Comments on: Defying the Law…and the Obvious http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/ Thu, 23 May 2013 08:59:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Sherry D http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-1475 Sherry D Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:58:03 +0000 http://www.brainthunders.com/?p=1098#comment-1475 I haven't been driving for over 20 years. I ride my bike and thats the most I do. I know it's hard! I know you don't want to...I know you don't to like someone to give you a ride. I still to this day hate to ask my husband to take me someware. But you're letting Epilepsy kill you and someone else or a child if you drive and you're still having seizures! And saying there's other people out there worse than me is just a cope out! Think about it! I haven’t been driving for over 20 years. I ride my bike and thats the most I do.
I know it’s hard! I know you don’t want to…I know you don’t to like someone to give you a ride. I still to this day hate to ask my husband to take me someware. But you’re letting Epilepsy kill you and someone else or a child if you drive and you’re still having seizures! And saying there’s other people out there worse than me is just a cope out! Think about it!

]]> By: Angela Stansell http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-1385 Angela Stansell Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:25:02 +0000 http://www.brainthunders.com/?p=1098#comment-1385 I asked my husband to give up his keys and reluctantly he did it. This was after an accident last Thanksgiving in which he would have hit a house had 2 cars and a tree not slowed him down. He's been very gracious about it, though I know he hates it. He does it because he loves me. I asked my husband to give up his keys and reluctantly he did it. This was after an accident last Thanksgiving in which he would have hit a house had 2 cars and a tree not slowed him down. He’s been very gracious about it, though I know he hates it. He does it because he loves me.

]]> By: Greg Gardner http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-1384 Greg Gardner Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:59:02 +0000 http://www.brainthunders.com/?p=1098#comment-1384 While not controlled, all of my seizures happen while I sleep, so I don't feel any problem with taking the wheel if I happen to need to. Living in NY, I haven't had many occassions to drive either. My doctor feels this is my choice, and I don't know that as things are now, I would change anything. He is also not required to report anything. New York would take away my license if I have a "loss of consciousness" within the last year, but again, I'm already asleep. My hometown of DC is ok with eplieptics driving if there are only nocturnal seizures. That said, I have in the past had two seizures while awake. One was 7 years ago, the other 27. Do you or others feel (I am curious on opinions) that this scenario warrants my relinquishing the keys? While not controlled, all of my seizures happen while I sleep, so I don’t feel any problem with taking the wheel if I happen to need to. Living in NY, I haven’t had many occassions to drive either. My doctor feels this is my choice, and I don’t know that as things are now, I would change anything. He is also not required to report anything. New York would take away my license if I have a “loss of consciousness” within the last year, but again, I’m already asleep. My hometown of DC is ok with eplieptics driving if there are only nocturnal seizures.
That said, I have in the past had two seizures while awake. One was 7 years ago, the other 27.
Do you or others feel (I am curious on opinions) that this scenario warrants my relinquishing the keys?

]]> By: Jeff Nelson http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-1378 Jeff Nelson Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:56:21 +0000 http://www.brainthunders.com/?p=1098#comment-1378 Give up the keys E's! I gave up mine, and who knows how many lives I probably have saved?! One thing I know is that in most towns bus's are there to help, and there are also other ways of transportation, especially for those who have disability. They will come get you! We can't always rely on our doctors to abide by the laws of our states. Before giving up my keys, I did at one time have a drivers license and my doctors never mentioned anything about it! Maybe they have too much on their hands already, but it seems to me that we have to be the ones to make sure we are making the right decisions. I have to admit, that I did drive for a while to get through college, relying on my aura's to help me know when to pull over etc. But, that doesn't always work when you're going 80 mhr. on a highway! After a small accident that damaged my car (not due to a seizure), I finally decided I should stop being an idiot and make the right decisions rather than get somebody hurt or killed in an accident. I can live with E, but I don't think I could live with that on my mind! Give up the keys E’s! I gave up mine, and who knows how many lives I probably have saved?! One thing I know is that in most towns bus’s are there to help, and there are also other ways of transportation, especially for those who have disability. They will come get you! We can’t always rely on our doctors to abide by the laws of our states. Before giving up my keys, I did at one time have a drivers license and my doctors never mentioned anything about it! Maybe they have too much on their hands already, but it seems to me that we have to be the ones to make sure we are making the right decisions. I have to admit, that I did drive for a while to get through college, relying on my aura’s to help me know when to pull over etc. But, that doesn’t always work when you’re going 80 mhr. on a highway! After a small accident that damaged my car (not due to a seizure), I finally decided I should stop being an idiot and make the right decisions rather than get somebody hurt or killed in an accident. I can live with E, but I don’t think I could live with that on my mind!

]]> By: Alyssa S. http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-1376 Alyssa S. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:08:28 +0000 http://www.brainthunders.com/?p=1098#comment-1376 I don't get any sort of warning/aura before a seizure, I just wake up afterwards & someone tells me what happened...or I figure it out based on the incredible soreness of my muscles, the foggy thinking & the pounding headache. I haven't been able to drive for over a year because every time I've gotten close to the 3-month "clearance" mark, or just past it, I have another seizure. I'm actually just a few days past it now, so I'm pretty much expecting to have one within the next week or so. It's extremely frustrating to not be able to go to the grocery store, take my kids to the park, or just get out of the house by myself once in a while. We live in a more rural area & don't have public transportation at all, so I have to rely on my husband & the occasional friend to take me where I need to go. However, I would NEVER drive at this point-even though technically I'm a few days past the point where my state says I can. My doctor & I have discussed it and have come to the decision that I should wait a little longer...it's not worth my life, the lives of my family, or the other people on the road. I don’t get any sort of warning/aura before a seizure, I just wake up afterwards & someone tells me what happened…or I figure it out based on the incredible soreness of my muscles, the foggy thinking & the pounding headache. I haven’t been able to drive for over a year because every time I’ve gotten close to the 3-month “clearance” mark, or just past it, I have another seizure. I’m actually just a few days past it now, so I’m pretty much expecting to have one within the next week or so. It’s extremely frustrating to not be able to go to the grocery store, take my kids to the park, or just get out of the house by myself once in a while. We live in a more rural area & don’t have public transportation at all, so I have to rely on my husband & the occasional friend to take me where I need to go. However, I would NEVER drive at this point-even though technically I’m a few days past the point where my state says I can. My doctor & I have discussed it and have come to the decision that I should wait a little longer…it’s not worth my life, the lives of my family, or the other people on the road.

]]> By: eileen warren http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-1375 eileen warren Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:26:21 +0000 http://www.brainthunders.com/?p=1098#comment-1375 I gave up my keys about 17 years ago, after a crash. I convinced myself that I could feel the auras coming and had time to pull over (on a major interstate going 65mph, in heavy traffic...right). My Doctors told me to stop. I had to get to work, right? Kids had activities, had to go to the gym and stay fit, groceries, all the necessities of daily life. Well, at least until the "wake-up call" . No one was hurt and the accident only involved me. But what if my child was in the car? What if I hit someone else, an innocent victim? I immediately gave up the keys. Later, it made me angry to hear my elderly mother complain when her vision went that she had to stop driving. " What? You're in your 80s and drove for all these years! For you it's not even necessary! I need to drive to get groceries and go to work!" Eventually I got over it. It's still hard but guess what, others with disabilities manage their entire lives without keys. Yes, it's still frustrating but I know I have made the only decision I could. Stop being selfish, people! DON'T DRIVE if you have any uncontrolled siezures. At the least, follow the law. There are alternatives. Call a friend & offer to pay for gas, use your feet or the bike, take a bus or a train for a visit to the city, seek help from a local advocacy group, there are retirees in some communities who volunteer their time to drive for people who cannot. Pay the baby sitter an extra few bucks for the trip to the mall; She'll love you! The point is there are alternatives. USE THEM! I gave up my keys about 17 years ago, after a crash. I convinced myself that I could feel the auras coming and had time to pull over (on a major interstate going 65mph, in heavy traffic…right). My Doctors told me to stop. I had to get to work, right? Kids had activities, had to go to the gym and stay fit, groceries, all the necessities of daily life. Well, at least until the “wake-up call” . No one was hurt and the accident only involved me. But what if my child was in the car? What if I hit someone else, an innocent victim? I immediately gave up the keys. Later, it made me angry to hear my elderly mother complain when her vision went that she had to stop driving. ” What? You’re in your 80s and drove for all these years! For you it’s not even necessary! I need to drive to get groceries and go to work!” Eventually I got over it. It’s still hard but guess what, others with disabilities manage their entire lives without keys. Yes, it’s still frustrating but I know I have made the only decision I could. Stop being selfish, people! DON’T DRIVE if you have any uncontrolled siezures. At the least, follow the law. There are alternatives. Call a friend & offer to pay for gas, use your feet or the bike, take a bus or a train for a visit to the city, seek help from a local advocacy group, there are retirees in some communities who volunteer their time to drive for people who cannot. Pay the baby sitter an extra few bucks for the trip to the mall; She’ll love you! The point is there are alternatives. USE THEM!

]]> By: Driving « Meg's Blog http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-1374 Driving « Meg's Blog Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:13:39 +0000 http://www.brainthunders.com/?p=1098#comment-1374 [...] read a post recently that got me thinking about driving, and so here I am blogging about it… Go [...] [...] read a post recently that got me thinking about driving, and so here I am blogging about it… Go [...]

]]> By: Meg J http://www.brainthunders.com/new-posts/defying-the-law-and-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-1373 Meg J Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:58:54 +0000 http://www.brainthunders.com/?p=1098#comment-1373 I know it has been hard for me to give up my keys. I still have my car parked out front as I'm unwilling to sell it. It's the last piece of freedom I have, in theory and to sell it seems like I'm giving up. Like I'm saying I'll never get better. I don't drive, I haven't driven in quite awhile and that's mostly because I couldn't stand the idea of hurting someone else. One slip and someone else could die. My freedom just isn't worth it. So for now, I'll walk, ride my bike or get someone else to drive me. I can't lie, however, it's been one of the hardest things in my life to give up. I know it has been hard for me to give up my keys. I still have my car parked out front as I’m unwilling to sell it. It’s the last piece of freedom I have, in theory and to sell it seems like I’m giving up. Like I’m saying I’ll never get better. I don’t drive, I haven’t driven in quite awhile and that’s mostly because I couldn’t stand the idea of hurting someone else. One slip and someone else could die. My freedom just isn’t worth it.

So for now, I’ll walk, ride my bike or get someone else to drive me. I can’t lie, however, it’s been one of the hardest things in my life to give up.

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