Driving and epilepsy?

bigjl

Lol, we posted the same link.

Though I don't think they class seizures that occur in the morning as nocturnal seizures, as she is not asleep when they occur, I have treated patients with nocturnal seizures and they have always been when the patient was sound asleep, perhaps they relate to REM sleep, hence why they do not effect your ability to drive. As even if you have a short nap in the afternoon you are unlikely to be asleep long enough to be in REM sleep mode.

I must admit I would tell the POlice and let them investigate it properly, if she is that cavalier with her own health then why let any doubts prevent you from getting it investigated, she could have a seizure one morning when taking your grand daughter shopping one morning and they could both be injured or killed.

If she did have Nocturnal seizures she would have said so when you were showing concern and then told you why she was still ok to drive.

You could perhaps Google Nocturnal Seizures or pop in and ask your own GP, they will know for sure if her seizure pattern is indicative of Nocturnal Seizures.

rigsby1967

Each time she has had a fit she goes to the A&E by ambulance.
She only passed her test a year ago and has never informed DVLA about any fits she has.

Quite obviously i was told (just to shut me up) as she has .... fits she doesn't need to tell DVLA about it.

bigjl

In that case she has obviously never informed them as she would need to be seizure free with Nocturnal Seizures to get her licence back anyway.

Sorry to sound harsh, but you now know what you need to do for the saftey of your new grand daughter.

I have seen the carnage caused by a driver having an MI at the wheel and unwittingly driving into pedestrians, take it from me it is not something you want on your conscience has having been in a position to prevent it.

She would more than likely have been informed by the Dr at A/E that she shouldn't drive, or did she just tell them she doesn't drive?

We will never know the answer to that.

Even pre-eclamptic fits are notifiable.

rigsby1967

keystone wrote: »

Myoclonic seizures on waking don't necessarily mean she would be dianosed eplileptic. I get them but when I'm falling asleep rather than waking.

Cheers

She has been diagnosed epileptic years ago. She even gets DLA for it.

mikey72

keystone wrote: »

Myoclonic seizures on waking don't necessarily mean she would be dianosed eplileptic. I get them but when I'm falling asleep rather than waking.

Cheers

Good possibility that they would issue a licence for myoclonic seizures, but it's still notifiable.

rigsby1967

bigjl wrote: »

She would more than likely have been informed by the Dr at A/E that she shouldn't drive, or did she just tell them she doesn't drive?

We will never know the answer to that.

Even pre-eclamptic fits are notifiable.

All i get when i ask is she's safe to drive and doesn't have to inform anyone, Now i know differently i will be informing the right people, i just didn't want to do anything without proper knowledge.

bigjl

keystone wrote: »

Myoclonic seizures on waking don't necessarily mean she would be dianosed eplileptic. I get them but when I'm falling asleep rather than waking.

Cheers

It isn't a simple topic, however Myoclonic Jerks are not really the same as Myoclonic Seizures. One being worse or rather more serious.

Regardless of what we feel on here, or any posters similar medical history, or what they percieve to be similar medical hx, I strongly suspect she wouldn't be attending A/E and having an Ambulance called for a couple of myoclonic jerks, I suspect she is having grand mal or petit mal seizures, when they occur or how long they last is only relevant to the DVLA decision, which is to take the licence away for a year, for everybody having a seizure, even nocturnal.
For example i suspect she attends A/E because she has a period where she may be post ictal, this wouldn't occur with myoclonic jerks, but would with a full blown seizure.

bigjl

rigsby1967 wrote: »

All i get when i ask is she's safe to drive and doesn't have to inform anyone, Now i know differently i will be informing the right people, i just didn't want to do anything without proper knowledge.

You are not in an easy position and I respect what you have to do, it isn't easy, and you are not being a nosy busy body or any such thing, you are doing what is right for your growing extended family.

And I would like toextend my thanks for doing what needs to be done for the right reasons.

keystone

rigsby1967 wrote: »

Each time she has had a fit she goes to the A&E by ambulance.
She only passed her test a year ago and has never informed DVLA about any fits she has.

Quite obviously i was told (just to shut me up) as she has .... fits she doesn't need to tell DVLA about it.

So she's having a full petit mal or grand mal attack then. Yes that should be reported. I withdraw my previous suggestion in the light of this information.

Cheers

keystone

rigsby1967 wrote: »

She has been diagnosed epileptic years ago. She even gets DLA for it.

I was too but the diagnosis was wrong and it was eventually changed by a proper consultant neurologist not somebody of a lower order just guessing. However, in the light of your further information my comment no longer applies anyway as already stated.

Cheers.