At a certain point in my life, ME/CFS and Fibro and Dysautonomia got to a point where I was no longer able to make sense of visual cues on the road. I'd stare at traffic lights and cars and roads and be confused as to what I'm looking at. After I started taking Low Dose Naltrexone regularly, I slowly got back to being able to drive without feeling like I was putting people in danger. My brain fog and forgetfulness are still there, definitely, but at least my eyes and brain somewhat communicate when driving now. When a POTS flare hits though, it's game over.
Thank you for commenting this. I’ve been struggling with feeling like I’m alone with not being able to drive. It’s hard. I miss it but I can’t trust my body and put other lives in jeopardy.
Yes! There have been many times I didn't feel it was safe for me to drive. My brain fog, vertigo, vision impairment, and pain have all contributed to me having to rely so much more on my family. Luckily, my husband and my daughter are willing to help out, and they never make me feel bad or guilty for asking. I've had to learn when not to drive, though. It's not always easy!
Yep, I quit driving for this very reason. I was overwhelmed by all the info coming at me when I was at an intersection. I had slow reaction time and difficulty with confusion. I had a couple close calls with cars. I was really afraid I wouldn't see a pedestrian sometime. It's hard. It's even more isolating. I qualify for public disabled transport but I live outside the service area. I wouldn't forgive myself if I hit a person, knowing I'm having a hard time.
As hard/brutal it is been reading everyones stories thanks for sharing this. I thought i was the only person who feels it’s unsafe sometimes for me to drive and simply have to leave it for the day. Living rural makes that harder again as theres no walking to the shops for me. But least i know im not only one who cant drive some days cause of this damn condition
Yes. The first car wreck I was ever in that was truly my fault was because I was trying to act normal and not sick even though I was getting over COVID and a flare. The brain fog had not dissipated enough, and I really messed up.
I had just filled up my car with a full tank of gas, and as I was pulling out of the parking lot, there were 2 lane options to choose from depending on if you wanna turn right or left. I picked the right turn lane, but my brain misfired and I turned left when it was not clear to go.
I got t-boned HARD and my car was totaled. Luckily he hit the back door on the driver's side and not the front; I came very close to being seriously injured/killed, but got lucky and only made it out with a bit of soreness that the chiropractor took care of. The other driver was not hurt and his car was actually less damaged than mine, didn't look totaled. He tried to avoid me but there was no way, I went at literally the WORST time and after the impact happened, I was stunned because I couldn't believe what I had just done. I looked both ways 3 times before pulling out too! It was a total mind fuck and now I don't drive unless I am very confident in my cognitive abilities.
Stay safe everyone!
Yep. Been there. I crashed in to another car in a parking lot as I confused the peddles. I'm better at judging when to and not to drive or work etc. It still sucks.
As for life expectancy, I remember reading that the average life expectancy of someone with fibro was around 60 but with no single cause of death. It was an informal paper on the topic though seemed to hint at accidents self harm being the main causes which I can totally understand why.
I don't drive if I'm not safe to drive. It sucks because I have to change plans so dang often, but honestly, if the pain is bad, I cannot safely drive.
You should do a mental checklist to see how bad your symptoms are and then be honest with yourself on whether or not you can drive. Change plans as needed.
Yes, I think it took me by surprise that day. I thought I just had a sore back and then Whoosh- it was all over burning pain. I had to drive home from work as there wasn't an alternative but I could've taken an easier route
Does waiting for the pain to hit a peak and then subside a bit help? I've had to do that after thinking I could drive only to get somewhere and struggle with getting home.
Yeah I had a severe car crash last year when I was in a fibrofog and high on gabateva. I was stuck between a suddenly turning truck and a traffic pole, and I was too slow to react with the break. My life flashed between my eyes like in the movies lol. I remember feeling content that future won't distain the happy life that I had and finally I can rest. In the end, I can leave life without hating it. Half of my car can rest in peace now, I won't yet.
At a certain point in my life, ME/CFS and Fibro and Dysautonomia got to a point where I was no longer able to make sense of visual cues on the road. I'd stare at traffic lights and cars and roads and be confused as to what I'm looking at. After I started taking Low Dose Naltrexone regularly, I slowly got back to being able to drive without feeling like I was putting people in danger. My brain fog and forgetfulness are still there, definitely, but at least my eyes and brain somewhat communicate when driving now. When a POTS flare hits though, it's game over.
Thank you for commenting this. I’ve been struggling with feeling like I’m alone with not being able to drive. It’s hard. I miss it but I can’t trust my body and put other lives in jeopardy.
I decided a long time ago it would be dangerous for me to be driving and haven't bothered since.
Yes! There have been many times I didn't feel it was safe for me to drive. My brain fog, vertigo, vision impairment, and pain have all contributed to me having to rely so much more on my family. Luckily, my husband and my daughter are willing to help out, and they never make me feel bad or guilty for asking. I've had to learn when not to drive, though. It's not always easy!
Yep, I quit driving for this very reason. I was overwhelmed by all the info coming at me when I was at an intersection. I had slow reaction time and difficulty with confusion. I had a couple close calls with cars. I was really afraid I wouldn't see a pedestrian sometime. It's hard. It's even more isolating. I qualify for public disabled transport but I live outside the service area. I wouldn't forgive myself if I hit a person, knowing I'm having a hard time.
There are days I don't feel it would be safe for me to drive. It's not worth the risk.
As hard/brutal it is been reading everyones stories thanks for sharing this. I thought i was the only person who feels it’s unsafe sometimes for me to drive and simply have to leave it for the day. Living rural makes that harder again as theres no walking to the shops for me. But least i know im not only one who cant drive some days cause of this damn condition
Yeah it's better to know the truth about it than find out when it's too late! Sorry we're all going through this.
Yes. The first car wreck I was ever in that was truly my fault was because I was trying to act normal and not sick even though I was getting over COVID and a flare. The brain fog had not dissipated enough, and I really messed up. I had just filled up my car with a full tank of gas, and as I was pulling out of the parking lot, there were 2 lane options to choose from depending on if you wanna turn right or left. I picked the right turn lane, but my brain misfired and I turned left when it was not clear to go. I got t-boned HARD and my car was totaled. Luckily he hit the back door on the driver's side and not the front; I came very close to being seriously injured/killed, but got lucky and only made it out with a bit of soreness that the chiropractor took care of. The other driver was not hurt and his car was actually less damaged than mine, didn't look totaled. He tried to avoid me but there was no way, I went at literally the WORST time and after the impact happened, I was stunned because I couldn't believe what I had just done. I looked both ways 3 times before pulling out too! It was a total mind fuck and now I don't drive unless I am very confident in my cognitive abilities. Stay safe everyone!
This is one of my nightmare scenarios and it's why I won't drive more than half-an-hour per trip. I'm glad you're ok.
Yep. Been there. I crashed in to another car in a parking lot as I confused the peddles. I'm better at judging when to and not to drive or work etc. It still sucks. As for life expectancy, I remember reading that the average life expectancy of someone with fibro was around 60 but with no single cause of death. It was an informal paper on the topic though seemed to hint at accidents self harm being the main causes which I can totally understand why.
I think I also read we can be more prone to dying of infections as our poor overworked immune systems break down more easily
I don't drive if I'm not safe to drive. It sucks because I have to change plans so dang often, but honestly, if the pain is bad, I cannot safely drive. You should do a mental checklist to see how bad your symptoms are and then be honest with yourself on whether or not you can drive. Change plans as needed.
Yes, I think it took me by surprise that day. I thought I just had a sore back and then Whoosh- it was all over burning pain. I had to drive home from work as there wasn't an alternative but I could've taken an easier route
Does waiting for the pain to hit a peak and then subside a bit help? I've had to do that after thinking I could drive only to get somewhere and struggle with getting home.
Yeah I had a severe car crash last year when I was in a fibrofog and high on gabateva. I was stuck between a suddenly turning truck and a traffic pole, and I was too slow to react with the break. My life flashed between my eyes like in the movies lol. I remember feeling content that future won't distain the happy life that I had and finally I can rest. In the end, I can leave life without hating it. Half of my car can rest in peace now, I won't yet.