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Long covid and driving phobias

Posted by kmoehl @kmoehl, Jul 28 4:05pm

Hello all. I got Covid in March 2020 and since then have had major brain issues such as fogginess, light sensitivity, focus issues, and increased anxiety. One of the major issues that I have found is a I cannot drive long distances and get very panicked when I am asked to do so. I’m wondering if anybody has heard of any treatments or medication‘s that have helped with this process and undoing my current symptoms

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dawg | @dawg | Aug 1 8:38am

I had my first LC crash after driving several hours on a road trip before I realized I had LC. I thought I was just getting over fatigue from my recent (2nd) Covid bout. My first Covid infection in 2021 (hospitalized) pretty much cleared about a month after I got out of hospital-with fatigue getting a little better each day. Not so with recent infection (Jan 2024). I continued with planned road trip figuring fatigue would improve. Second day of road trip I ended up in an ER thinking I might be having a heart attack. Nope, welcome to LC. This was likely PEM resulting from driving 7 hours down I-95 and concentrating on the 50 things you have to always be aware of as you’re traveling down an interstate at 70 MPH. Now into my 6th month of LC, I occasionally drive 1-2 miles to get a haircut or hit an ATM, but for most trips to doctor, massage, etc., I Uber. I live in traffic heavy Northern Virginia, so every trip requires you to be on alert which can overload your brain/body. So bottom line, I don’t think this is any kind of phobia, I think driving takes a lot of mental energy which can hit you just as hard as other physical activities.

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1 reply
kmoehl | @kmoehl | Aug 2 11:09am
In reply to @dawg "I had my first LC crash after driving several hours on a road trip before I..." + (show)
@dawg

I had my first LC crash after driving several hours on a road trip before I realized I had LC. I thought I was just getting over fatigue from my recent (2nd) Covid bout. My first Covid infection in 2021 (hospitalized) pretty much cleared about a month after I got out of hospital-with fatigue getting a little better each day. Not so with recent infection (Jan 2024). I continued with planned road trip figuring fatigue would improve. Second day of road trip I ended up in an ER thinking I might be having a heart attack. Nope, welcome to LC. This was likely PEM resulting from driving 7 hours down I-95 and concentrating on the 50 things you have to always be aware of as you’re traveling down an interstate at 70 MPH. Now into my 6th month of LC, I occasionally drive 1-2 miles to get a haircut or hit an ATM, but for most trips to doctor, massage, etc., I Uber. I live in traffic heavy Northern Virginia, so every trip requires you to be on alert which can overload your brain/body. So bottom line, I don’t think this is any kind of phobia, I think driving takes a lot of mental energy which can hit you just as hard as other physical activities.

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I appreciate this.

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monarchbfly | @monarchbfly | Aug 7 8:49pm

I had anxiety when driving. Then I realized it started after I went through menopause. I started hormone replacement therapy and all of my anxiety is gone (Duavee).

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dloos | @dloos | Aug 8 11:58am

After having Covid in 2022 I have gradually lost the ability to see or hear well enough to feel confident driving.
Just another Long Covid gift.
I did manage to renew my drivers license because hope springs eternal.

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