Is anybody else on tablets for seizures after meningitis. Iv not had any but have been told i need to take the medication indefinitely.

[vickylou36]

Why is this. im not driving at the moment but if i am on this medication is it reportable to dvla?

[TheEssexPrincess1994]

I used to have seizures after I contracted Meningitis but I wasn't given any tablets for them. I would say that perhaps you don't take the tablets unless you have a seizure otherwise you could rely on them all the time and if you do have a seizure, the tablets will have no effect on them whatever.

xx

[vickylou36]

I think they have out me on them because in in the at risk group as i had a bad case of bacterial meningitis and enchephalitis( not sure on spelling). I am waiting to see neurology but appointments not untill September. IM worried its going to affect my driving xx

[StrawberryCream]

When I contracted Bacterial Meningitis & Septiceamia I was in a coma and ventolated for 3 weeks. Attempts to bring me out of the coma were unsuccessful. Although no visible epileptic fit a neurologist thought that I was having subclinical fits and so I was started on an anticonvulsant and apparently then I came out of the coma soon after. It is not unusual due to the inflammation in the brain to have fits due to the inflammation and infection. I was discharged on anticonvulsant medication and did not have any further fits because the meds were preventing against this. However, I was told by the neurologist that I had to inform the DVLA and this then meant I was dealt with as if epileptic and had to surrender my driving licence and was not allowed to drive. If the fitting occurred in the absence of infection and inflammation and was felt to be due to the damage to your brain now causing you to be epileptic then you have to go a year without a fit (on or off medication) to be allowed to drive. Because in my situation it was related to the infection and inflammation of my brain I was given back my driving licence after 10 months being fit free on medication, however it is a 3 year medical review licence. After 2 years of being on the anticonvulsants I was allowed to come off them however I had to accept the risk that I could then have a fit and would lose my driving licence again until I was fit free for a year. Because of the damage sustained to my frontal brain there remains a risk I could develop complex partial seizures but no one can say for sure either way because there is no way of knowing. When the neurologist told me I had to inform the DVLA which was at my 8 week follow up apt after discharge he also explained that if I didn't notify them and my insurance company, and was then involved in a car accident, whether it was my fault or not my medical records would be gone through and blame for the accident could be directed at me. Also if I hadn't notified both DVLA and insurance company my insurance would be invalidated and I would be committing a legal offense by driving and could be taken to court and banned for even longer. Even though you are not seeing your neurologist until September you can ring their secretary and ask them to ask the consultant for advice. If you were started on the anticonvulsants purely as a precaution any further scans or EEG may indicate they are not necessary anymore but I suspect this not the case or they would have been stopped. Or if like me the areas of the brain showing damage with the abnormalities on the EEG indicate there is a risk that epilepsy could be a long term after effect of the meningitis. If you do remain on the anticonvulsants to prevent against further fitting they will not become ineffective it is the fits in a minority of people that become more severe then requiring the dose to be increased or the tablet to be changed to another anticonvulsant. It was a major problem not being able to drive as I was so weak, walking with a frame/ 2 sticks and I had to accept the help of neighbours etc to help me get my son to school, apts, food shop etc etc. However, personally I decided it wasn't worth the risks of not informing the DVLA and insurance company. It is a difficult decision to make as I was tempted to do nothing and continue to drive as it makes life so much easier but the pros were outweighed by the cons. Good luck.

[daffodil]

Cant add more than Strawberry cream has wisely said.I do not have epilepsy thankfully,but am not allowed to drive due to damage to my balance and vestibular system from Meningitis-t his means I am constantly feeling head spinning and as if drunk a bottle of wine.I as told I was medically unfit to drive and must inform DVLA/surrender my licence .However it means that I then have to have a driving test to be able to get licence back ! So I have just held onto my licence but have not driven since 2008 when I had Meningitis.I would never drive in my current state and it does seem that the damage is permanent,so I now have to resign myself to not driving -the biggest negative effect as we are in a country village with poor bus links,so I have to depend on friends to take me and my children everywhere.If in the future my head stops moving,then I would need to have all the vestibular tests re done to confirm I was fit to drive.Its an awful position to be stopped driving but not worth the risk of harming yourself or others,should you take a seizure while driving.

I would follow your specialists orders and take the anti seizure meds -they wouldn't have given them if there wasn't a risk and epilepsy is a common after effect of Meningitis.

When did you have Meningitis?

[NorthLeedsJohnny]

I had what was thought to be bacterial meningitis (but since diagnosed as herpes simplex encephalitis) years ago. It gave rise to temporal lobe epilepsy later in life. At that time, there was no question that I couldn't drive. I seemed to grow out of it around age 44 and, with my GP's agreement, stopped medication.

I thought all that was behind me until 2011. Following an unrelated operation, I had complications which led doctors believe that somehow, my epilepsy had started again. I was given medication and told to notify DVLA. I was also told that the hospital could well notify them as well. It would be bad for me if DVLA knew and I didn't tell them.

As it happened, it wasn't epilepsy but a rare form of migraine, producing similar visual areas like the ones I had prior to actual seizures. It took me over 5 months to get my licence back, even with the help of my MP.

As a bit if icing on the cake, within 2 weeks of returning to work after this problem, I got a severe strain of viral meningitis and was off for months again!

[vickylou36]

Thanks all it makes a but more sence now. Wasn't told anything while i was in hospital as i had become deaf i was ignored a lot. I didn't ask many questions either because i was very distressed at the time and just wanted to come home. I thought i would tell you a little bit about myself. I was rushed to hospital on 3/3/14 when my family couldn't wake me. I had had a ear infection for a few days which i was on antibiotics for. I was diagnosed with either meningococcal or pneumococcal meningitis, have been told both so not sure which one i also developed enchephalitis. I was in a induced coma for 7days they attempted to wake me a couple of times unsuccessfully. When i woke i was completely deaf, very confused it took me nearly a week before i asked why i was at hospital. I was kept in hospital for 6 weeks 2 weeks in icu the rest on a stroke ward. I was constantly asking to go home. I was then sent home with another 2 weeks of iv antibiotics as i still had swelling. I am left with poor balance dizziness, profound deafness headaches, aching joints. I have no energy and am unable to do much for myself because of this. I have made some good progress so far but feel it is not quick enough. I would eventually like to get back to work and being independent. How long as it took others to get back yo work? Can you give me any tips on coping with this new situation? thanks vicky

[vickylou36]

Just to update you i have seen the consultant and because i haven't had any seizures he has halved my seizure meds for one month then i halve them again untill i go back to see him in October if all is still well i should be able to stop them completely. Im really pleased about this.

[Tinks2014 in reply to vickylou36]

Hi Vickylou I'm new to this site and came across your post. I contracted Streptococcal Meningitis in December 2013. Unfortunately the meningitis also caused a stroke. I was in hospital for17 days then rehab for a month. The illness caused me to be deaf in my left ear, I now use hearing aids. My balance is poor along with the dizziness and the feeling like I'm drunk. I get alot of headaches/pressure feeling in my head, along with the fatigue. Because of the stroke I have to be on medication for the rest of my life - I call it my new best friend. I'm waiting to go back into hospital for more rehab. I was told by the community nurse that I have to inform DVLA about my illness. For a long time I did not do this because I knew that there was no way I was going to get in my car and drive again; in the end I thought just to be on the safe side to declare it. Hopefully the DVLA won't take my licence away - I'm in the process of trying to sell my car, the last time I drove it was on 20/12/13. Wish you all the best on your recovery.

Tinks

[vickylou36]

Thanks Tinks

I also have been deafened through meningitis unfortunately hearing aids where not strong enough for me I am completely deaf in right ear and couldn't really hear anything at all in the left. My only option was a cochlear implant which I have had and am so happy to be in the land of hearing even if it's not the same. With regards to epilepsy medication my consultant reduced it 2months ago and if all is still well in October he says I can come off it completely. I also suffer with poor balance and dizziness and am currently waiting to see a neurologist and begin Nero physio. I am hoping this is not permanent and that I can get back to driving and work. I wish you all the best in your recovery.

[Melski]

I'm on gabapentin too, that's to stop the neuropathic pain I was left with on my back, it works for me.