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| | | From: juds (Original Message) | Sent: 3/9/2008 1:58 AM |
The motor idles. Over the immense upland, the pulse of their blossoming thunders through us. Denise Levertov Deprive me of my wheels at your own peril. Juds If there is a single concern for persons with SOM, it is the potential loss of their ability to drive safely. For most of us, that kind of access to transportation is essential to our ability to be employed, visit with family and friends, and do all of the other things that being freely mobile makes possible. Not knowing for certain that the image you see, whilst driving a vehicle, is the actual situation, or is merely the double-image caused by your eye's movement, is a serious problem for nearly all of us. It is often the fear of losing our ability to drive that compels many of us to seek treatment. This thread is a place to share your thoughts, feelings, fears and frustrations concerning driving, whether is is a component of your employment or simply a difficulty of daily life. The subject is wide open. Twitchers, start your engines... |
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Definitely do not feel comfortable when driving, ESPECIALLY when I'm changing lanes. I look out the mirror, then I turn my head, and oftentimes I do this more than once. It makes me a bit dizzy when doing so, but I am so afraid I'm going to miss something. So far, no accidents, thankfully. |
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From Annie: Driving was the single worst thing about SOM and definitely among the top three reasons I fianlly opted for surgery. (The other two being inability to do anything resembling close work, and general clumsiness and weaving and wobbling around.) I no longer felt I could put my two precious granddaughters in the car and go out and do "Gramma" stuff. Driving the two and a half hours to visit my mom became something to be dreaded. I could get into the car, think things were going to be OK that day, and within minutes, the SOM would kick into high gear and make things very unsafe for me--and God help the innocent people around me who had no idea that a person with a raging, wonking eye was on the road with them. I am SO GLAD that's in the past. It was the pits. All I could do was wear sunglasses, pull the visors down as far as they would go to eliminate sunlight streaming in, and close one eye until I needed to take a peek to the right. I would always hope for a cloudy day when I had to go any distance. Secretly, I knew I should not be out there at all. I can't think of one positive thing to say about SOM and driving a car. Not one. |
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That is very interesting that you mention wearing sunglasses and putting the visor down. I always do that, and have a tough time if my sunglasses are not available. I hadn't put the SOM and the light sentitivty together though. The light thing doesn't seem to bother me the same way when I'm not driving. |
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