This might sound like a really daft question but.......

[charlii]

Can fibro affect your driving? I have beedn drivivng for 18 years and i am fully aware that fibro fog can cause lack of concentration (had a few near misses!) but can it affect your distance judgement ie; when parking and overtaking other cars etc.....i used to be really confident driving and parking but i cant even park the car straight in an empty car park! Has anyone else found this?

[pennells]

hi charlli , yes i have had problems with parking and cant drive at night, manly because of the lights , i find since i have had fibro light seems to be more dazzling, so my husband drives at night , my doctor said i should give it up, but its the only independents i have now, so i am not willing to give up yet, i just drive a little slower and hope for the best, sue xx

[Hidden]

hi

I would check your medication that may be effecting your driving however anyone who is tired can be effected so be careful xx

gentle dyslexic hugs

[Devonlady]

It is not a sully question I can't jusdge distances and this is in the car and when crossing roads. I very rarely drive and have given up my car for the last two years. My doctors say I am safe to drive but I would not forgive myself if I hurt someone so choose to not drive.

[suejayjay]

Oh I am so glad I am not the only one who seems to be affected with driving. I find I do need to concentrate more and I too can't drive at night any more. I also suffer panic attacks, but think that is more a result of an accident that I had in Dec.2010, rather than the Fibro it'self. You may have seen a blog I put on about applying for my Blue Badge. It's because I need the wider parking bays. I find it so difficult to park. Don't ask my daughters about my paralell parking either!!! 10 manouvers later!!!! I used to consider myself a very good driver and have been driving for over 40 years. I need to be able to drive myself places as I have no-one else and can't rely on others all the time. Have to drive to work for a start! Just hope things don't get worse as I think if I had to give up the independance driving gives me I don't know what I would do. X

[Betty67]

I have to be careful not to get too tired, and not too stiff to be able to look over my shoulder. I also have to plan to have stops for a coffee etc and a short walk. Don't like going to new places incase I have difficulty finding a parking place even with the blue badge.

[motzie]

I feel i have to be careful when driving i think my consentration is not very good.

My husband usualy drives me about when it is a distance ,or i have an appointment that might make me feel shakey after it ...the dentist etc.

I can understsnd feeling my independance is now disapearing & having to rely on other people, it feels wrong for me. I was a carer before fibro started & iwas always helping others,

I live about 12 miles from any transport (buses, trains) so life can be a bit difficult...take care

hugs to all fibromites Mary xx.

[Hidden]

Here's some info on driving with Fibromyalgia -

fmauk.org/useful-informatio...

[emadavies]

every 1 iv spoken to got there licence before being diagnosed!

would be realy great to hear from people who got it after! iv filled in the provitional form, but theres a park asking if u have difficulty, think it was concentration an im so scared to say yes incase they then say no ur not allowed to try an drive!

i know its not going to be as easy as if i didnt have fibro, but i feel like i need to drive so im not stuck in the house constantly (iv never wanted to drive before, never believed i wud be able to but now it feels more of a need than want)

[Hidden in reply to emadavies]

Ema whilst Fibromyalgia or CFS/ME don't have to be disclosed to DVLA regarding your ability to drive, it would be advisable to consider that if you have poor concentration it might not be advisable or safe for you to drive. You need full concentration and good reactions to be able to drive safely.

I've been driving for many years, since I was a teenager. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME four years ago, my children are grown up now. Since being diagnosed I only drive when I feel 100% competent and that I have full concentration and that I consider my reactions to be normal, how they used to be. Whenever I feel any different to this, I avoid driving altogether. It's not worth the risk to yourself or to others.

Sorry if all this sounds a bit serious, but people can get hurt or worse if we have poor concentration or poor reactions.

Others might think differently, this is purely my opinion of course.

[emadavies in reply to Hidden]

yes i realise i woudnt be able to drive when not feeling 100%! an even then it wud be short jouneys!

i feel like im stuck in my house 24/7, everything is too far from my house without transport

and also maybe a bit of freedom will make me more positive about things

i guess if i never try i will never know, but if i try an find out i wont be able to then i wont be stuck wondering i will have to find a different solution around the problem

[Fibrofighters]

direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/D...

Fibromyalgia is not a condition that they need to be informed about.

[charlii]

Thanks for your help my fibro family and suejayjay yes i did see your post about the blue badge and i think that i might apply for one on te same grounds and also that i had a bad car crash in december (not my fault honestly lol) which has left me with sever pain in my right hip, i had to get a new car (mine was written off in the crash!) and i had to get a "high" car as i can no longer get in and out of a low car. I read the link on driving with fibro and i dont think im in that position yet, although i have to drive like a newbie and concentrate so hard but its the distance and parking that im struggling with. It seems im not the only one with these problems and thank you all who took the time to reply....lots of love x