Driving again after seizures

On Treatment2009
Written By Liz Salmi

Did you know that if you have a grand mal seizure (the wild, jerky one where you lose consciousness) your drivers license is suspended until a doctor approves your privileges?

Now you do.

I've had three seizures where I've lost consciousness and they were all in late-July, early August 2008. After that I've had random other shaking sensations, but all have improved thanks to anti-epileptic medication and surgeries.

The other day I ran across the paperwork from DMV and thought, Hey! I should look into this. I also wondered why thoughts are written in italics and dialogue is written in quotes; is that a style issue? But I digress...

Long story short: I emailed my neurologist and we now have a plan to get me back to driving. Hell yeah!

I didn't think too much about driving until early March, when I suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to have my independence back. Who wouldn't feel this way? I'm surprised I lasted this long.

Liz Salmi

Liz Salmi is Communications & Patient Initiatives Director for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Over the last 15 years Liz has been: a research subject; an advisor in patient stakeholder groups; a leader in “patient engagement” research initiatives; and an innovator, educator and investigator in national educational and research projects. Today her work focuses on involving patients and care partners in the co-design of research and research dissemination. It is rumored Liz was the drummer in a punk rock band.

https://thelizarmy.com
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