Is Long Covid limiting your ability to drive?

Posted by cyclones30 @cyclones30, Jan 10, 2022

I've had a lot of head issues since April 2020 when they think I had Covid and didn't know it. (never got tested then since it was early in the game) Vision issues that have since gone away, daily headaches and tingling scalp, numb spot on top of my head, and all get worse if I drive. Anyone else experience anything similar?

When I'm feeling a little better I can drive 15 min to an hour one way and get by. When my head is not having it...I can't go 10 min. This makes it a HUGE pain for just about anything. (groceries, work, hobbies, visiting family/friends, etc)

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Yes, I can no longer drive. Turning my head from side to side, makes me really dizzy and I don’t think it would be safe for me or anyone else. Long Covid stinks!

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@kdgnteacher

I've had Long Covid for almost 3 years now and it was absolutely terrifying to drive for the longest time. Fortunately, it has gotten better. There was a time that I got in my car and I literally couldn't remember how to start it. Also, I stared at my whole dashboard for about 10 minutes trying to figure out how to turn on the windshield wipers.

My first anxiety attack was when I was trying to get some place and I literally didn't know where I was. I pulled over on the side of the highway absolutely panicked. There were so many times that I went to places that I've been going to for years and I couldn't remember how to get home, thank goodness for GPS! When I would pull into my driveway, the GPS lady would say "Welcome home!" I cried the first time I heard it because I was so relieved to be home safely!

I almost got into so many accidents because of the stupid things I was doing. It was so difficult driving let alone watching out for other people.

I'm so thankful that I'm retired and I really don't have to drive too many places.

Hang in there everyone, it will get better!

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I haven't been able to drive since I had covid a year ago. Beyond brain fog and constant anxiety, I am very "jumpy", so I don't trust how I would react to (for example) being cut off in traffic. My advantage is that I live in NYC and can get to almost anywhere I need to without driving.

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@marcslifer

I haven't been able to drive since I had covid a year ago. Beyond brain fog and constant anxiety, I am very "jumpy", so I don't trust how I would react to (for example) being cut off in traffic. My advantage is that I live in NYC and can get to almost anywhere I need to without driving.

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It is so hard to drive and look out for other people at the same time! Another thing that I would do is put my car in drive instead of reverse when I was backing out out of a parking space! Thank goodness I was able to slam on the breaks before I would hit the car in front of me. I began to park really far away where there were hardly any cars or park where there were 2 adjacent spots and pull through so all I had to do was drive forward. I would then be afraid that I would put my car in reverse instead of drive, but luckily I never did that! I'm glad for your sake that you live in NYC where you can walk most places.

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I talk outloud to myself, like a driver's ed coach...." there is a stop sign coming up, car passing you, you're going to need to get into the turn lane at the next light", etc.etc.
Keeps me totally focused. No radio or distracting thoughts allowed. No sightseeing.....No singing either. I keep my eyes constantly alert. Relaxing is saved for when I reach my destination.

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There was a time a few months ago where I couldn't drive at all, or even ride in a car. It was too overstimulating neurologically somehow (I'm 35 and was healthy so this shouldn't be the case). Now I can drive short distances, but not further than 30 mins at a time. And if it's 30 mins out to someplace and 30 mins back, I am dead for the rest of the day. It's a real problem. I haven't been able to leave further than an hour or two drive from my house in over 2 years.
Do you get the same problems when you hang out with people too much? I can't be social for too long or I get the same shortness of breath/fatigue/swelling that I get if I drive too far. There's definitely something neuro going on that I'm trying to get to the bottom of.

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@longcovidcelsi

There was a time a few months ago where I couldn't drive at all, or even ride in a car. It was too overstimulating neurologically somehow (I'm 35 and was healthy so this shouldn't be the case). Now I can drive short distances, but not further than 30 mins at a time. And if it's 30 mins out to someplace and 30 mins back, I am dead for the rest of the day. It's a real problem. I haven't been able to leave further than an hour or two drive from my house in over 2 years.
Do you get the same problems when you hang out with people too much? I can't be social for too long or I get the same shortness of breath/fatigue/swelling that I get if I drive too far. There's definitely something neuro going on that I'm trying to get to the bottom of.

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I saw a neurologist associated with my long covid clinic a couple of months ago. H told me he's been seeing a lot of long covid patients with similar symptoms (brain fog, hand tremors, etc.) to mine. He also said that, if it made me feel better, he could order a lot of tests, but he could almost guarantee that they would all come back "normal". The only viable theory I've heard (so far) is that the virus led to micro clots that block capillaries reducing blood flow to various organs (including the brain).

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@marcslifer

I saw a neurologist associated with my long covid clinic a couple of months ago. H told me he's been seeing a lot of long covid patients with similar symptoms (brain fog, hand tremors, etc.) to mine. He also said that, if it made me feel better, he could order a lot of tests, but he could almost guarantee that they would all come back "normal". The only viable theory I've heard (so far) is that the virus led to micro clots that block capillaries reducing blood flow to various organs (including the brain).

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That’s what I’ve heard too. Trying anything for the microclots? I try over the counter anticoagulants like niacin, beet juice, and dandelion. The hyperbaric chamber helps with that too. In fact, they were monitoring my d-dimer because it was oddly elevated when I started mild hyperbaric therapy. All of a sudden d-dimer was through the roof and my doc panicked and ordered all the clotting tests right away. Oddly, no elevated clot values were found and everything else was fine. She hypothesized that the hyoerbaric chamber was breaking some of the microclots down. The microclots couldn’t be detected, but the byproduct of their decay could be. But who knows. The number of “normal” tests I’ve gotten back despite heart attack symptoms and the inability to walk further than a short way down my driveway is impressive. They even had me see a therapist to be analyzed for anxiety/depression. Also negative 😂😂.

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@longcovidcelsi

There was a time a few months ago where I couldn't drive at all, or even ride in a car. It was too overstimulating neurologically somehow (I'm 35 and was healthy so this shouldn't be the case). Now I can drive short distances, but not further than 30 mins at a time. And if it's 30 mins out to someplace and 30 mins back, I am dead for the rest of the day. It's a real problem. I haven't been able to leave further than an hour or two drive from my house in over 2 years.
Do you get the same problems when you hang out with people too much? I can't be social for too long or I get the same shortness of breath/fatigue/swelling that I get if I drive too far. There's definitely something neuro going on that I'm trying to get to the bottom of.

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Yes— I do. I take class online, and for awhile I would be unable to deal after 20min. I have also learned that soc stim leads me to syncope. I went into a grocery store and the colors, sounds, people… had to leave.

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You might consider taking palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) dietary supplement for the neuroinflammation that is likely causing the overstimulation response. It was recommended for this purpose to our Facebook group by a famous Danish physician who maintains a clinic for people with vaccine injuries. The benefit of PEA is subtle and accrues over time. It has a good safety record.

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@longcovidcelsi

That’s what I’ve heard too. Trying anything for the microclots? I try over the counter anticoagulants like niacin, beet juice, and dandelion. The hyperbaric chamber helps with that too. In fact, they were monitoring my d-dimer because it was oddly elevated when I started mild hyperbaric therapy. All of a sudden d-dimer was through the roof and my doc panicked and ordered all the clotting tests right away. Oddly, no elevated clot values were found and everything else was fine. She hypothesized that the hyoerbaric chamber was breaking some of the microclots down. The microclots couldn’t be detected, but the byproduct of their decay could be. But who knows. The number of “normal” tests I’ve gotten back despite heart attack symptoms and the inability to walk further than a short way down my driveway is impressive. They even had me see a therapist to be analyzed for anxiety/depression. Also negative 😂😂.

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I've been on a blood thinner (eliquis) for years. Apparently none of them work on micro clots.

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