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Living with epilepsy - Introduce yourself & meet others
Epilepsy & Seizures | Last Active: Jun 29, 2023 | Replies (462)Comment receiving replies
Hi there, my name is Richard, & in 1988, when I was 18 months old, I was diagnosed with epilepsy, I'm now 31. I had a small number of grand-mal seizures. My epilepsy was made of some nocturnal & mainly complex-partial seizures. From 1988 until late 2017 I had epilepsy. Neurologists have always said live with someone for safety. So I live with my mom in Jacksonville Fl. She & her brother had epilepsy but out grew it in their teen years. I had brain surgery at Mayo Clinic in May 2017. We did a follow up EEG study in September 2017 & they saw no activity. I'm now 1 year seizure free, after being told I'll always have epilepsy. Thank You Lord! In September I drove a car for the 1st time in my life. I took lessons & got my license. I now own a new Toyota Camry.
That brings me to my question. All my life, until this past September 2018, I've been in the passengers seat. Now driving, after being told I'll never be able to, & owning my own car has changed my life & opened the world to me. Thank You Lord! I'm Christian in case you haven't noticed ;-). Has anyone in this group had or know someone who had epilepsy, then got it under control, got their license, & can drive? If so what's their experience like? My life is completely different from what it used to be. I used to be house bound, now I'm not. I'm just curious as to what others have experienced going from having epilepsy to not having it & driving?
Replies to "Hi there, my name is Richard, & in 1988, when I was 18 months old, I..."
@burner12
Hello Richard and thanks for joining us at Connect, Welcome!!!
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you.
I’ve had Epilepsy for 52 years and have many thousands of seizures and have been in comas because of them. I was also in my 30’s when I got my license which I lost numerous times from seizures. Doctors told me I’d never be able to drive. I knew what it was like to drive prior to getting my license. I drove our car, uncle’s truck and tractors on his ranch. I knew what I was missing out on so for me it was really hard watching my brother drive off in his new ‘67’ Mustang. When I went more than one year I immediately went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to take my test, got 100% on written test.
I want to congratulate you on your successful surgery and your freedom and new mobile independence, a wondrous feeling isn’t it.
Go wherever you want whenever you want for whatever reason you want. When I finally got my license I gleefully drove off to San Francisco alone, I suppose just because I finally could. No more relying on walking, biking, family, friends, buses, trains or whatever. I felt such freedom, take whatever route and turn anywhere, stop anywhere etc.
I know how you feel Richard and am so very happy for you. Hopefully you will never have another seizure.
Blessings,
Jake
Connect
Hello @burner12, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for posting. First off, Congratulations to you and owning your first car! Second, you will notice I moved your question to this thread- where you will have the chance to meet other members living with epilepsy. I felt like your post was a great question for the group to answer.