Has anyone had to give up driving?

Dear Friends,

Has anyone had to give up driving or limit their driving?

Many days I don't feel like I should be driving.

Some days I am dizzy - some days it's fibro fog.

Is the dizzyness part of Fibro or is it the meds?

It makes me really sad.

We live in a small town, so I will drive locally on good days.

But my doctor is about 20 miles away and I am determined to drive myself on Tuesday.

There are other things I would like to do while there - the craft store, the book store,

maybe even splurge for a pedicure and an eyebrow waxing.

Those are things that are hard to give up.

We had a busy day (one of many) this past wk, 2 dr visits and the bank. I wanted to go in a certain order to make easier turns, but I started at the wrong end. I tried to juggle the new route in my head. My DH said just go... and gave me a list of turns and such. It just didn't register in my head. I said, I don't get that, where is that st? He said , I just told you. I pulled over and turned to him. I said, I am very tired, very stressed and I can't picture anything you just said to me in my head. Now, do you want to try again? Usually, he is very good about this kind of thing, but sometimes he forgets that I have this problem. He is used to me being 'on the money', but sometimes the 'Bank is tapped out'. He apologized and we did get all our visits in w/o a problem.

It can be very frustrating, on so many levels. I have been the one to take my children for all their 'things' for so many yrs, (they all drive now - YEAH!), I was the one to take my mother where ever she had to go, I took care of all the shopping, and I drove myself to/from work and my activities. Now I have to choose very carefully, Is today a good day or not?

Our PCP is about 15 mi away and sometimes that is a ride and a half. All the other dr are in difficult locations, way too much traffic and turns.

I get dizzy sometimes, mostly when I'm walking, sometimes when I turn my head. I take some meds (BP & such), nothing but

Tylenol for pain, so I don't think I could blame it on meds, also I've had that for yrs, before the meds. I don't know what your meds are, so that may be possible. I would discuss it w/ your dr and share your concerns, s/he should be able to give you a good answer.

I hope you have a good outting on Tues, visit the 'fun' places in addition to dr visit. I love books and crafts, too.

God bless.  Alice.  

I also map out, in my mind, where I'm going and how to get there before I get behind the wheel.  I never used to do that but there have been times the fog has rolled in and I wasn't sure how to get someplace and really had to think hard.  Now that's pathetic.  I've lived here 12 years!

Sherrine