I've been driving for over forty years without a single accident. Since these attacks I haven't driven, Does anyone feel it's okay to drive? I'm frightened of seeing my grandchildren because I really don't want to frighten them when falling to my knees screaming. I have never lived in fear before. I have never lived with such uncertainty hanging over me. Not had any more attacks after the the three on Wednesday and going on the Tegratol but I'm dosing up like mad on other pain killers that I have for other conditions. Do any of you drive and what happens if you have an attack?
I had a really bad attack on Saturday, the worst attack I've EVER had!! Today I had to drive myself to the doctor's office and believe me, I was scared. I kept thinking, what if it happens again?
About the grandkids . . . . . when my attack happened Saturday, our 3 y/o grandson was here with us. :( I was so upset. Thank goodness my husband took over, got him ready and returned him home. He was supposed to spend the day with us and we had lots of activities planned but that didn't happen thanks to me.
And yes, I was so afraid of what he was thinking as he watched me holding me head in both hands and just crying and yelling out in pain.
It was not pretty but I tried really hard to be tough in front of him. It was hard though.
Back to driving . . . . . I decided if it happened while I was on the road that I would pull over and call my husband.
I'm very close to two of my grandchildren .... one five one thirteen. I have more but don't see so much of them as they live miles away. But the two I do see I'm very close too. Last year the thirteen year old lad tearfully said to his mum one of the kids at school had just lost his granddad and he said to mum I don't know how I'd cope losing mine I'm so close to him. The five year old is similar and I really don't want them to see this.
I've always been a pretty tough active bloke. Six foot three strong as an ox self taught at building houses computers farming on a small scale changing engines you name I've always turned my hand to it. Seven years ago had to pack in work because of serious spinal problems so that has taken some getting used to but this is something else! I'm living on edge like ... well yeah sseeing as where I'm posting this I'm sure you can believe.
ChipperRoo said:
I had a really bad attack on Saturday, the worst attack I've EVER had!! Today I had to drive myself to the doctor's office and believe me, I was scared. I kept thinking, what if it happens again?
About the grandkids . . . . . when my attack happened Saturday, our 3 y/o grandson was here with us. :( I was so upset. Thank goodness my husband took over, got him ready and returned him home. He was supposed to spend the day with us and we had lots of activities planned but that didn't happen thanks to me.
And yes, I was so afraid of what he was thinking as he watched me holding me head in both hands and just crying and yelling out in pain.
It was not pretty but I tried really hard to be tough in front of him. It was hard though.
Back to driving . . . . . I decided if it happened while I was on the road that I would pull over and call my husband.
There were times during my attacks that I didn't know how the heck I was gonna get from point A to point B. I have had to cancel numerous appointments -- doctor appointments, hair appointments -- because I was afraid to drive there. By the grace of God I have made it behind the wheel when I've had no choice. I have tried to avoid my extreme pain meds until I know I'm safely at home to stay for awhile. My son got his learner's permit this year, and one day I drove to his father's house to pick him up and then put him behind the wheel and said, "Take me home and put me to bed. Then have your dad take you to lacrosse practice later." I'm not afraid to ask for help, but I try not to because most people just think I'm milking it for attention. Until I was finally diagnosed and this condition had a name. Then people were more understanding. Anyway -- when I have to dope myself up to get through it -- the last thing I'm gonna do is risk my life and that of others.
No Cindy I wouldn't dream of driving whilst doped up to the eyeballs but I'm wondering If I'll ever drive again just worrying about having an attack. Will I be able to control my vehicle for those few essential seconds. I can walk around in my house but when I'm out I have an electric wheelchair to get me around the streets and shops as I can't walk far without difficulties due to spinal problems so to get to town and go to an appointment or shopping I need to take my wheelchair which is in the back of the car via an electric hoist. If I can't drive I'm going to have to rely on my wife doing everything. I fear I'm going to become housebound now. I'm worrying about having an attack in the supermarket or street or butchers shop or cinema. Clutching my face screaming isn't going to go down to well. I don't want to frighten people.
Yes, I believe! This "condition" is something like I've never experienced in my life! I had a tumor at the base of my brain and 10 surgeries later can say this is worse than all of that. :( And I went through a LOT with that. Bloodborne MRSA, numerous PICC lines, a central line, being put to sleep (intubated) awake twice.
I told my doctor today it is like being hit on your brain with a cattle prod over and over and over . . . . . I guess you all know what a cattle prod is. Mine hits me from my eyes up to the crown of my head.
Who would have ever thought something like this could happen to the human body?! <sigh>
Sorry to bring this up again but are any of you feeling okay driving and has anyone had an attack whilst driving and managed to stop the car in a safe manner etc.
Am I sensing that most people are still driving but don't want to say so?
I started driving again yesterday but much slower than I used to.
I personally do still drive. I haven't had the jolts of TN pain happen while driving, but I do have some non-TN (or at least not labelled as such) pain from an old facial injury as a kid and I've just learned to live with it. I can't say it's ever happened while driving though, at least as far as I remember.
If I know I'm going to have bad pain, I try to be more aware and not drive as far if I can avoid it. For instance, I want to go to the next city over (about 25 miles or so) to the used book store next week, but if I'm having a bad pain day, I'll stay home if I can. If I can't stay home (have to go to work, grocery store, whatever), I'm just extremely focused on what I'm doing and where I'm going and I also make a mental map of where I can go if I have a bad moment (parking lots, etc).
If you personally find the pain to be too distracting while driving, I'd suggest asking your doctor. It's good you want to be safe rather than sorry, but at the same time, TN shouldn't rule every aspect of your life if you can avoid it. Just because you have it doesn't mean it gets your life.
I don't have pain as such I just have the attacks that come without any warning whatsoever.
I still drive. I have had this since 2009. I don't drive when I take my painkillers. I don't drive when my meds get changed until I see the effect. I found that out the hard way. I blacked out from Cymbalta while driving. Thank God I woke up before I had an accident. Since this started I have a higher pain tolerance so I can usually make it home before I am completely incapacitated. The hardest part is throwing up. I have had to pull over to do that. I try to only drive in a 15 mile radius. I have also learned what happens right before I have an attack. I now recognize my personality changes and early symptoms. This helps me determine what needs to happen next. It is not 100% foolproof but it helps significantly when making decisions on what to do next. Time has also made it easier to hide some of the symptoms from people. I have also used the Spoon Theory to try and explain to my family and friends. It is put into words so they get a visual that is easier to comprehend. Of course there is no way to explain the severity of the pain but it helps.
Thanks for the reply everyone. I'm still only two weeks into this this thing so I'm a little unsure of myself. I haven't had another attack since being on tha tablets so I've ventured out driving but I won't go out without my wife with me as I'm not sure I'm going to be able to make it back. Been like that quite a while now due to my spinal problems. This thing though is in another league pain wise and the way it smacks into me like a bolt of lightening. Thing is once it's over I feel perfectly normal again almost straight away. My new normal though of living on edge not knowing when the next attack will be.
I still drive in town. I haven't tried to drive any length of time yet for the very same reasons that you've stated. This is easy because I'm around my family who can drive, but I know they won't be around forever. I've had lots of eye problems along the way and I was really just getting back into driving without being afraid. It's a hard thing to deal with. I asked my eye doc years ago if he knew when the time would come for me to stop driving. He said, "you'll just know". I feel that time may be coming closer than I'd hoped.