is driving ok when I suffer from fibro fog?

[Billydt]

[ladymoth]

Hi Billy,

This is a difficult one - I'm tempted to say that you shouldn't drive if you're feeling 'foggy', as you might endanger yourself and others.

I suppose the best thing you can do is to try to be honest with yourself about how you are feeling on a particular day, and if you don't think you would be safe, then don't do it!

Hope this helps,

Luv, Moffy

[nanatre]

I dont drive when I am bad, and I never drive alone, just in case. x

[tess10]

I do drive, if I'm fully good on a day I will not drive, but if I am experiance a small amount of fibro fog and need to take a short drive I will, but on to do the task then come home again,

It comes down to one self and what you feel good look xx

[Billydt]

many thanks to you all for you honest and helpful answers.

having quite a bad day today, not slept much due to pains in my hand and feet, they seem better this morning but my lower back is causing so much pain it's difficult to move around. have to get up and do my best everyday as my mother lives with me, she is 84 and has servere osteo in her kneees and is now suffering from fluid build up due to progressive heart failure along with many other ailments to many to mention, she needs her medications and meals etc making, she has a carer 12 hours a week but she is on holiday this week and I have not been able to get a replacement as she only told me Friday she was not coming in this week.

I had a call from the GP to say my last blood test came back with low Vit D and I need to go and ses him tomorrow to see what is being prescribed. I have been diagnosed with fibro for 9 years, but last month went to see a new Rhuematologist who due to the fact the hospitals in my area do not come under the same groups is starting from scratch with all my tests, he really has instilled my confidence in him as no other docs have done this test before.

This forum seems like a life line i only joined a month ago but it has asnwered many questions in that time.

XXXX

[fibro]

I would say NO! but phone DVLA and speak to them. They usually ask you to complete a questionnaire, but you are not just putting your own life at risk, you are putting other's as well. i know I couldn't drive when i am in that state. Im on Diazepam at the moment and wouldn't dream of driving, is causing double vision and certainly not helping with fibro fog either.

Take care and a be safe xx

[vixen49 in reply to fibro]

I rang dvla a couple of weeks ago and told them that I suffer from fibrofog and they told me did they need to no and told them at least I'm telling u what my condition is

[fairycazzie]

My advice would be you should go with your instincts and your personality and your strength and ability to cope too.

I have to run a business there fore on the road all the time!

I have my moments and of course you also have medication which can give side effects too, so it is reallly about you!

If i am hving a bad day i will not drive!

WE have to inform the DVLA of any neurological issues we have and best to discuss with GP what they think.

I have been told to stop driving as my neck muscle spasms are bad! told me to claim too and stay off work then realised i am an Eployer and there is no help i can get, so i said to give me what ever it takes to get me on the up again!!

I am back there again today as it goes lol.. JUst always think of your passengers and others on the road too.

if you do not really need to drive and your feeling insecure then do not drive as your nervousness because of it can cause mistakes never mind the fog

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx cazzie xxxxx

[Billydt]

Many thanks. I have extreme pain in my hips and bottom of my back at the moment so I can't get to the car never mind drive it.

[Hidden]

I would not ever get to work if I did not drive we are all sensible

People if you are not well.and you have fibro fog and can't think

Then no don't drive

If the police have there way, which will I believe becomes legal soon

None of us will be able to drive if on medication.

[Celticmoon]

I do drive, on my good days.

I am on very high doses of morphine & Tramadol but am told by my GP that I am allowed to drive when I feel ok... :-[ Perhaps a chat with your doctor or another trusted person may give you the answer??? My ability to drive obviously varies from day to day with other complications (such as fog AND how I physically feel) helping me make the decision. I don't go out alone all that much anyway now but believe it's a case of being honest with yourself so that you make cautious and responsible decisions. I always consider how I would feel if I caused an accident so if I feel I'm not 100% then I don't drive. Go with your "good" days & if you can get someone to go with you until you build up your confidence then they should be able to give you an honest opinion about how safe they felt!!!! All the best...

[Celticmoon]

I just put "should I drive on morphine patches & Tramadol?" into the Google search engine & there's loads of info on there, which I must read this evening...

Here is a very small selection, just 2 of answers to this question from one link only...

1. "This is from an NHS site:

**Patients should be advised to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency when they start taking opioids**

Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 does not differentiate between illicit or prescribed drugs. Therefore, any person who is driving or attempting to drive on the public highway, or other public place whilst unfit due to any drug, is liable to prosecution.

• All drugs acting on the central nervous system can impair alertness, concentration and driving performance. This is particularly so at initiation of treatment, or soon after and when dosage is being increased. Driving must cease if adversely affected. ** "

2. "Just an FYI- I called the DVLA as a health care professional and asked them for their guidance as "I had a patient who..."

They said that if a person is onn *any* drug, if there is a concern about lack of coordination, vision, attentiveness, etc, then they would look at the role the drug played- but that in general, and this is a quote "It's not people who take pain medication who cause accidents, its the people who self-medicate and drive like fools..."

I asked if, if there were an accident, the perosn on opiates would be blamed.

The said "it depends on how the accident occured, and how the person responded. "

They also said I should tell my paitent that they can go to a driving assessment centre (there is a list of regional centres) for disability, who can do a specilaist driving test and assessment to make sure they have all the support they need. He said that if there was an accident, it would look good if the perosn on opiates had been assessed,"

Have a look & see what others are being told/finding out! Guess I'll have to broach the subject with my GP again...

[Hidden]

I would personally never drive on one of my "foggy" days, because I don't consider myself to be compos mentis enough. My reactions and senses aren't good when I'm foggy, I don't even feel safe enough to go for a walk sometimes when foggy, so I would strongly advise people to think twice before driving when "foggy", it's not worth the risk to you or to others.