Brain fog and driving

[DragonSlayer45]

Just thought I would pop in and ask about others experiences with Brain fog from Treating and driving. I have not been on in a while so those who do not know me. I am geno 1a in week 43 of 48. I have been UND since week 4. I have suffered as many do the fatigue, mental brain fog , and all the other wonderful things that go with treatment.

I always had concerns before I started treatment about the length of my commute (60 miles each way) and how or if my treatment would impact it. I have taken days off during my treatment due to being fatigued and lack of mental clarity. I have also gone many more days when I should have stayed home.

Last Friday I had a fender bender going to work. It was raining, bumper to bumper traffic on interstate and to make a long story short I rear ended the guy in front of me. He stopped short I was not paying attention and boom. No one hurt low speed impact but my car is in shop. It was the type of thing that can and does happen to anyone.

It was also a day when the fog was thick (in my head). I have been a little worse as I close in on finish line. My blood counts are low but not low enough to warrant dose reductions or procrit etc. but enough that it explains why I feel worse lately.

I have had times earlier in treatment when I would be driving and momentarily not recognize where I am (when I have been there before). I know most of us have experienced the can't finish a sentence or complete a thought. Forget what you were doing, and general cognitive impairment. It comes with the territory from interferon treatment.

I spoke with my doctor and he has me staying out for last 5 weeks since my job provides that benefit. I know in my heart it is the right thing to do. Heaven forbid I was to hurt someone and even myself because of this.

I was curious of others driving experiences and have they ever felt like they maybe they should not drive due to brain fog.

[DragonSlayer45]

Thanks for all your input and sharing your personal experiences.

I am surprised that this is not something more people talk about, or doctors mention.

You are not supposed to operate machinery when using certain types of medications. Interferon is known to cause irritability and rage issues in addition to brain fog, cognitive impairment, etc. but yet no one talks about those issues with HCV treatment.

If you are foggy headed and your thinking process is slowed (which it can be) you would think they would stress that a little more. Another name for this is "chemo brain".

I am curious how many others have been effected but just never talk about it.

[CMcH]

I try to drive as little as possible. The glare from the sun hurts my eyes and sometimes I'm so fatigued I am sure my reaction time has diminished. I used to always be the designated driver with my friends and did all the driving with my family. Now I let others drive and have my husband pick up the kids more. When the dehydration got really bad in the summer I was dizzy and light headed and had no idea why I was driving to work.
Be careful and rest as much as you can. That is a long commute that would fry anyone let alone people on TX.

[jonney4141]

yes i can definantly relate to this, glad you brought it up, i thought i may be over exagerrating, but sometimes i get a little scared to drive, cause i really can't think straight, and feel like my life is in slow motion, yes the road rage was really bad yesterday, i swear if i would of had a gun i would of been dangerous, also being in wal-mart yesterday and people with the shopping carts coming at you in all directions i had to get the hell out of there!!!! yesterday was bad as far as the rage. i also am taking some time off as my job suggested it to me, and they did call me the other day and told me how much they miss me, and that the people doing my job are horrible, so that did make me feel better. my wbc are low too, but today i feel very much llike my self, and have not felt like this in weeks, so maybe the wbc is getting better? who knows? i definantly am seeing how precious it is to feel good, and to be able to get things done.for me it is a big roller coaster ride....

[Marc1955]

You don't want to know how crazy I am – about six months into tx I bought a scooter to commute to work – and not just any scooter, a vintage style scooter with a manual transmission. It's got something to do with a mid-life crisis exacerbated by HCV. What can I say? I don't think there's enough talk on this board about mid-life crises for middle age men exacerbated by HCV and treatment.

In any event, I found the scooter actually helped with the brain fog because it forced me to concentrate. Driving the scooter would make me feel less drowsy by providing a little adrenaline rush to the brain. So that's my advice. Buy a motorcycle.  I'm thinking a nice BMW with a sidecar could get you through the last month of treatment -;)

In all seriousness, good luck. Can't believe you're so close to being done.

[portann]

Maybe it's something with how the meds affect perception because the same crazy thing happened to me.

I came to a red light exiting a small shopping plaza (across the street from the police station) and saw the red perfectly, but it somehow signalled to my brain to keep going!!

My husband shouted but I was so deep into the intersection, I had to keep going and make my turn.

He thought I hadn't seen the light but the worst part of it was that I HAD seen it and thought red meant go.

[Tippyclubb]

Oh yes--brain fog while driving is huge for me.  A few weeks ago I went half way through a red light and thank God nothing was coming.  I was able to back up.  It scared me so bad, every since I really pay attention when approaching lights.  Now I have my husband drive when ever possible.