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Falling asleep when driving

Posted , 4 users are following.

alison2705
alison2705

I've got menieres and often struggle driving at night and during the day - i find it really hard to focus on the road particularly as the drive to and from work is 70% stop/start in slow moving traffic for over an hour and on motorway as well. I had a scare last week and the Doctor suggested I go to a sleep clinic. I feel it's linked to my menieres rather than lack of sleep. Also possible borderline thyroid which can bring on tiredness. Do others get this happening? Tonight the lights from cars were making me feel terribly light headed & when headlights coming toward me unless street lights are on the road it's really blinding.I am worried I'll have to give up driving

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • donna16710
    donna16710 alison2705

    Posted

    I do have trouble with headlights at night and have had for some time. I avoid driving at night period. There are glasses with a non-glare coating that I use, it helps. The problem with falling asleep is another problem altogether. People complain of a mental fog which bothers them but I have never heard of actually falling asleep while driving. To be on the safe side, you should follow the recommendations to rule out any other problems going on. You may also want to consult with neurology. Frequently issues wiith the vestibular nerve go hand in hand with menieres.
    • alison2705
      alison2705 donna16710

      Posted

      Thanks I don't actually fall asleep but I can't keep my eyes focused sometimes & have drifted losing approx 1-2 seconds - this can happen frequently and I have to leave the motorway - so I'll have the sleep tests to see what's going on. When I got out of the car this evening I was totally wobbly & dizzy which is why I feel it's related to balance but we shall see. The odd thing is im fine when I get home or to destination - I'm not tired

    • donna16710
      donna16710 alison2705

      Posted

      This drifting while driving is concerning. For your sake and others you may need to consider not driving until you are stabilized. The chances of you being able to respond quickly to an emergency while driving are impaired. Have you been placed on any medication at all? It does sound to me like your vestibular nerve is being adversely affected by the menieres. Please do be careful.
  • eleftherio33095
    eleftherio33095 alison2705

    Posted

    Because you feel that it is not due to lack of sleep, then a link to Meniere's disease is possible if it is caused by your vestibulo-ocular reflex not being100% (the reflex that connects the vestibular part of your inner ear to eye movements.).

    Eleftherios S. Papathanasiou, PhD, FEAN

    Clinical Neurophysiologist

    Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology

  • fil39169
    fil39169 alison2705

    Posted

    You should NOT be driving.  I enclose a quote from a website.  It clearly lists conditions that lead to dizziness - that is MENIEREs in case you hadn't realised.  If you do drive and have an accident and your condition is on record you will NOT be insured.  Risking the lives of others is unacceptable.  I haven't driven for years due to my own Meniere's and I think anyone who actually still IS driving although they know they have the disease and are subject to sudden attacks and the symptoms you describe is selfish and stupid.  Sorry, but there is no other way to put this. No-one on this website who has MD should be driving.

    There’s a huge list of medical conditions which can render you unfit to drive. Each case has to be considered on an individual basis. However, the following list outlines some of the conditions that would always result in your licence being refused or revoked:

    epilepsy

    severe mental disorder

    liability to sudden attacks of disabling giddiness or fainting

    liability to sudden attacks of disabling giddiness or fainting which are caused by any disorder or defect of the heart which has caused you to have a device, such as a pacemaker implanted

    persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol whether or not such misuse amounts to dependency

    any other disability likely to cause you to be a danger to the public when driving a vehicle

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