Hello,
After my first SCA in July 2006, I was not allowed to drive for 6 months (I think NYS law). After my 2nd SCA in December 2007, I was told the same thing. The problem, however, is that the cardiologist has not been able to determine a cause for either event. Since I passed out with NO WARNING at all, she does not want me to drive. I still hold a driver's license, but she highly recommends I not use it.
I do agree with her. I had been driving my daughter and her boyfriend just 20 minutes before my 2nd SCA. I would not want to be responsible for killing someone!
The reason I'm writing, however, is that it is beginning to make me crazy. I haven't driven in almost a year, and I need to rely on other people for EVERYTHING. I am lucky enough to have someone drive me to work every day, but when she can't, I have to scramble to find a new ride... I am beginning to feel isolated. My family is amazing and they help me all the time, but there have been a few times recently when they weren't available either.
We moved to an apartment near a major plaza so I can walk to stores. My husband is going to help me learn the bus route that is nearby. Other than that, does anyone have any suggestions? Is anyone else going through this, too?
Thanks!
Mary
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Driving privileges taken away...
- By Mary1
- Posted October 13, 2008 at 10:47 am · 15 replies
- In Surviving SCA
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- By janee
- Posted October 14, 2008 at 12:54 pm
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Hi Mary,
This must be driving you crazy but don't take the chance of an accident! An attorney had me raise our liability on our auto insurance to the max after my husband's SCA and said we could still be sued now even though he had to take every test required by the state to get his license back.
I know it must be frustrating but learn to use the bus to maintain your independence. Also you might check with the council on aging to see if they have any people who will drive you. Taxi's have gotten so expensive. Other then that, I don't have any other ideas except perhaps a bike. We live in a very friendly bike community. It has to be hard to not be able to just get up and go when you want to!! Hang in there. Janee
- By Mary1
- Posted October 14, 2008 at 5:06 pm
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Thanks, Janee. My husband plans to help me with the bus thing. I grew up in a small town without public transportation. He grew up using buses all the time. I don't mind, but I tend to be anxious about new things, so I'll have to be open minded and do my best! :-)
I looked into a medical transportation company around here. They don't take insurance, so it would be a little expensive, but at least it's a ride to an appointment if need be. They need at least 2 days notice,so it's not something I can do spur of the moment.
I go through ups and downs about this. I guess I was in a "down" when I wrote the above message. I try to stay positive, and I know it could be so much worse!
Thanks for your help!
Mary
- By kbauhs
- Posted October 14, 2008 at 9:07 pm
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I too, had 2 bouts of 6 months each of no driving following an SCA in 11/2006 and 4/2007 (I was 2 weeks away from my 6 months being over when the next one hit). Overall, I was not able to drive for 12 months. I fully understand your frustration and sense of isolation.
The hardest thing for me was to reach out to others for help. I've always been so darn independent. What I found was that others wanted to help. It allowed me to bring them into my life in ways that I hadn't previously. I think this "lesson" came to me at a time I needed it.
- By Mary1
- Posted October 14, 2008 at 9:41 pm
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Your response almost brought me to tears. I have always been the one to help others, so it IS hard to ask for help. I love your advice, and I truly will "take it to heart." (pun intended! lol)
- By kbauhs
- Posted October 14, 2008 at 9:45 pm
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Just as the independent had to learn how to depend on others, perhaps the caretaker needs to learn how to be cared for. :)
- By Darrel
- Posted November 30, 2008 at 8:15 pm
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hey Mary,
I lost my driving for 8 months too and it became a problem depending on other people all the time for everything. I learned the bus route but just stopped going places since I had to rely on others or the bus. I recently got my ability to drive back a few months ago and I am still nervous to drive with my daughter in the car fearing another episode! I have had a few anxiety attacks while driving, but I have recently worked through them. I mostly walk to the places I need to go and drive as little as possible. I really have no suggestions...sorry, but I wanted you to know others go through the same thing and it is difficult. I wish you the best!
Darrel
- By Darrel
- Posted November 30, 2008 at 8:15 pm
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hey Mary,
I lost my driving for 8 months too and it became a problem depending on other people all the time for everything. I learned the bus route but just stopped going places since I had to rely on others or the bus. I recently got my ability to drive back a few months ago and I am still nervous to drive with my daughter in the car fearing another episode! I have had a few anxiety attacks while driving, but I have recently worked through them. I mostly walk to the places I need to go and drive as little as possible. I really have no suggestions...sorry, but I wanted you to know others go through the same thing and it is difficult. I wish you the best!
Darrel
- By Mary1
- Posted December 1, 2008 at 7:57 pm
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Thank you, Darrell. It DOES help to know other people have gone through the same thing. The frustrating part right now is that the doctor doesn't know if I'll ever be able to drive again. I am 46 years old, and the idea of being dependent on other people for the rest of my life is very discouraging. But, I keep trying to stay positive. So far it hasn't been THAT bad, and I have to stop worrying about what it might be like down the road.
Thanks for the support!
Mary
- By Paul_Pakusch
- Posted December 2, 2008 at 7:15 am
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This is Mary's husband, Paul. A public message to Mary:
If it ends up that you can't drive anymore, it means we'll have one car between us instead of two. Thus we can put the money into our next car being a big ol' luxury car with a nice plush seat for you to sink into and a great sound system so you can play your favorite CD's while we travel!
- By Debra71508
- Posted December 2, 2008 at 9:39 pm
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Hey Mary & Paul:
I was 30 before I owned my own car. From age 18 to 30 I used only mass transit or got driven by peeps who had a car. It was great. I could read - look out a window and daydream. And this was before Ipods!
Now I commute 1/2 hour to work and back every day by car & hate it. I miss the freedom of the bus & subway where I could people watch or read. I feel isolated and bored and, yes, even guilty about my "carbon footprint." When I used the bus I slowly developed nice, friendly relationships with other commuters in my neighborhood. I miss the calm quiet nods and the neighborly chats.
Try to think of it as a tiny adventure Mary. I really suspect from reading your posts that you are maybe a little bit underestimating your natural interest in others and your ability to be flexible.
Local buses are cool. And learnign the routes are easy & most of it is acessible on your friendly local internet(s)...
Deb
- By Mary1
- Posted December 3, 2008 at 7:45 pm
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Thanks, Deb. I just need to DO IT!!!!!!
:-)
- By sgriggs89
- Posted May 29, 2009 at 11:54 am
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I'm still new to all of this since next week will mark 3 months since my SCA and ICD implantation. Although the American Heart Association recommends not driving for 6 months, and my cardiologist supports that guideline, he spoke to me in depth about the quick response of the model ICD I have and how it proves to be a quicker response than a loss of consciousness. In other words, I would receive shock therapy before passing out. He assured me that I should feel it is safe to drive when the time comes and not to worry about losing consciousness at the wheel. Easier said than done, right?! Your story caught my attention because it prepares me for the likelihood of another event down the road, and the circumstances at the time of your first event were similar to mine (my husband was the witness and administered CPR). Is your cardiologist and electrophysiologist? I have this incredibly young, gifted cardiologist who specializes in electrophysiology who was an electrical engineer earlier in his career! Odd, I know, but the electrical genius that he is could pinpoint the source of my ventricular fibrillation that caused my event when he ran various electrical tests on my heart when implanting the ICD. An ablation may be in my future if and when I experience another event. I think my children are younger than yours, and this has all caused a huge emotional response in myself that only my husband can really understand. I'm sure you and your husband could help us both out a great deal! Are short, limited driving excursions a possibility your cardiologist would cosider safe for you? I'm in a VERY small town in Northeast Alabama, and everything is literally less than 1.5 miles from my house (work, kids' schools, Wal Mart, grocery store, etc.). I will really have to think about how I would feel with our shared lifestyles (I'm a school library media specialist) and the possibility of never driving again. Right now, it has been a light at the end of the tunnel that would crush me if it went out!!!!
- By Mary1
- Posted May 29, 2009 at 3:55 pm
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Hi! Thank you for writing! It helps a lot to be in touch with other people. I do have an electrophysiologist and she's great! I trust her completely. She has a suspicion of what is wrong with me, but there isn't a test developed yet that can pinpoint it for sure.
For me, the driving really is not an option. When the 2nd SCA happened, it literally took 8 seconds from the time my heart went into ventricular fibrillation to the time it stopped and then the shock. I feel lucky that I passed out before the shock. But 8 seconds would never be enough time to react in a car.
My husband and I have joked about me getting one of those scooters. I am starting to think we should take that idea more seriously. At least I wouldnt be taking the chance of killing someone.
I know what you mean about the emotional response to the SCA. Although the first one was almost 3 years ago, we talk about it almost daily. Somehow it creeps into the conversation. Everyone else, especially our kids, are really tired of hearing about it. But talking to each other, and others, has helped a lot. Anything we can do to help and/or connect with you and your husband would be wonderful.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Mary
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