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Any advice on getting drivers license back after medical suspension?
A neurologist took my drivers license away, claiming he is legally required to do so because I had seizure-like episodes. The term used is “loss of awareness”. No question, this is a misdiagnosis. This has caused and is causing terrible harm. My healthy, happy life style has been attacked to save this doctor’s medical license, it appears.
My advice to everyone, especially old women, is not to go to a doctor for summer dizziness or temperature related light-headedness. Perhaps some doctors actually listen to old women, but I have not found them. I have no traffic tickets, no accidents, no medical studies showing seizures, no diabetes. I only have my badly expressed attempt to get help for falls caused by Repatha shots, high ambient temperatures and perhaps some dehydration and sensitivities or allergies. (Multi-factorial causation for my falls.) End result is no medical help is available to me and although I understand what causes my problem now, I am not permitted to use normal driving to seek solutions. Various folks have advised me to drive anyway without a license or to leave the USA.
This nasty experience has induced a sort of guilt-ridden PTSD. Previous extreme situations involving loss of freedom keep flashing in my mind: I was a runaway kid in jail, cavity search before several guards, getting shot at, being unable to get a visa that I needed to go home to my family, friend in Russian prison who had a “heart attack” there, as so many dissidents did…and more. I feel like a whining child because I am privileged really. I did not have my leg blown off in a war. My trauma is minor compared to real victims of violence with PTSD. That’s why I say guilty feeling.
Any advice for me?
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At least I’m not in India, where people with epilepsy are permanently banned from driving. The justification for this is the unpredictability of seizures. They argue that individuals who have heart attacks or strokes are allowed to drive because they often receive warnings before their incidents. My last neurologist certainly didn’t have any warnings when he went home, sat down, had a heart attack, and died. I wonder what they think auras are.
Jake
@jakedduck1
Good luck, Leonard!
Ginger
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1 ReactionHad my DMV hearing today.
I feel it went well. The hearing officer scheduled a behind the wheel drivers test for me to take Thursday morning, which if she wasn't thinking about reinstating my license, I don't think she would've done that so I take that as a good sign.
I hope I remember to fasten my
seatbelt for the test🤔
There's a lot of safety junk on my car. Some I know some how to work, some I don't. I hope they don't quiz me on the various sounds, pictures & stupid looking symbols. Whatever happened to words like "hot" instead, of a picture of a thermometer etc. I can read but I can't figure out these symbols and pictures to save my soul.
Take care,
Jake
I think those tests have to be easy. Just look at the quality of intellect one encounters driving cars. The dunbest guy one can imagine probably passed a driving test.
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1 ReactionGo to the DMV for forms, will require medical clearance from your doctor and possibly a specialist. Submit careful to ahead to all time limits for submitals. May have additional testing for written out driving test dependent on medical board requirements. May have limits like day only, our area and retesting or medical requirements proving condition are under control. Plus fees .
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1 Reaction@jakedduck1
You do use your seatbelt all the time, don’t you?
Don’t worry about the features of your car. Just keep your eyes on the road, and be careful around school children.
@tatiana987
I hope by now everything with you has calmed down.
Going to the doctor when we don’t feel well is the thing to do, and you did.
Except, the answer you got was not what you were expecting. It caught you off guard.
I had the same experience. I was having slight difficulty with my balance. After testing I was told I had Alzheimer’s. !!
Imagine my surprise!
I chose to stop driving because of the safety of myself and others.
I was concerned about hurting others. If I got behind the wheel and killed a child my life would never be the same.
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2 ReactionsA friendly attitude will be a plus.
Angry drivers are frowned upon.
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1 Reaction@SusanEllen66
You do use your seatbelt all the time, don’t you?
Not quite “all the time” but I’m getting better.
Had a good hearing with the DMV Driver Safety Hearing Offover. Gook behind the wheel test this morning. Missed 5. Can miss up to 20. A couple mistakes were stupid and things I never forget to do. The guy testing me was great, good sense of humor & friendly. Decision in 15 days. Attorney believes my license will be reinstated.
Jake
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2 Reactions@jakedduck1 well, Jake I hope, if and when you are back on the road you remember how dangerous driving is now. It is serious business. We don’t want you to be yet another statistic!
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3 Reactions