Seizures...and driving.

Before I get to the topic for today, I have to correct an earlier blog in which I pointed to alcohol as a risk for seizures. "Alcohol actually increases seizure activity" hasn't been proven - but the affects of alcohol, combined with seizure medication can cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. High amounts of alcohol, though, like caffeine, can offset seizure medication and make a person vulnerable to them although alcohol is not a direct cause. Sorry for the confusion.

Now, seizures and driving. Every state has a law concerning seizures and driving priveleges. In Texas, one has to be seizure free for six months before they can legally drive again. In other states, the seizure free period can be a year or more. Luckily for me, though, I only had to wait six months. While every case of epilepsy varies, let me tell you something about my perspective on this driving rule.

I'm prone to seizures when I'm inactive; i.e, when I'm about to sleep, or lying down. On June 21st of last year, I may have been having seizures all day, but the second I got into my car, my mind was focused on driving, and I didn't even have an aura while behind the wheel. I met my friend at a restaurant, then drove all the way back home. It wasn't until I sat down at home and closed my eyes that the next seizure happened. I don't believe that it would've been safe to drive while I adjusted to my new medication within the first three months; but once I adjusted and knew that I was doing better, I would've been able to drive without any problems. I didn't quite wait until the six months was up - but that was for good reason - its simply unrealistic for someone to work downtown without a car in this city without having to rise at 4 a.m. There are those who do it, but I simply couldn't. So, I started driving a little earlier than I was supposed to, because it was in my best interests.

The six month rule is applied generally to all who suffer from a seizure at least once. And for those who have seizures everyday, driving is completely out of the question. This rule exists to protect the individual with the seizures, as well as all drivers on the road. Although I could've driven earlier than six months after my seizures - I only know for sure after the fact that I didn't have another seizure - my doctor couldn't have predicted when my next seizure would be. There's no way to determine when a person will have another seizure, because seizures are triggered by many different factors. However, I assumed that, while driving the car, I would be seizure free. My seizures occurred when I was inactive and unfocused - not when I was actively concentrating on something. However, the six month rule still applied to me because I posed a risk to other drivers. If I were to suffer a grand mal seizure while driving - I likely would've gone off the road and caused injuries to myself and others, and if it were within the six month period, I would've been fined just for driving.

So, the law says that the risk period ends after six months, but considering what I've said so far today and all throughout my blogs - would you say that's a logical suggestion? The risk doesn't end with the six month period. The risk never ends for epileptics. Epileptics who don't receive medication or therapy for their seizures should technically never be permitted to drive - but, according to the law, they only have to wait six months. The point I'm making is that there's no regulation to insure that I or others like me don't drive within the six months - and what's to say that we won't have a seizure while on the road during the seventh month?

Why is there a six month time period in Texas, and a year long time period in Illinois? I'm not sure. Epileptics in Texas are no different than epileptics in Illinois - but the rules are different.
This time period is to give the medication time to correct the problem - and six months to a year without seizures are considered successful in the law books - but what about unreported seizures? That's where it gets slimy, because many epileptics won't report additional seizures for fear of losing driving priveleges. See? The law is a formality only - a formality that can cause a hefty fine, though.

Now that I've just railed the driving laws regarding seizures - how can it be remedied? It would be nice if every case was able to be evaluated based simply on the individual's seizure patterns. Since its not that way, though - we'll just have to live with the unrealistic determination that time will make an epileptic less of a threat to other drivers.

Not if they don't take medication, and definitely not if their medication doesn't work. Wouldn't you agree? I didn' t wake up on December 21st (my wedding day, ironically) and feel healed of my epilepsy. Six months, a year, three years...they don't make a difference. The state has to address the issue, though, so laws are passed to lessen the risk in a general way. Then why is it that epileptics in Illinois are safe only after a year, when they could relocate to Texas and be safe drivers within six months? Hm.