Hello

I  have partial seizures.  For the first 28 years,   I just ignored
them.  Thev never caused me or others harm.  Then at age 40, when it
was medically diagnosed that I have complex partial seizures, i was put
on Tegretol.  I  have responded well to Tegretol.  It helps me with my
mood also.  Even though I was able to live independentl without meds,
it stil

My seizures feel sort like a "weird feeling' in my head.....that is
all.....no involuntary movements, no passing out, etc.

Keep in mind that my sizures are so minor that I just ignored them for
a long time.  I am able to do anything  *safely* during a
seizure,,,,,,including riding a motorcycle.

A local chapter of the EFA was having an organizational meeting at my
town recently. Only three people showed up.     I thought I could be of
great help.  When the nurse found out t hat I have cps, she went on
about what i cannot do, like drive, etc.  I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SAFELY
FOR MORE YEARS THAT THIS IGNORANT BROAD HAS BEEN ALIVE !!!

I know more about my own body than that  this ignorant bitch does.  She
have never seen me before.  In fact, she did even know my name !

Now, remember that I represented 33 % of the total audience.  I will
NEVER go back to another meeting of the local chapter again .  ((
assuming t hat  this chapter even survives)

Pre-judging.......that is where we get the word "prejudice".

Thanks for reading

Let me start by saying that I understand how you feel and everything you are
going through. I read the thread with heartfelt intrest because I have went
through just about everything you have and maybe even a little bit more. I
have made many of the same statements you have made. The one about the nurse
not even knowing you, was a classic, I suppose I have made that hundreds of
times about nurses, doctors, DMV employees when they pulled my license, and
many more.

Let me tell you a little about myself and what has happened that makes me
feel that we are somewhat in the same boat. I was having simple partial
seizures and was under control when I was working at a hotel with no
insurance. I got a job with a large National Pest Control company and had
insurance so I decided to go to a Neuro so in case something were to ever
happen I would be in "better hands!" The first thing this neuro did was
require me to take a month off work and not drive to show her I was willing
to work with her, so I did and the day she released me to go back to work
she wrote a letter to the DMV recommending the revocation of my driving
privledge. So I was without a drivers license for 2 years. The company held
my job for me and when I came back they were great to me, but the stress
from 2 years out of work and all that comes with that had caused me to just
about lose my family. Oh I did take some other jobs but it was hell finding
a job because I couldn't drive to work. Noone wanted to depend on someone
that rode a bicycle. So I got my license back and after about 15 more years
of driving without having no problems it hit me one day, a seizure whilst
driving and I totaled my truck. Thank God I was the only vehicle involved
and I only had minor injuries. That wasn't the end of things either, I
thought it was a fluke so I continued to drive until I had totaled the third
vehicle and I finally gave up my driving license. I too thought I could
drive while having a seizure without losing control but I was oh so wrong.

I am not telling you what to do, I am telling you to go with your heart. If
you feel you can drive then you have to do it, only remember if you ever do
go out of control like I did please don't go as long as I did, I will admit
it I was stupid I should have stopped after the first wreck, but like
superman I thought I was bulletproof and I found out different. You need to
do what is best for you. You came here for support and I will give you all
of the support I can give you because I have literally been in your shoes.
They don't know me how dare them to judge me, that is a statement that was
published in the newspaper from me, so you see we have made statements that
are a lot alike. What you have to remember is thay are not judging you they
are judging the epilepsy. I have also made statements such as epilepsy
doesn't have me I have it, Why should I be judged different than a person
with diabetes or heart problems, is it right to question me about my license
when you don't ask if a person has a drug or alcohol problem, Last year
there were X number of deaths related to alcohol how many were related to
seizures, New Years Eve you are driving home are you more worried about the
person driving down the road has been drinking or is having a seizure...etc
etc. I could go on and on with quotes I have made and yes they are all very
legitimate questions but now that I am where I am, they no longer apply to
me, however feel free to use them if you want in your defense.