Hi, Need to know if anyone else has faced a similar situation.
I am 59 and was diagnosed with PD about 3 years ago. I have been on medication since and function as I normally would but face the normal shake rattle and roll. I still work and I help with the household chores as well and try my best to keep business.
However, on Saturday I did something which was totally out of character, I went to the salon to get my hair cut and was parked on an incline facing downhill, there was one vehicle parked in front of me with about a 5 foot gap. I got into my car which has an automatic transmission and being old school I pulled the handbrake and instead of sliding the selector to R I pushed it into drive and smashed into the car in front For the life of me I cannot explain why i did that Has anyone else experienced this, or something similar?
Please let me know, because my wife wants me to stop driving (she voiced this out a few months ago stating that I was not driving as smoothly and carefully as before)
Looking forward to your replies.
Hi Lenski. I sympathise with you. Have you spoken to your Parkinsons nurse or consultant? Sometimes the meds can have “interesting” side effects. I had an episode 2 years ago that they thought was due to pramipexole. They reduced the dose and so far I’ve been fine ever since. You could also call the PUK team and see what they can suggest. N
@NeilT Thank you very much for your reply. I live in Sri Lanka we do not have PD Nurses but I visit my Neurologist every 5-6 months if I think I need to adjust the dosage. I take Sindopa Plus, 3 times a day 175mg in the Morning and 150 mg after lunch and dinner. You are right about the side effects of overdosing, the last time the Doctor increased my dosage I started bobbing my head so he reduced it an all went back to normal.
Hi, I have had Parkinson’s for about seven years, I don’t drive because I have problems I bang my arms on the doors going through my spacial awareness is out but I also do things in reverse, ie turn to put things in the cupboard on opposite side also turn cooker knob on other side of oven to what I am trying to do.
Hi NeilT i had to have my Driving Licence reviewed and it was not DVLA who took there time, I first phoned DVLA to ask where my licence was, they said that they had not received it, went back to my consultant’s secretary yes it was in the pile but she for gotten to put it with the others, my insurnce says I can drive if my GP says I 'm ok, not to Call my GP but how many are going to say your OK to drive if you have not seen yopur consutant, and if you can get in to see s GP you have won the Lottery, Still waiting to hear from DVLA so another Phone consultant on holiday then the seretary was on holiday it was 6 months brfore my Liecnce came back, by then I had lost all my confidence to drive. Seeing as I am getting on in years it does not bother me too much, it would if i was younger. I think in your case like in mine I have been driving since I was 20 years old and yes i miss it. What though if due to our PD we hit or knocked a child down, you would never forgive your self.
My local PUK group and my PD nurse have arranged some classes with a specialist which they offer to sufferers. I spend 1 hour a week doing exercises to manage and hopefully prevent falls, and 2 hours a week in our Power group. This is loosely based around the other exercise session with a few exercises that are similar to the PD Warrior exercises included. Really useful. See what your local group offer.
Hi Mary1947, all valid points, especially the last one. At the end of the day, we have to live with our actions. I hope I have the courage to know when it is time to stop driving.
