Driving and he.
Jo: Driving and he. - British Liver Trust
Jo
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Skinny11
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12 Replies
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No driving on HE.
Good morning,
The problem with hepatic encephalopathy (HE)is the lack of insight.
Before my transplant I was admitted to hospital resulting in 80 nights in just one year. The vast majority was with HE.
Each time it took a lot of persuasion to get me into an ambulance and go to hospital. Every episode, I was convinced that there was nothing wrong, everyone else was being weird and it wasn't me. I was not the person to ask if I was having an episode.
Because of this I was completely unable to judge if I was fit to drive. I had a huge collection of parking fines as I didn't understand the need to either park in the right place or pay the fee.
On one occasion, not understanding why a queue of traffic didn't use the outside lane approaching a roundabout, I drove down that lane only to find myself facing cars coming towards me head-on. I was in the opposite lane. This was before I was aware of HE.
Finally, if you are in an accident and you knew you had a condition that affected your ability to drive, you are committing an offence. Regardless of this, your desire to consider the safety of others should be enough to stop you driving even when you might think you unaffected and fit to drive.
When in a severe episode of HE, you lack the mental capacity to make the decision to go behind the wheel of a car.
I hope this answers your question.
Jim
That’s very true Jim. However, the person did not post a question. They just posted 3 words. So I posted a 4 word reply. Simples.
Cheers,
Brett
I think most would agree that your simple four word reply answered the inferred question within the three word statement.
I had HE possibly following a GI bleed while in hospital. I was never told not to drive and never had HE up to my transplant last October.
HE slows down your movements thinking and reactions and that is why I was told not to drive
I was diagnosed with HE about a year after my aborted transplant. I had a brain scan and they informed me that should I lose consciousness during the test, they would inform DVLC and I would lose my licence. At the end of the test I asked am I still ok to drive and was told yes at the moment. I take Rifaxamin daily to control the HE and since taking them I feel better. I have never been hospitalised with it although when it was diagnosed it answered a lot of questions about some of my actions. So my point is I don’t think (remember not medically qualified), that each case should be treated on its merits.
You are right - every case on its merits. HE can range form absolutely unmeasurable except by sensitive testing, all the way to coma.
As long as you are aware that it can creep up on you unnoticed and will accept the word of others who know you well, that maybe driving is not a good idea.
My wife and I agreed that despite what I thought, if she said I was affected, then I must be. She could see the subtle changes that most, including myself, wouldn't be aware of. It was a matter of trust.
I'm sure you will have been told how to test yourself.
But for others, a reliable sign is deterioration of the handwriting. Normally neat script becomes illegible. I wrote the sentence 'the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog' in my best handwriting when I was well and kept it as an example to compare with. With HE, I could barely keep the pen on the paper. As for eating tomato soup - that's another story.
Jim
Hi Skinny11,
I am unsure if you have a question or even if you have a question regarding HE and driving
I have gathered that there are differences based on what country you live in and also the level of HE and frequency of HE.
I think you need to be more specific to get answers, if that is what you are looking for. And I think you might get different answers based on where people live and their own experiences.
Best wishes to you.
Mary
I was in hospital for 4 days nearly 3 years ago. But I had a fall 3 months ago, it seems to have shaken my inside up. I am using my car, I have to apply for my licence every year. Not sure why I sent post. Jo
Hi Skinny11,
Have you been to see a doctor since you had your fall? It sounds like you might need to see a doctor, if you can, to put your mind at ease and to check for injuries that might not be easily seen by you.
Jo, take care of yourself and better a post you aren't sure why you sent it, then no posts and find out you might have been better to send.
Mary
