To be getting worried about drowsiness when driving - help!

[Llamasally]

I’m off on maternity leave at the moment, due back early next year and am getting more and more anxious about this problem.

I get in the car, particularly in the morning, and immediately begin feeling drowsy and sleepy. It’s like someone is physically pulling my eyelids down and I’m fighting to keep them open. I then find it hard to focus on the road and my eyes seem to be wavering all over the place. The odd thing is, this only happens when I’m driving. If I’m doing anything else, or a passenger, I’m fine. I’ve tried all the usual things - aircon on cold, windows open, coffee, music.

I have obviously been very severely limiting my driving lately because of this and am managing ok, albeit boring being at home pretty much all the time in the week. I live very rurally, really can’t do anything without a drive. However I’m due back to work next year and have a long commute. Public transport is not an option. I’m getting really worried about what I’m going to do.

What could this be?? How can I fix it? I’m also scared to go to the Doctor in case I’m (rightly) then legally not allowed to drive. From a friends experience once you get this on record it causes problems for a very long time, even when the issue is resolved.

Help!

Are you exhausted from lack of sleep generally?

Could you book some lessons with a driving instructor in a car with dual controls? It sounds quite dangerous to have this drowsiness/inattention, but perhaps trying it in a safe environment will help you assess the situation more?

have you been checked for diabetes?

Hi OP, you said you are fine as a passenger, do you mean in the same car or a different one?
My biggest worry is that you are getting Carbon Monoxide poisoning from something going wrong in your car (maybe a leak from the exhaust system that is escaping into the drivers side somehow?). So my first port of call would be to a car mechanic that I trust, and get the car thoroughly checked - if you have to drive to the mechanic drive with all your car windows wide open, however cold it may be outside. Please do not drive anywhere else in it until it has been checked.

If the car is fine, and you are fine in every other way, and at all other times except for when you have to drive the car, then it sounds like it could be a quite unusual mental health problem connected to you driving a/this car. If, however, you always get these symptoms at a particular time of day, or after a particular activity (you may need to keep a detailed diary for a short time to see if any pattern shows up), then if you cannot easily understand the problem, or cannot affect the remedy yourself I think that for your sake, your loved ones sakes, and any members of the public who may be injured through your actions, you must bight the bullet and see/talk to your Dr.
I hope this gets sorted easily and quickly for you OP.

@FabricedeSauveterre I’m generally tired but no more than the average parent I’d say, I get a decent amount of sleep and don’t fall asleep in other situations

@ThinWomansBrain not specifically, why do you ask?

@Namenic that might not be a bad idea. Would be interesting to see if it happens in another car.

@HeartvsBrain when I’m a passenger in the same car, so I dont think it can be that. Other people drive my car too and don’t have any problems. I know it’s serious, it’s worrying me. If I can find some answer before going to the GP that would be ideal but I know I’ll have to get medical attention if not. Bit of a weird thing to go to them with!! Maybe they would refer to a sleep clinic…

Could you possibly have sleep apnea?

@Rangoon how would I know if I have? Don’t really know anything about that - better go and do some googling

please do get this sorted out. I fell asleep whilst driving on the M5 and it wasn't a nice experience. Fortunately I was OK and no one else was involved - but it could have been so different

Hi OP have you thought about going to an optician? It might be something to do with your eyes? I know you say you feel tired but it's worth looking at other options. Don't worry about them saying you can't drive, they would only do that if you had a really serious problem - and if you do, then it's best not to drive anyway isn't it. If they rule eye problems out, you can go to the GP.

Agree with getting your eyes checked.

I've had this, I had to read something for work and everytime I did I would feel exhausted, my eyes would start to close, I couldn't function. The moment I stopped and read anything else I was fine. Mine was a mind issue, I didn't want to read it because I was scared about what it would entail, I was already struggling with work load and this could have increased it. Could you be scared of the responsibility of driving now you are a parent?

sorry - should have explained - 4am inattention!

I used to get really drowsy driving home from my Dads, and often my eyesight would be foggyish, not quite right & hard to focus. It was only about an hour and a halfs drive, only that journey, rarley anywhere else, & never on the drive up.
I used to go up, take him to lunch, stay and chat for a bit, often have tea and cake before leaving.
It go so bad I'd need to stop on the way home - usually a cup of tea in the supermarket cafe.
SHortly after that I was diagnosed as prediabetic, I think it was sugar spikes causing the drowsiness.
Given that you're pregnant, it may be worth asking to be tested for gestational diabetes.

Would echo ThinWomansBrain in getting checked for diabetes, high blood glucose makes me very drowsy. I'd also get ferratin/iron levels checked for anaemia, I kept falling asleep at work when I was bad with it and it's just like you describe, really hard to resist.

Please go to the doctor. You are obliged to report anything like this that might affect your driving. It's better to be suspended because you voluntarily sought help than to be imprisoned because you fell asleep and killed someone. Remember the Selby rail crash, where a drowsy driver fell asleep, crashed their car onto a railway line and killed ten people.

For a simple solution I found chewing gum helps (not for blood sugar as mine's sugar free but the act of chewing it keeps me alert).

Thanks @ThinWomansBrain, that might be worth checking out as I do suffer in general from quite severe sugar crashes.

@MorningStarling I understand this could be very serious, which is why I’m not driving at the moment. I just wanted to see if I could solve it before going to the GP. If I can’t that’s a bridge I’ll just have to cross :( but I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt someone or something happened to the kids because of it

I'm not sure why, but this happened to me when my children were small and I was getting disturbed sleep. I really had to concentrate when driving as it felt like I could drop off to sleep any second. Like you it was only in the car.

I didn't have to drive very often so never went to the GP or anything, and it did eventually get better (once they started sleeping!)

Very sensible to check in with the GP though, I probably should have just to be sure.

I think its optical. I know its only when driving but it probably requires the most eye concentration from you at the moment because your on maternity. I bet when you go back to work you will find it a problem when your on a computer (obviously if you use one). Pregnancy can change the eyes of have heard. Well it changes all sorts dosnt it.

I know this because I was born with an eye condition and I get extremely tired when focusing my eye, such as when reading stuff online or driving. It can be sorted with the right glasses.

Sorry for typos. Hope it makes sense. I don't have my glasses on

hope you get to the bottom of what is causing it :}