Difficulty while driving

Does anyone else find it difficult to concentrate whilst driving? It's a little unnerving. I am driving slower as I feel my reaction times are slower...does anyone have anything that helps them with this? Any advice would be helpful...I can't really not drive

[Hillwoman]

This has been a problem for me for many years. I find I just have to allow more time for journeys, so that all my attention is on the driving. If my concentration really starts to fade, I pull over and take a rest. I tend to stick to quiet roads that I know well, but you may not have that option. Increasingly, I have to make contingency plans with my husband, if it's possible, so that he can drive out to meet me if I can't get any further. It's a difficult one though.

[Hidden in reply to Hillwoman]

It is a tough one 😔 I find myself avoiding certain roads and going the longest route home etc just to feel more comfortable and it does sometimes amuse people that I avoid certain ways when it doesn't make sens to.

I don't really have to option of contingency plans or me or it's not happening. No pressure there lol.

It's the thing that's it's getting worse instead of better 😳 won't even start on when I'm running late....

[Funnygembunni]

Oh thank gosh it's not just me. All my symptoms started for the first time while driving. I had stopped and called an EMT as I didn't know what was wrong. Took me 9 months to finally have a rheumatologist check TPO level which is high as heck. 9 months of fearing to drive or be alone with my young son. Millions of dollars worth of MRIs, brain scans, ENT, cardiology all the way through a cardiac catheterization, only to find out I have hoshimotos. I fear driving far too or even at all. I find that the fear while very real, is just a fear. I always make it safely to where I am going even if I feel disoriented. I even once was on a very well known back road with my son once and completely didn't know where I was. I find that breathing and staying calm and trusting that you will be alright and it will pass helps.

[Treepie in reply to Funnygembunni]

If hypothyroid and untreated or not properly treated you should not be driving . I have read here that it's as bad as being over the limit with alcohol. I was falling asleep at the wheel ,a danger to me my passenger and others.

[Hidden in reply to Treepie]

I really do struggle to concentrate...I have to really force my eyes to stay in the road and push myself to be aware...it's a horrible feeling...if I could get away with my driving I would but I have 3 children so I have a school run to do 😔 I'm untreated but I am going to mention this to the doctor when I go as it's scary!

[Hidden in reply to Funnygembunni]

Ohh this sounds so familiar...I keep taking wrong turns or can't think how to get somewhere ... Even though I drive there all the time...it's terrible..I just don't always feel very alert and it's frustrating! I just avoid junctions where you need to be able to judge traffic etc longwayhome.com

Has yours improved?

[Treepie in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I can now drive fine but I still have other awkward symptoms especially poor balance and leaden legs.

It must be very hard but you really should not be putting your children and yourself at risk. Think how you would feel if anyone is injured .you need to get help before that happens and someone else to assist with the school run.

[Hidden in reply to Treepie]

I hear what you're saying about the balance thing..I've noticed the same recently...never had balance problems before.

I have changed how and where I drive..I don't drive when I'm tired and avoid certain junctions altogether.

Getting help with school runs etc just isn't an option but I do leave early to avoid heavy traffic.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Have you had your vit B12 tested? If it's low that could have an effect on your balance.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Oh really...I didn't know that! It's in my list when I go to the doctors! Thank you for that ☺️

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

You might find some information and interest in some previous posts here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Hidden in reply to helvella]

Ahh it's such a scary common symptom so it seems 😔 feeling rubbish day in day out is one things but when I'm driving it becomes scary...

[Treepie in reply to helvella]

Good posts ,hope ying yang acts on them.

[Spanglysplash]

I've stopped driving unless it's a very short journey (5 mins) and I'm having a good couple of hours and that happens only about twice a week. I always take food (I feel better having just eaten or whilst eating)

I felt I was having a really good morning the other day and attempted a longer drive. The way there was fine but the return journey was hellish (I took a wrong turn so a 15 min journey turned into a 55min journey when I was already on the down slide. I had 2 tests in order to get home!) I won't be that foolish again. I've now decided not to drive at all. As I can't walk for more than 10 mins without feeling ill I'm stuck at home.

[Hidden in reply to Spanglysplash]

Aww no that's not good! I guess just knowing our own limits and sticking to it.

The good thing is a good thing to think about...perhaps I should keep emergency food in the car.

Aww you poor thing I hope your getting support and company if u can't get out and about.

[adflores]

I know the feeling. About a 7 months ago, I started realizing that I would drive from work to home, about an hour drive, and when I would get home, I would realize that I didn't remember the drive home, or during the drive home, I would catch myself falling asleep. I thought it was due to my pregnancy. A few months ago, I lost the baby, and right after that, my doctor told me I had hypothyroidism. What I try to do, is either keep the car really cold (the cold seems to bother me a lot, I don't handle it very well), and put loud music which also annoys me, so it keeps me awake and alert. I have also tried to work closer to my husband's job, that way, he drives the longer distance, and I just drive between the two jobs which takes less then 5 minutes.

[Hidden in reply to adflores]

Aww no that sounds dangerous (I've defo done the auto pilot thing...even driving the kids to the wrong school that they had left a few years ago)

The cold air sound alike a good trick...I hate being cold too!

Aww I'm so sorry about your loss adflores what a horrible time you must be going through. You poor thing (not trying to sound patronising there...can't find the right comforting words that I want to say) I hope that you are At least finding support in helping your hypothyroid issues? X

[adflores in reply to Hidden]

The cold air really works for me.. and that is ok, I have been taking one day at a time which def helps.. I allow myself to be sad some days... my thyroid issues are well out of control though..hopefully soon they will be under control and it will be easier to move on with life...

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to adflores]

Of course! You shouldn't beat yourself up if you have a bad day, you're only human x oh I wish I had some words of advice re your thyroid issues but I'm new to all of this myself..but I hope you get some resolution soon x I've also been looking at the website hypothyroid mum...she's been through similar experiences to you might be worth a look? X

[adflores in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, do you have the website link so I can take a look? I find that reading people's experiences help to give me hope that I will get better as well!!

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to adflores]

Ahh of course! Sometimes the feeling of being alone in your experience is just as bad as the experience itself and knowing your not alone is if some comfort! X

Here is a links (hope it works as I'm in my phone)

hypothyroidmom.com