Seizures and driving

[sharepointalex]

Hi Folks,

Just after a bit of support and advice really. Here's some background -

Suffered what appeared to be an isolated seizure back in November 2014 due to extreme stress and tiredness - tests ensued but came back inconclusive so I had to have a 6 month break from driving which for a fellow petrolhead felt like an eternity!!

When I got back on the road I treated myself to a new 335d on lease - all has been going well until I suffered another seizure at work last Tuesday! Again seemed to be triggered by stress and at the time I was on the phone dealing with a stressful issue.

Needless to say I'm gutted it's happened again. I've stopped driving under advice from my GP and will likely opt to voluntarily surrender my license because it means quicker re-application (last time I had it revoked - mistake).

I see a neurologist next week (privately this time to hopefully speed things up) so I'm hoping for some answers.

My symptoms seem to match non epileptic disorder which is more psychological than actual epilepsy. From what I can find out if this is the case there are no specific driving restrictions but the DVLA have to assess based on Neurologist's recommendations.

I just hope I get a good neuro who is on my side.

It's frustrating because I feel the most relaxed behind the wheel and I seem to get warnings of the seizures.

The thought of 12 months off driving is killing me - anyone got any ideas if it will be 12 or perhaps 6?

The timing couldn't be worse either as my wife is about to give birth!

Cheers

Alex

[jamieduff1981]

I'm sorry to hear this.

I'm not an expert on neurology, but I sympathise because my sister has suffered from epilepsy since being a teenager. After 12 clear months she can apply for a provisional license but something always happens.

Whilst it's a restriction and a nuisance, all I will suggest is that you take it seriously and don't stress yourself worrying about your driving license. The anxiety of knowing that you could lose the license is a stress in itself.

Honestly, there's more to life than driving and with a baby on the way yourr life is going to change for the better anyway.

[X5TUU]

Your license ought to be low on the priority list right now with your unborn and getting what is a correct diagnosis (and not one "on your side" that could jeopardise other innocents)

The DVLA can be funny about taking non-NHS diagnosis as well so you may be forking out for nothing (even though on many occasions it's the same consultant who works for both NHS/IS) other than early diagnosis but then being forced to wait the standard time length for your local NHS Trust ... You need to speak to them also and find out current clearance times for Neuro which will give an accurate induction of expected wait

[TooMany2cvs]

X5TUU said:

Your license ought to be low on the priority list right now with your unborn and getting what is a correct diagnosis (and not one "on your side" that could jeopardise other innocents)

This, with bells on.

C'mon, OP, priorities! Your brain is throwing tantrums, and you've got a sprog about to be born - and whether you can keep your licence is your highest priority...? REALLY?

[sharepointalex]

Thanks for the replies - I completely agree with you all. I never said driving was my highest priority - obviously my unborn is.

I was purely just trying to get an idea of the length of time I might be off the road - it's not only a loss of independence but you take it for granted e.g. Nipping out to the supermarket to get more nappies etc.

I'm hoping that when the little one arrives I'll be so busy I won't even think about driving or riding my motorcycle!!

[t400ble]

To be fair, if you're stressed now wait till the baby comes!

[Uncl3s]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, you'll most likely be looking at a 12 month lay off from driving. You'll also lose any entitlement to drive vehicles above category B.

[sharepointalex]

Uncl3s said:

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, you'll most likely be looking at a 12 month lay off from driving. You'll also lose any entitlement to drive vehicles above category B.

Ok thanks - it's ok as I've pretty much resided myself to 12 months now anyway - anything less is a bonus.

I assume you mean categories C,D etc I.e. Big vehicles? This doesn't matter to me as i can't drive those anyway - it's only B and A for me.

Cheers

[Uncl3s]

sharepointalex said:

Ok thanks - it's ok as I've pretty much resided myself to 12 months now anyway - anything less is a bonus.

I assume you mean categories C,D etc I.e. Big vehicles? This doesn't matter to me as i can't drive those anyway - it's only B and A for me.

Cheers

Spot on its categories C,D and so forth that you can't drive or anything over 3.5 tons. The good news is having to walk/cycle everywhere you get fit pretty quickly and you have a little extra money which once the 12 months are up you can use to buy an MX5 ;-).

You can also re-apply for you license a month before the 12 month lay off expired as the DVLA take an age to get everything done. I had to add an extra 2 months to as they screwed up the paper work!

https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/driving

[sharepointalex]

Uncl3s said:

Spot on its categories C,D and so forth that you can't drive or anything over 3.5 tons. The good news is having to walk/cycle everywhere you get fit pretty quickly and you have a little extra money which once the 12 months are up you can use to buy an MX5 ;-).

You can also re-apply for you license a month before the 12 month lay off expired as the DVLA take an age to get everything done. I had to add an extra 2 months to as they screwed up the paper work!

https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/driving

Thanks - mind if I ask - do you suffer from something similar? It's good to hear from others and I'm actually looking forward to saving money on fuel - going to try and put lease mileage down too.

Already planning to start cycling to work and hopefully running in too once I get the distance back up.

I've decided I'm going to use the time (whilst raising a child) to do some jobs on my motorcycle that I can take my time on e.g. Fitting a full set of samco hoses.

Just want to get some treatment so I can hopefully prevent this from happening again.

Cheers

[Riley Blue]

After my O/H was diagnosed with epliepsy she was unable to drive for almost five years i.e. until she had been 'episode' free for 12 months (she didn't have seizures as such, just a couple of minutes of vagueness and loss of coordination). She's back driving again now but the DVLA only gave her a three year licence. She's on medication twice a day but it took over a year of trying different drugs and dosages to find out which worked and without unpleasant side effects. In other words, OP, it may not be as straight forward - I hope it is though.

[chilistrucker]

I'd imagine you will have to wait 6-12 months to get your car licence back, all being well. I hope it goes smoothly for you as the DVLA medical board can be a huge PITA if it doesn't and dealing with them may well stress you out even more. The people on the phone lines there are polite and helpful but the actual powers that be are the most pathetic, nauseating s I have ever had to deal with. The medical board are stuck in the dark ages, expect a 4 week turn around on any letter you send, they won't deal with email, and you will never get to speak to any actual doctor there who may be deciding on your individual case. OH, and they don't really do individual cases, everything is just put into some fairly big random boxes.

I had a fall in May 2014, resulting in some fairly substantial head injuries, 3 fractures on the skull and 3 bleeds on the brain. This meant my licences were quite rightly revoked, both car and truck licences, (truck driving WAS my lively hood.) In September of 2014 I was given the all clear by my neuro consultant and in his opinion I was fit to return to driving both cars and trucks. Sadly the doctors at the DVLA medical panel overruled his decision and my licences remained revoked. I did manage to get the car licence back in December that year, but 2 years on i'm still fighting the idiots at the DVLA medical panel for my truck licence. I've tried everything.
Their ruling states that in their opinion I am more than a 2% risk of having a seizure, and because of this I cannot get the truck licence back. Bear in mind a seizure did not cause the fall, I had never previously had a seizure, and to this day have never had a seizure since the fall/head injuries. This means nothing to the DVLA, they have put me in the seizure box, and despite 2 years of fighting them, they point blank refuse to budge. I had my latest appeal refused 3 weeks ago

Hopefully you will be OK as its just your car licence, but wanted to give you some idea of what they can be like. Good luck.

[Uncl3s]

sharepointalex said:

Thanks - mind if I ask - do you suffer from something similar? It's good to hear from others and I'm actually looking forward to saving money on fuel - going to try and put lease mileage down too.

Already planning to start cycling to work and hopefully running in too once I get the distance back up.

I've decided I'm going to use the time (whilst raising a child) to do some jobs on my motorcycle that I can take my time on e.g. Fitting a full set of samco hoses.

Just want to get some treatment so I can hopefully prevent this from happening again.

Cheers

Not at all, I suffer from epilepsy which lay dormant until around 4ish years ago when I was involved in a crash the stress of which caused me to have a seizure a couple of days later (though I didn't realize it was at the time). After that it steadily got worse until I was having seizures every 10 days which was pretty scary given there was not much I could do until I saw a neurologist. Fortunately the NHS was pretty good at getting me appointments for tests plus the meds so in less than a month the clock was ticking on the 12 months without a license.

Its very much a stress related thing for me as well especially as it got much worse just after I turned in my license and the anger/frustration at having to give up getting my category C and being able to drive. It certainly changes the way you think about stress given it can have such a drastic affect on your health.

Keep up the positive vibes the first month or so will be pig but after that you adapt and start enjoying cycling and walking everywhere.

[mike9009]

Hi

Massive sympathies for you. I was diagnosed with Epilepsy some nine years ago. I had three seizures over three months. I stopped driving for just over 15 months and with the benefit of hindsight it was not too bad.

When I first found I had to stop driving, I was so frustrated and angry. Cycling became my thing for a year or so. I also stopped drinking, as this was thought to be a trigger (I was not a heavy drinker, by the way - but my first seizure was New Years morning, hence the incorrect conclusion from my GP).

I am also diabetic - so I think I make an interesting case study at the DVLA. Keep everything above board, take the advice from the NHS (they were brilliant for me over those years) and things will get better.

Best of luck.....


Mike

[sharepointalex]

Uncl3s said:

Not at all, I suffer from epilepsy which lay dormant until around 4ish years ago when I was involved in a crash the stress of which caused me to have a seizure a couple of days later (though I didn't realize it was at the time). After that it steadily got worse until I was having seizures every 10 days which was pretty scary given there was not much I could do until I saw a neurologist. Fortunately the NHS was pretty good at getting me appointments for tests plus the meds so in less than a month the clock was ticking on the 12 months without a license.

Its very much a stress related thing for me as well especially as it got much worse just after I turned in my license and the anger/frustration at having to give up getting my category C and being able to drive. It certainly changes the way you think about stress given it can have such a drastic affect on your health.

Keep up the positive vibes the first month or so will be pig but after that you adapt and start enjoying cycling and walking everywhere.

Thanks for sharing this - I appreciate it and sorry to hear what happened. Interesting though as it sounds exactly like what is happening to me! My first seizure was brought on at a time of extreme stress/difficult situation. I am fortunate in that I have had a long gap between seizures but the last one again was stress related. I'm beginning to think I may have some form of epilepsy that was dormant for a long time - obviously it may not be this clear cut but could be possible.

That is positive to hear regarding the NHS being good with your appointments etc. I'm hoping they can get some tests booked in soon so I can begin treatment and i'm trying to chill as much as I can to prevent another seizure - keeping the 12 month clock ticking until driving again :-)

First cycle into work today and I actually enjoyed it - I'm a massive gadget lover so i'm already looking at getting a fitness tracker and a few other bits for my bike.

Beginning to think this won't be so bad after all :-)

[sharepointalex]

mike9009 said:

Hi

Massive sympathies for you. I was diagnosed with Epilepsy some nine years ago. I had three seizures over three months. I stopped driving for just over 15 months and with the benefit of hindsight it was not too bad.

When I first found I had to stop driving, I was so frustrated and angry. Cycling became my thing for a year or so. I also stopped drinking, as this was thought to be a trigger (I was not a heavy drinker, by the way - but my first seizure was New Years morning, hence the incorrect conclusion from my GP).

I am also diabetic - so I think I make an interesting case study at the DVLA. Keep everything above board, take the advice from the NHS (they were brilliant for me over those years) and things will get better.

Best of luck.....


Mike

Thanks Mike - good to hear another positive story and glad to hear you are back driving and doing well. I've already started to make lifestyle changes to reduce stress and am beginning to think that it won't be so bad :-)

[Sebring440]

Riley Blue said:

(she didn't have seizures as such, just a couple of minutes of vagueness and loss of coordination).

Sorry for my first post on this sort of topic, but I've been a long-time lurker.

Had to comment on this one though. Riley, your wife did have seizures, your description of "a couple of minutes of vagueness and loss of coordination" is a very typical seizure for temporal lobe epilepsy.

Are you confusing "fits" with "seizures" perhaps. No criticism implied or intended here, just making the point about the meaning of seizure in this context.

Edited by Sebring440 on Wednesday 20th April 20:10

[sharepointalex]

Uncl3s said:

Not at all, I suffer from epilepsy which lay dormant until around 4ish years ago when I was involved in a crash the stress of which caused me to have a seizure a couple of days later (though I didn't realize it was at the time). After that it steadily got worse until I was having seizures every 10 days which was pretty scary given there was not much I could do until I saw a neurologist. Fortunately the NHS was pretty good at getting me appointments for tests plus the meds so in less than a month the clock was ticking on the 12 months without a license.

Its very much a stress related thing for me as well especially as it got much worse just after I turned in my license and the anger/frustration at having to give up getting my category C and being able to drive. It certainly changes the way you think about stress given it can have such a drastic affect on your health.

Keep up the positive vibes the first month or so will be pig but after that you adapt and start enjoying cycling and walking everywhere.

Ok so I saw my neurologist today and he has given me a diagnosis of Complex Partial Seizures - I'm not 100% certain this is correct but I've got to stop googling! He thinks my symptoms are more towards epilepsy than non epileptic seizures.

On the plus side he has already written to my Doctor for them to prescribe some medication to start taking immediately.

I can't remember the name of the drug but he was confident that if I start taking it, the seizures should stop. He was clued up on the driving rules and reminded me it is 12 months off so I'm about to voluntarily surrender my license :-( on the plus side at least this way I can start driving bang on the seizure free date!

Nearly done a month already so nearly on 11 months to go! :P

[Prof Prolapse]

There's lots of treatment options open to you for either condition. You just need to be patient and optimistic that one of them allows you to control the seizures. Not a medic, but I think Valproate is common for both, and at normal doses it's a decent medicine.

But you say you've done this before, so you know that once you demonstrate control, you'll get your licence back. There's no cutting corners.

So until your seizures are under control you'll just need to be patient, and you'll just need to spend more time with the baby and doing your food shopping online in the mean time.

[Riley Blue]

Sebring440 said:

Riley Blue said:

(she didn't have seizures as such, just a couple of minutes of vagueness and loss of coordination).

Sorry for my first post on this sort of topic, but I've been a long-time lurker.

Had to comment on this one though. Riley, your wife did have seizures, your description of "a couple of minutes of vagueness and loss of coordination" is a very typical seizure for temporal lobe epilepsy.

Are you confusing "fits" with "seizures" perhaps. No criticism implied or intended here, just making the point about the meaning of seizure in this context.

Edited by Sebring440 on Wednesday 20th April 20:10

My mistake, you're right. 'Episode' was the word used at first but that was before one was witnessed in hospital. After that, as you say, 'seizure' was used. Thankfully she's been seizure free since October 2013.