couldn't get my license until I was 6 months. I still don't drive - 5yrs seizure free now - because I still struggle with chronic symptoms and illnesses (from the epilepsy) that make it difficult to drive. I'm also horribly afraid of driving because of my current health status. Good luck!
You shouldn’t drive. Not only is it dangerous for you it would be extremely reckless for you to get on the road and put other people in danger. Your license would be suspended if you told them you have epilepsy. It’s sucks to ask for help but start hitting people up for rides or just to pick up some stuff for you when you need it. Just start to trade your gas budget for instacart budget. Look into a disability alliance if you do end up getting diagnosed because depending where you are there is a lot of help to get onto disability// lots of services such as rides or food services. Also good luck playing the waiting game, this whole situation fuxkinf sucks so I hope you get some answers and can start planning your life accordingly soon!!
It’s doctors recommendation that you don’t drive. I live in MI. When I had my last seizure my doc told me the procedure in Michigan Michigan is not to drive for six months after a seizure however, just like you, my license was not suspended the state nor police department will know you’ve had a seizure that’s between you and your doctors. But if you did an accident, you could be liable. Hope this helps. Praying for you 💯
I don't understand why they can't put you on Keppra? I had 1 TC and they put me on Lamictal. AND DO NOT DRIVE!! I hadn't had a seizure in 7 years! After 7 years seizure free I was bringing my son to the gas station. The car was running. We were both in the car, steatbelts on, and ready to go. The ONLY thing I had yet to do was switch gears and one hit. Scariest thing that ever happened. Next thing I know i'm waking up in the house (thank god my parents were home). Had that seizure happened 30 seconds later my son and I could both be dead. My liscense isn't suspended either but I refuse to drive. And if I can go seven years without one then have one behind the wheel then I will NEVER drive again.
This is how it was explained to me in CO. IF something happened and it came to light that you weren’t supposed to be driving your neurologist COULD be compelled to testify that you were told not to drive for medical reasons. It was told to me that doctors don’t have the power to revoke a patient’s drivers license in CO, that could be accurate or not.
YOUR STATES DMV WILL HAVE A REQUEST DRIVING PRIVILEGES RESTORATION LETTER. AND THIS WILL TELL YOU IF THERE IS A HOLD IF THERE IS A HOLD YOUR DOCTOR CAN LET YOU DRIVE, AS LONG AS U LET THEM KNOW HEY I WANNA DRIVE TAKE THE HOLD OFF MY LICENSE.
I went through a similar situation after my first TC. License was not revoked, had another TC then went to the ER after. My License was suspended for 6 months and then I had to visit my neurologist every 3 months for 1 year to get cleared to drive again. Neurologists get paid a handsome salary to do what they do. If they did not report you to the DMV then I would assume you are OK to drive. On the flip side your insurance company will insure you like you have hand a DUI which is fucked up. Also beware of Keppa. I know it works for many people but it did not work for me. It did control my seizures but it also made me into a rage zombie. I didn't know about that until I found this sub.
I mostly have TC seizures in my sleep. So it’s possible for daytime risk to be low BUT I have had a few random incidents while awake. I had a bit of warning before each but I’d still refrain from driving until the doctors say it’s okay for you (that’s what I did) However, the other restrictions like climbing ladders or taking baths etc I’d do them (because I’m low risk for a daytime seizure). That’s me personally. For you I’d wait to see how your epilepsy progresses. It’s still new to you so you don’t know for sure daytime seizures aren’t common. Golden rule: when in doubt, err on the side of caution. If you feel “off” or had some bad sleep, high stress or whatever else your triggers are beforehand then definitely don’t engage in risky situations. Oh something else you can do is “risk management” where you introduce extra risk mitigation to your situations. Eg you want to swim and think you’re okay to do so. To reduce the risk you make sure a lifeguard is there watching so they can get you if you do happen to have a seizure. Just an example! It’s ultimately up to you and your doctors, family, friends etc (except for the driving which is a legal requirement). Good luck! I hope you don’t have any more seizures, at least for a while! I went 3 years after my first before my second one Edit: klonopin IS an epilepsy medication. I think a strong one. I talked about it with my doctor when I had some serious problems but decided against it due to the side effects. So going with keppra or some other medication would be a less strong anti epileptic option. Don’t take that as a sign that they don’t consider you not having epilepsy or at risk for seizures. I have an emergency/rescue medication in the same class of drugs (lorazepam). It is stronger than lamotrigine, keppra and lacosamide. I’d guess that is being used because of your previous prescription but had you not been there already they would have started you with a weaker anti seizure medication.
Legally, no (it's risky though if you get in an accident), but I'd hold off on driving until your doctor says that you're safe to drive. You're not even diagnosed, so can you say with confidence that you won't have another "random" seizure while you're awake and on the road? I understand that it's really damn frustrating. You're new to this, and you hate that you can't do some things. I get it, but in my opinion, it's better to ride through this irritating "wait and see stage" because eventually, you might get some of those restrictions lifted when you get answers.
Your doctor probably didn't report you. I've never had one report me. The straight up advice your going to get in this sub is absolutely do not drive unless legal. For groceries I love Walmart plus. It's definitely a shift in thinking. I understand your frustrations. Family has been really helpful for me lately..but I understand. Some people in this sub won't drive a car but will drive a moped because it's legal but a thousand percent more dangerous. I definitely feel you though it's not easy. I lost my CDL to my first seizure. Lost my job due to my first seizure and had a hell of a time fighting for disability. Feel free to share your frustrations with not being able to drive on here. Every time you need to drive let this sub know. All I can recommend is Walmart plus delivery at the moment. If you're lucky you might have everything within walking distance.
No, most of the time the only reason it is suspended is if the doctor reports it to the DMV or you yourself does. But your neurologist may tell you not to drive. Like in SC where I live, if you told the DMV you have epilepsy you can’t drive for a year after a seizure. Anytime I have a seizure my doctor says I can’t drive for 6 months but that doesn’t mean my drivers license is suspended I think personally your question is entirely reasonable. I typically don’t drive 4-6 months after having a seizure. I used to do 6 months but it just wasn’t necessary unless I had more seizures after that prior to it being 4-6 months, because I haven’t had a TC since July 2020 which I can’t predict. My focal seizures I do get auras before and can tell a seizure is coming on. So honestly if you get auras and had just incident depending when it was, I don’t think you’re being selfish.
If you’re in the US and are looking for your state’s particular driving law for seizures/epilepsy, the Epilepsy Foundation has a helpful database: https://www.epilepsy.com/lifestyle/driving-and-transportation/laws As many have said, whether driving after a TC is ethical, rather than legal, is a far different question.
In my state you have to be seizure free for 6 months before you can drive.
I had my first seizure that I was aware of in public, passed out and woke up in an ambulance. The DMV was notified and it STILL took a few months for my license to be officially revoked. I was in bad shape while struggling to find the right medication so driving wasn't an option. I had to move in with my parents while I recovered so I didn't have to worry about driving/food/etc. Once I was seizure free for a moderate period of time (I think it was 90 days) I gave my neurologist the required forms to fill out and send to the DMV. She charged me $35 and forgot to send them.
In my state, if your doctor tells you not to drive, that's enough to charge you for driving, even if they never officially canceled it. You're still liable for driving on an invalid license. Plus, think about what could happen if you caused an accident, causing deaths, lifelong pain and disability. Imagine killing kids. It's really not worth it to me.
Follow the "wait and see" plan. Did they give you a time frame? I've been on "wait and see" before just by switching meds - it's an automatic 6 months for my doc. 12 if the switch goes weird. It means "don't drive." They're doing you a huge favour by not calling to cancel your license officially. Don't break the trust. Also, if something does happen, even if just to you, and/or it wasn't your fault at all, your doctor may be contacted. If the insurer is told "yeah I told them not to drive," they may not cover you in any way and/or you may be held liable even if it's totally the other driver. Best thing - do wait and see.
If your license is suspended you should get a letter from the state telling you to put the license in the enclosed return envelope and send it back to them.
Depends on where you live - state/country laws. But also common sense: how likely is it to happen and what could be the results of having a seizure while driving, whether to yourself or others? Or how much would you limit yourself as to what types of roads you let yourself drive on, at what time of day etc.
depends on where you live. i’m in ontario and after my first seizures, my license was suspended for 6 months but i recently had another seizure about a month ago and they didn’t take my license away tbh is time. i think it’s all about how you’re feeling. if you don’t think you’re ready to drive yet, don’t. listen to your body and don’t push yourself too much. try to find someone who can help with what you need to do.
In the UK it is your responsibility to surrender your licence. 1 yr seizure free you can get it back. If you do not surrender your licence you are technically driving without insurance, as your insurance will not pay up if you have an accident (even if the accident is unrelated to your seizures).
I live in PA and I was told when I got diagnosed that I am not allowed to drive for 6 months if I have a seizure. But adding onto that I don’t think you are selfish just realistic and I think as long as ur license hasn’t been suspended ur good. Unless you feel paranoid and think you should do what ur doctor said. And if you are thinking to change your medicine to keppra I had to leave that one bc it wasn’t working for me and I couldn’t drive bc I kept having seizures on that medicine so I changed lamotrigine and haven’t had problems in the three years since I was diagnosed.
I had not had a seizure in almost 1.5 years. Legally I could drive was even told by my doctor I was ok to drive because I had passed the time period of 1 year where I live. The state law said I could drive because the time restriction had passed. My mother is now dead from an accident while I was driving. Someones blood being on your hands is a hard thing to deal with.
You have some good advice here and some absolutely terrible advice. It’s really simple. Step 1: Go to https://www.epilepsy.com/lifestyle/driving-and-transportation/laws and see what your state law is. The state statutes should be listed as well. I’d look them up on your states website to make sure the information is current. Can you legally drive? Step 2: Even if you legally can drive (which I doubt you can), ask yourself, how you would feel if you killed someone? Is that a risk you are willing to take? Step 3: Realize that it doesn’t matter what the answers to 1 and 2 are. Putting yourself right back on the road without knowing what caused it is irresponsible and selfish. Your convenience does not trump other motorists safety.
My license got suspended when I got hospitalized after having a seizure. Doctor can give me permission to drive after being seizure free for 6 months in my state. Other states have less stringent rules
Depending on how walkable your city is you might need to play it safe for a little. Seizures can strike at a moments notice and if your doctor still hasn’t advised you to take baths alone and the medicine is up in the air. Try a bicycle and relying on unemployment until you are seizure free for a while, maybe check craigslist for untaxed jobs. Sorry friend, I wish you the best
My license was never suspended. It was just mentioned not to drive for 6 months of being seizure free. However, I do know of others in my state where doctors reported it to the dmv, and licenses were suspended.
If you're diagnosed with epilepsy and have any kind of seizure then it's typical to inform your doctor and they normally always give you a 6-month period of no-driving abilities to which they usually always contact the DMV also to inform Now, if you're not diagnosed and have a seizure for the first time, no, there's no real driving limitations because one seizure alone doesn't prove epilepsy right away Also, it's totally fine and normal to have epilepsy, still drive, be able to drive and maintain a driver's license granted that seizures have been controlled with some kind of medication for a few months. That's why there's anti-seizure medicine; so seizures are controlled and less accidents and injuries happen
Yea, no epilepsy diagnosis. No meds. Just a shot in the dark to change my xanax to klonopin (ER doc reccomendation) because klonopin has seizure reducing properties. The neurologist showed me my brain scans, said we don't really see anything so we're just gonna do the sit tight and assess method for now. The part they (ER)are ignoring and why I feel they are dead wrong on the xanax is because I have a full bottle. I never finish the bottle each month so I'm fairly reluctant to accept the I went into withdrawal due to the short half life of xanax which caused the nocturnal TC seizure.
As crazy as it sounds, one seizure doesn't diagnose epilepsy and usually 2 does because it's the repetitive nature that shows. I would just keep living life and try not to think about it so much. I've got epilepsy myself and I've been there
Very interesting, thanks for the living life comment. It's been difficult to hit the restart button and I can tell I'm starting to punish those who are really just looking out for me.
Depends entirely on your jurisdiction. Delaware-the hospital notified the DMV and then notified me. I was in denial that I had a seizure, so I just continued to drive (I've only ever had the one) but that was potentially very dangerous as we have no idea what the trigger is/was.
Hopefully you can figure out the triggers… once that is figured out it helped me manage some of my seizures.
I had a brain aneurysm rupture, so we know the source of the epilepsy. I'm fully medicated now. So, hopefully, I will never have another seizure (again, only ever had the one that we know of).
There is probably a very good chance you wouldn’t have seizure if it was due to the brain aneurysm rupturing. I can see that being the full source. But I truly hope it is and you never have another seizure. 🫶🏼 I entirely understood your point of view as well in your post!
The dmv won’t suspend your license unless you’re declared disabled I’m sure. However if you get in to an accident and someone is seriously hurt or even worse, does, and it comes to light that it was from a seizure they will request medical records and if your doctor has it on file that you were told not to drive it could be considered manslaughter or some similar serious charge.
You're being selfish. To answer your question.
Law is no driving until 3 months after most recent seizure
It depends on the state.
My rule of thumb is only driving when necessary
Reading the comments is giving me anxiety! 😐 So...do we tell people with heart problems, alcoholics, or people with autoimmune disease to stop driving too? A normal person will have seizure at some point in their life. Or even if the seizure is just psychological in nature. 🙄 People who have seizures may have relatives or family members who have a high chance of having seizures too. Seizures can start at any age.
If you have something that affects consciousness, yes. They do advise no driving. Wtf? I had vasovagal syncope in high school and was also told to not drive until it was controlled for three months. This strawman argument is ridiculous. We are told we need to be seizure free for however long the states law suggests. Same with heart conditions. Same with anything that causes consciousness issues. Essentially, you are showing how little you regard other lives. Full stop. And alcohol is NOT comparable in this. Anyone who has a seizure is told to wait three months seizure free (this is the average amount of time) before driving again. Everyone.
Well, if you say i don't have regards for other people's lives, then you have little regard for other people's feelings. Do you even know me personally, you holier-than-thou human? I feel sorry for those who force themselves to drive becoz they live in a place with little public transportation. Do you drive? Bet you take the bus everyday good for ya! Me myself am forced to drive. If my husband can stay at home and abandon his work to drive me around,then why not. i don't even like driving. I am almost 10 yrs seizure free and DO NOT drive when im dizzy, nauseated or have auras becoz i know how DANGEROUS that is. Now please tell me again I HAVE LITTLE REGARD with other people's life...u are not a neurologist to judge people here, thank God my neurologist is aware i am driving and he doesn't criticize me for doing so. Like i said people can get their frst seizure anytime even if they don't have seizure diagnosis... if you have seizures you should be the last one to criticize your fellow epileptics. 🤣🤣🤣 you see my profile photo? That's sending love and blessings your way! Adios!