Driving
Most people with FND drive
This disease can knock your confidence. While it might seem unlikely now, you are likely to recover enough to drive again before too long. Only around 30% of our survey respondents said that they were unable to drive because of their FND. Some were unable to drive at the start of their illness, but as they recovered and regained confidence they got back on the road.
If you do not loose consciousness due to FND you are ok to drive once you feel ready.
Doctors often explain that driving ''uses a different part of the brain''. It is unlikely that you will have problems while driving. Indeed, driving is one of the in-the-zone activities that reduces FND symptoms.
When you have recovered your heath a bit, confidence might lag behind. If you need to - just start again. Go to an empty carpark on a Sunday like you did when you were 15. Drive about and get your confidence back. Take somebody with you. Breathe deep and give it a go.
As you recover you will learn to recognise ample warning signs so that if symptoms do come on, you will be able to pull over. Come talk with our group and they will help.
Medical advice on driving and FND varies widely
Our people are getting widely varying advice from the health system about this matter.
Most of us are told that the driving rules on epilepsy do not apply to FND and that their licences will not be affected. Some are told that FND rules are the same as epilepsy and that they have to wait 12 months from the last episode before resuming driving. The worst bit of advice we have heard was that one of our people was advised that FND rules were the same as epilepsy and that they would have to be symptom free for 24 months. This is twice the official epilepsy stand down.
We wonder, how many of the 30% of survey respondents who do not drive due to FND are abstaining only because of poor medical advice.
What do the rules say?
We have consulted a few professionals on this. You should talk with your doctor about this. Doctors should be using the rules on Black outs of Known cause, not the rules on Epilepsy. If you loose consciousness with your symptoms, then the rules on Blackouts of Known Cause should apply.
The following rules comes from Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive. A Guide for Health Practitioners (Page 26). Issued by the New Zealand Transport Authority. If you are a medic, you may be able to get this link to work.
Blackouts of Known Cause - When driving should cease
Individuals with sudden, unpredictable or unheralded attacks of loss of consciousness should not drive. The principal guidance is that driving should cease until:
• the cause of the blackout has been determined, and
• the cause has been successfully treated to minimise the potential for future blackouts, and
• any guidance in this booklet* [sic] relating to the condition that caused the blackout has been considered.
When driving may resume or may occur
The New Zealand Transport Agency may consider allowing an individual who already holds such licence classes/endorsements to resume driving after six months provided that:
• the cause of the blackout has been determined, and
• the cause has been successfully treated to minimise the potential for future blackouts, and
• any guidance in this booklet * [sic] relating to the condition that caused the blackout has been considered, and
• a full neurological investigation has been undertaken.
*Please note that the Guide for Health Practitioners does not specifically mention FND.