Driving With Fibromyalgia

Driving with Fibromyalgia can be quite painful as we know, from uncomfortable seats, staying in one position for too long, and just the plain stress of driving.  I just read an article which is posted and quoted below about driving with Fibromyalgia.  It was part of an article about 4 common things that are easy for most, but not for us.  As a mom of 3 very active boys, doing some contracting work for a dental equipment repair business, and a direct sales consultant I do spend a lot of time in our van.

One day out visiting dental offices or running the boys from one field to another with a possibility of another town thrown in really can make me hurt.  It hurts to sit too long, especially behind the wheel when you can't even wiggle around some.  Then having your arms up to hold the wheel cause neck, arm and upper back pain.  Then the stress of people cutting you off, getting behind schedule because of a tractor (We live in the country.), now major construction project through our small town, not to count the issues of visiting the larger towns around when needed.  I have just read something I never thought of Fibromyalgia to cause.

As you will see in excerpt from About.com below it is talking about Fibro Fog and driving.  Forgetting where you are going, forgetting how to get somewhere, in bad cases disorientation.  Fortunately I am not to the point where I feel I am an unsafe driver, but I do sometimes find myself not paying attention maybe as well as I should whether the boys are with me or not.  I sometimes forget the area I just drove through and think "wow, how did I get here?".  Those kind of  things are scary to say the least.  I never related it to my Fibromyalgia, but it made so much sense to me as I was reading.  Even medications we take can make us a bit out of it and affect our driving.

Now I have realized this I feel it will make me a stronger driver.  I will make sure I am more aware, not drive as much if possible when having a bad day physically because that will affect how we react, pay attention, and just driving in general.  I haul very precious cargo many times that I am driving called Nicholas, Jacob, and Caleb.  Edward too.  Nothing would be worse then hurting them or someone else because I was out of it.  I am pledging to look at myself more seriously as a Fibro Driver and hope you do as well.  Read the clip below for full information I read and I hope it helps you be safe and protect those around you.

Driving
Brain fog can be a major problem when you're behind the wheel. Some of us periodically forget where we're going or how to get there. Even worse, we may become disoriented and not know where we are.
It's scary when this happens and can lead to an anxiety attack, which makes the situation even worse and can increase other symptoms.
Some of us also have trouble paying attention to the myriad things that we need to while driving. We may not be able to process all the necessary information to be safe on the road.
A small fraction of people with these illnesses stops driving completely. Some may have to limit their driving to familiar places, while others are okay most of the time but choose not to drive on especially bad days. It's a personal decision, but one that we need to be aware of to protect ourselves and others.

As you evaluate your driving ability, it may help to get input from friends and family members who've ridden with you, as they may have noticed things you didn't.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/a/4-Things-Its-Hard-To-Do-With-Fibromyalgia-And-Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome.htm?nl=1

A few tips I think would be helpful for us are driving only when rested.  Also if you have a long drive, stop frequently, get out and stretch.  One thing on my van I never had before is heated seats.  This is great in the cold or on a painful day that I have to be out.  Also in cold warm your vehicle up, in the hot weather start it with the air on so you don't have extreme temperatures that will make you hurt.  Keep distractions to a minimum (good for all people), turn off cell or ignore it even with a headset, keep radio low or off especially if you have others in the car.  I know too much noise driving or riding in a car makes me really irritable..  Irritability causes road rage and stress.  We don't need that.  Just a little input from me to keep us safe.  Please comment if you have a safe or comfortable driving tip.

Paleo Diet Ok'd by Doctor

Today was another doctor's visit.  I went in as a follow up to twitching and the medicine another put me on when my primary was out of town.  Nothing new to report really.  My doctor wants to give me another month to let the medicine work to its fullest potential and see if it is making me tired as I have been having a really bad bout of the sleepy times this week.  Worse then ever.  Could be the medicine, but at the dose it shouldn't be but we all know we all react differently to medicines.

The main theory is that I am still coming off the stress of extra people in the house, even though I did not feel that much stress, the doctors say it is very stressful as routines are changed and we had the stress of helping support them.  Now we are struggling a bit as we catch up and things are breaking, but we will be OK there, just the way life is for everyone.

I am reading up on diets for Fibromyalgia and hoping to get at least myself and hopefully the family to follow on eating in a healthful way.  I know dinner is no option for them if I do the cooking, but would like them to follow a plan to eat better all the time too.  Right now I am in the middle of reading the "Paleo Diet" book that was recommended to be by a friend when I said I wanted to start eating more cleanly.  I had the book with me at the doctor's office today hoping to get in some reading time.  My doctor saw it and told me it was a very good idea and can't really hurt to try.

As we discussed the so called caveman diet, I brought up reading about going Gluten-Free.  He also said that is worth a try.  So I think my goal is to finish reading the book by the weekend, get groceries to support this lifestyle and give it a whirl.  I don't think I have much to lose except a lot of weight and maybe some pain.  That is my hope.  If it makes me feel better it will be much easier to stick to.  I am sure I will have splurges, but they will need to be calculated.

With spring coming I need to start feeling better as our nights will be filled with baseball games and practice, along with a lot of running around.  That on top of my Sales Representative position with Everley Dental Equipment Repair, LLC, and my home based business with Lindt Chocolate R.S.V.P. I need to have more energy and less pain.  I hope a better eating plan will help.

I also know I need the exercise.  I really want to try yoga and I found a place close by that is 2 times per week, but with baseball and Ed's schedule not sure I can do now, but I think I am going to try to start walking with our dog.  He needs to lose weight too since he is sneaking into the cats food.  I may just start with up and down our private drive and work up from there.  A start is a start and it should be small as not to flare.  Many think oh it is a good day I will do as much as I can instead of pacing themselves.  All that does is backfires and makes you down for a longer time.  Set small goals daily, do them, then rest.

So today I have learned eating better like we did thousands of years ago is a good thing, and that stress reduction in all lives is necessary.  Even if you don't feel stress in our society you are.  Some handle it better then others so never judge a person until you have lived it.