Fell asleep driving | Arthritis Information

 

Yesterday I had to take my mom (78 years old) to a drs appt about 50 miles away.  Actually, she had 2 appts with different drs.  She had good results, we went out to eat & headed home.  She was sleeping off & on all the way home - I was exhausted & fell asleep driving about 8 miles from home.  Woke up driving on the shoulder, got back on the road but lost it.  Mama did not have her seat belt on & was bounced around.  They kept her over night  in the hospital - minor scrapes.  We were so blessed - there was no other cars coming our way.  Several people behind us stopped to help.  It was simply exhaustion from the RA that took over & I went to sleep.  Now I'm waiting to see if my car is totaled or not.

cindy i am so glad all is o'k and you and your mom are doing well.   i glad the appointments went well too!   so sorry about the accident.   what a blessing to have so many people who care stop to see if you were o'k I know it was an accident, but anyone that feels exhausted or even thinks there is a possibility of falling asleep should not drive. Gosh, that is really scary. I know just how it could happen though, I have been there many times also. We just get so damn tired with this RA thing. For the past three years, since I was dxed and the RA worsened I have had to limit my driving to just my local area. I live on a mountain so basically I stay on the mountain driving no more than 20 minutes to my nearest town and back. Any further than that and I am just too tired. Sometimes even that is too much. This means if I need to go to my rheumy 45 mins away then I ask a friend to give me a lift. It's a pain but I think it's better to do that and be safe than to be so tired, I fall asleep. Once, I just drove and never thought about these things at all. (sigh)

The main thing is that you and your mother are okay and not seriously hurt, damn about the car, though...what a pain but at least you and Mom are unharmed. I hope you get the car sorted out quickly and it's not too terrible. Maybe it's time to rethink how you can drive and how far. Just another change of many in our lives due to the RA challenge.

Take care.

Cindy....They say that driving while fatigued can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.  I'm so glad that you and your mom are all right  Too bad about your car though.  I guess your experience should be a good reminder for all of us.  Not only RA'ers either.  I'll bet everybody's been out driving when it's a struggle to keep their eyes open.

Oh My Gosh! - The memories of when our daughter fell asleep at the wheel came flooding back as I read your post!!

Am so thankful you and your mom will be okay! You will live with this memory forever.  Take pictures of the car - we did to show all the grandchildren as they become of age to drive.

Wow, that must have been scary. I know that I don't drive around too much just were I have to go locally. Sometimes I am just so tired I can't think straight but when I am driving I go into a panic attack when I am feeling that lousy.

I am glad that you and your mom are ok.

 

I'm so happy that you are safe!Glad you are ok.  I got pulled over in college by a cop due to the way I was driving.  I had been studying super late for an exam and was exhausted.  Officer was nice but scared me with a lecture--well deserved.  Luckily I was only a few miles from home and the adrenalin rush from being pulled over certainly kept me up for a bit longer.Yes please be careful! My SIL lost her eye when she fell asleep driving and had an accident. Fortunately it was her and a guardrail so no one else was injured. She had undiagnosed sleep apnea at the time. Her sunglasses stem went right through her eye!
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