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Falling Asleep while driving?
I started noticing a couple of years ago that I would fall asleep for a second while driving. It escalated to a point that on a weekly long trip I needed to take that I would start falling asleep at the wheel many times and have had many close calls. I finally had to give up on driving this trip and had to hire someone to drive me. I don't believe I have sleep apnea as I sleep well, don't snore and get a full nights sleep. This falling asleep at the wheel can happen at any time of the day.
Is there a medical reason for this? I also have severe neck degeneration. Could sometime be cutting off oxygen to my brain when I'm in this position? I don't fall asleep at other times. Just while I am driving.
Is there a medical reason for this? I also have severe neck degeneration. Could sometime be cutting off oxygen to my brain when I'm in this position? I don't fall asleep at other times. Just while I am driving.
Hi, I am not sure who to direct this to.
I too start falling asleep while driving. It really scares me! I have always even as a child found the car to be somewhat of a "comfort zone" for me in which I would fall asleep within minutes of being in the car. It seems as I have gotten older it has gotten worse. It's very strange because often times when I begin driving I am not tired at all. I usually get around seven or eight hours of sleep, I don't have restless leg syndrome, I don't have any problems falling asleep or staying asleep, I don't get up numerous times to use the rest room, the only thing I wonder is whether I have sleep apnea. Or if anyone has any idea what it could be.
I read the other posts and usually in the car I try to keep the radio on...upbeat music. To try and keep myself awake Ill try rolling the window down, yelling at myself, slapping myself on my cheeks or legs, when it comes down to it I end up calling someone to keep me awake. It really *****.
There will be times when I am driving and I don't remember driving to my end location. I really would hate myself if I were to cause an accident.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't have any health insurance or anything as I got laid off in January. I am so scared I no longer know what to do.
PLEASE HELP.
BACKGROUND:
I am a 25 year old Mexican American Female. I am obese (I think this may have something to do with it)
I too start falling asleep while driving. It really scares me! I have always even as a child found the car to be somewhat of a "comfort zone" for me in which I would fall asleep within minutes of being in the car. It seems as I have gotten older it has gotten worse. It's very strange because often times when I begin driving I am not tired at all. I usually get around seven or eight hours of sleep, I don't have restless leg syndrome, I don't have any problems falling asleep or staying asleep, I don't get up numerous times to use the rest room, the only thing I wonder is whether I have sleep apnea. Or if anyone has any idea what it could be.
I read the other posts and usually in the car I try to keep the radio on...upbeat music. To try and keep myself awake Ill try rolling the window down, yelling at myself, slapping myself on my cheeks or legs, when it comes down to it I end up calling someone to keep me awake. It really *****.
There will be times when I am driving and I don't remember driving to my end location. I really would hate myself if I were to cause an accident.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't have any health insurance or anything as I got laid off in January. I am so scared I no longer know what to do.
PLEASE HELP.
BACKGROUND:
I am a 25 year old Mexican American Female. I am obese (I think this may have something to do with it)
1 Comments
This happens to me too, literally the same things word by word. Also am Mexican and 25 years old. Keep me posted.
Hi There,
I have been experiencing the same symptons while I drive. I don't have a problem sleeping at night and hardly ever wake up during the night either. Before I drive I am always well rested nor am I really tired, but I still doze off. I have tried music, having the window open, have the passenger talk to me, pinching myself, slapping my face but sometimes none of these work. At times I have just pulled over, but then I am completely awake again. I never understood what was wrong with me. I am going to take the tests above and see if there is actually a problem with the blood flow. It was a bit of a relief that I am not the only one who is going through this. I hope you find a solution.
I have been experiencing the same symptons while I drive. I don't have a problem sleeping at night and hardly ever wake up during the night either. Before I drive I am always well rested nor am I really tired, but I still doze off. I have tried music, having the window open, have the passenger talk to me, pinching myself, slapping my face but sometimes none of these work. At times I have just pulled over, but then I am completely awake again. I never understood what was wrong with me. I am going to take the tests above and see if there is actually a problem with the blood flow. It was a bit of a relief that I am not the only one who is going through this. I hope you find a solution.
I've been nodding off while driving for about a year now. Not every-time, but often enough where I no longer take trips because of the fear. My driving consists of to work, food store, and dr. I've had the sleep study done, Not conclusive as I am claustrophobic and kept tearing the mask off. I am 59, female, and have hypothyroidism, pernicious anemia for which I get B12 shots every other week but really does nothing for me. My blood pressure is 120/80 with meds. When I go to work in the morning I am fine. It's when I leave 3:15pm that the nodding off begins. I don't know what to do anymore. I am not crazy. I'm even wondering if there is a gas leakage (non odorous) in the car that is causing the problem.
Forgot to add I suffer from shortness of breath where there are times I am gasping for air. Have had lung evals/tests done and nothing, Yet I still have it.
Very frustrated because it has really put the end to my love of driving and trips.
Very frustrated because it has really put the end to my love of driving and trips.
I think its from my autonomic dysfunction from my autoimmune disease. When I drive my heart beat slows thus slowing the blood flow to my brain.
I have also been doing this dozing off thing! It's driving me crazy. I thought at first it was only longer trips like 45 minutes or more. Then, the other day I started doing it while driving home from work and it had snowed so everyone was driving really slow. I told myself that I just got bored with it and decided to doze off. And that is only like a 20 minute drive.
I also try to wake myself up like others have said by shaking my head and stuff like that or maybe rolling down a window but it really doesn't help. I also am never tired when starting these road trips either. I do go to bed very late sometimes even straining my eyes to keep myself awake but I usually get around 6-7 hours of sleep. So, I'm not really that deprived.
One symptom that I've also recently experienced is numbness in my extremities. I have told my doctor about this at my last visit. He called it Reynauds (sp?) Syndrome I believe and his only comment about it really is if my hands are white or red first when I start to notice the pain. It's basically like a burning feeling in your fingers or toes mine actually is in the tips of my ears too. Sometimes you can't tell if it's a hot or cold feeling. Then comes a burning feeling I guess after the blood starts to come back to the affected areas.
That actually is kind of how I feel about the dozing off. I thought maybe it was a loss of blood supply to my brain or something similar to this disease. I can even feel it coming on like my eyes want to start rolling up into my head. I can even be singing and listening to good music and it doesn't matter. It's really scary. What's happening to me? I am a 37 year old white female.
I also try to wake myself up like others have said by shaking my head and stuff like that or maybe rolling down a window but it really doesn't help. I also am never tired when starting these road trips either. I do go to bed very late sometimes even straining my eyes to keep myself awake but I usually get around 6-7 hours of sleep. So, I'm not really that deprived.
One symptom that I've also recently experienced is numbness in my extremities. I have told my doctor about this at my last visit. He called it Reynauds (sp?) Syndrome I believe and his only comment about it really is if my hands are white or red first when I start to notice the pain. It's basically like a burning feeling in your fingers or toes mine actually is in the tips of my ears too. Sometimes you can't tell if it's a hot or cold feeling. Then comes a burning feeling I guess after the blood starts to come back to the affected areas.
That actually is kind of how I feel about the dozing off. I thought maybe it was a loss of blood supply to my brain or something similar to this disease. I can even feel it coming on like my eyes want to start rolling up into my head. I can even be singing and listening to good music and it doesn't matter. It's really scary. What's happening to me? I am a 37 year old white female.
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