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Driving advice--your opinion

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Posted 10/2/2014 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
Occasionally I have memory gaps like I forget where the dishes are
in the kitchen or I forget what I was saying or what day it is. I do
feel very bothered by this but I am hoping when the LD tx is done it will improve.


My question is my husband is going out of town for a few days and needs a ride to the airport which is probably 20 miles away. He will drive there but I will drive home. Before LD it would be no prob but I am afraid I m/g a brain fart on the freeway home and have an accident or get lost.

What would you do--I ask my friend if she would help but it will be in the middle of the night!
Posted 10/2/2014 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
sueg, could you get a GPS? If so, you would not get lost. You put your home address in and when you are ready to leave the airport, your husband or you could just click on "HOME", and the GPS would guide you. It would be a good idea to practice using it before the big day, though.
Posted 10/2/2014 6:49 AM (GMT 0)
I quit driving this year because of my mind going blank sometimes and other things. I don't want to jeopardize someone's life. Some days I feel I can drive short distances ok.

Is there a ride system for taking people to and from the airport? We use that service.
Posted 10/2/2014 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I always use a mapping service, like Google maps, then print out the directions and make sure I highlight the major turns and any landmarks I can find - like Wendy's is on the right just before I need to turn, or there is a major mall or church somewhere.

I have driven to my kid's homes many times, yet I still have that map for each place - it's turned into my security blanket because I never know when my brain will get tired and then all memory retrieval is lost.
Posted 10/3/2014 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
I just go blank out of nowhere and I can't remember where to turn the headlights on or whatever. And then I get panicky so I am afraid that will happen. It might never happen but then again who knows..... I will just have to keep thinking on it.

Thanks for your ideas!
Posted 10/3/2014 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sue, what kind of phone do you have? I have an iPhone and I "ask Siri" how to get to a place, and then my phone acts as a GPS. Very handy and totally helpful.
Posted 10/3/2014 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Having a GPS helps a lot. When I'm changing lanes or doing anything that requires use of a mirror, I look both in the rearview and in the side mirrors.

I always put my arm over the back of the seat and look over my shoulder when backing up.

I never drive over the speed limit.

I don't drive on any freeway or interstate at night.

Margaret
Posted 10/3/2014 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, that is one reason this is hard. It is at night and on the freeway and an area I am not familiar with at all. ( I used to do this stuff with not even a second thought before LD) Ugh!!!!!!
Posted 10/3/2014 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Can someone else take him?

Otherwise, all I can say is, drive in one lane as much as you can, and don't get out in the middle of the freeway.

Perhaps you could drive the route during the day to familiarize yourself with it?

Margaret
Posted 10/3/2014 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Drive like my grandma. Slow and safe. :-)
Posted 10/3/2014 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I used to always do "practice runs" the day before going somewhere "big". I couldn't do it before that because I would forget too much, but once I made the trip without any pressure (using printed out instructions that I could pull over to the side of the road at any time to look at), I found that the next time doing it was much easier.
Posted 10/3/2014 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I used to always do "practice runs" the day before going somewhere "big". I couldn't do it before that because I would forget too much, but once I made the trip without any pressure (using printed out instructions that I could pull over to the side of the road at any time to look at), I found that the next time doing it was much easier.
Posted 10/3/2014 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
That is a big issue. I think you need to listen to your body. I know there is fear and pressure by others but in the end only you know if you can drive certain days and distances. I just pushed myself to drive a longer distance this past week and I was fearful but every major point in the trip I would mentally check off the progress which helped lessen the stress as the trip progress. Like making it to a certain town, exiting onto the correct highway in the correct direction, not missing the tollbooth, etc. It is stressful cause sometimes you dont even know until the day if you can drive or not. This is extra stressful if you have appointments or people depending on you. I think there have been some wonderful suggestions. I need to remember some of them.
Posted 10/3/2014 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank so much for all your suggestions, they were so good!
But I just do not trust myself since it is a long distance, at night, and unfamiliar. I told our daughter about this and she said that
she was planning to do the airport drive. She said it is no problem and "Dad does so much to help her."

So big relief here and thanks to you all!
Posted 10/3/2014 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
This all does bring up a very important subject for all us Lymies.
Just how long does this uncertainty and memory gaps last.
Does it go away eventually? Driving is such a big part of our lives and we don't want to be so limited forever!

Have you LD veterans found a clearer brain down the road?!!
Posted 10/4/2014 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
My experience is that each day is different and dictates what I can do. Back when extremely si k everyday probably drove only when absolutely had to and then very short distances. Drs offices, groceries and rx, usually mo more than 10-15 miles. Now I still havd bad days where j know I cant drive. I just wait for a good day. If I have an appointment I may not know until 30 mins before if I can drive, other times I kniw hours begore j will jot be able to make appointments and havd to cancel which is so frustrating, I use to be very anal about being on time and not missing appointments.

Glad your daughter is helping out, I can just feel the relief and anxiety leaving your body not having to worry about this task. Maybe you can feel well enougn yo go with uour daughter on thix trip if it makes logistical sense, might help you in case somr day you have to make the trip. Obviously your choice. A
Posted 10/4/2014 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, sueg, with treatment it gets so much better.

I used to have quite profound cognitive gaps. I would be driving and realize I had no idea what I was looking at. I would not only not have any idea of where I was going, but I didn't even know what country I was in!

With time I could usually recognize when this was about to happen, so I would just not drive. If it was absolutely necessary to take the trip, I asked friends and family to drive me. This was initially difficult because I am the family driver, but I got over myself! It turned out that everybody was more than happy to help, and actually welcomed the opportunity.

Nowadays, I only occasionally have mild trouble, usually when I have increased my meds. So I just make sure not to make any changes when I have something I have to do.

Hope this passes for you soon.
Posted 10/4/2014 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so very glad to hear that your daughter has chosen to help out!! :-)

I too have had significant improvements like Achievinggrace, although now that I've been reinfected, some issues are back. UGH! I fully expect that I will once again recover well though.
Posted 10/6/2014 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I am very relieved that our dtr was planning on helping. I had visions of all sorts of mishaps for myself on the trip home from the airport. 20miles there and 20miles back--yikes!

And thanks again for all your good ideas!
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