Driving impaired
@GardenGerty (169479)
United States
October 22, 2015 3:30pm CST
Yep, that describes me coming back from taking my sister to an appointment and shopping.
Nope, I had not imbibed any substance to make me that way. I just am awfully sleepy.
I think I drank too much tea at supper last night, cause I surely did not sleep well.
I nearly fell asleep in the waiting room waiting for my sister.
We went to lunch, and to Wal Mart to get her a vacuum. I put it together. I left there and went to another store for everything I forgot.
I headed for home. And got very drowsy again. So much so that I ran across the middle line but it had rumble strips and so it woke me up. I feel really lucky to be at home. I am drinking coffee. I may take a nap.
They say that being short of sleep impairs drivers, and pilots as much as alcohol or drugs will.
So get enough sleep so that you drive safely, Okay?
22 people like this
24 responses
@yukimori (10192)
• United States
22 Oct 15
Yikes! I'm glad that you made it home safe and sound!
I really don't have any choice but to get enough sleep at night. My pain levels skyrocket if I don't. I've had some days where I felt like someone had attached huge weights to my eyelids and I couldn't keep them open for anything.
It's definitely a scary thing when that feeling hits while you're doing something like driving. 
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
22 Oct 15
Part of what disturbed my sleep last night was I had quite a bit of pain. What I have been taking has started to hurt my stomach.
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10192)
• United States
22 Oct 15
@GardenGerty It really stinks when what they give you starts doing things like that. Especially if it's been helping. 
I've found that peppermint oil seems to really help my pain at night. I've added it to baths and just rubbed a bit on my skin. It makes me smell like I just had a candy cane factory explode on me, but seems to improve my sleep on the nights I use it.
Have you ever found that an acute injury improves the widespread pain? It's something I've been noticing lately. Even the round of injection therapy I just had a few days ago helped while the injection site was really sore.
I've found that peppermint oil seems to really help my pain at night. I've added it to baths and just rubbed a bit on my skin. It makes me smell like I just had a candy cane factory explode on me, but seems to improve my sleep on the nights I use it.
Have you ever found that an acute injury improves the widespread pain? It's something I've been noticing lately. Even the round of injection therapy I just had a few days ago helped while the injection site was really sore.2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
23 Oct 15
Me too. I think the weather was changing and that combined with lack of sleep is really hard.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Oct 15
@GardenGerty I agree. The weather plays havoc with us in a lot of ways, not just the aches and pains in our joints.
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
22 Oct 15
I always try to sleep enough
Glad you are ok and all is fine now but be very careful next time hun
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
23 Oct 15
I surely plan on getting more sleep. I just felt wide awake the whole time I was in bed last night.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
22 Oct 15
Either that or I will go to bed early tonight.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
23 Oct 15
@Marcyaz I will not be driving anywhere tomorrow and can even get a nap if I choose to.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
22 Oct 15
@GardenGerty
Do get enough sleep so if you have to go and drive tomorrow you won't be so sleepy.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
23 Oct 15
Coffee was hours ago. I did not overeat, and I am just waiting to clear a few more swagbucks before bed.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
22 Oct 15
Ha haa glad you got home safe,a nap will take it away but with coffee will you be able to sleep? I thought coffee makes one not to sleep
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
22 Oct 15
One cup will not keep me from sleeping tonight. It is still fairly early. I do try to be careful.
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
22 Oct 15
@GardenGerty Mmmh sure one is not much
1 person likes this
@Samanthavv (1380)
• United States
23 Oct 15
Absolutely. Impaired driving is impaired driving, it doesn't after if you're drunk, high or just flat out exhausted. If you can't drive safely, you shouldn't be behind the wheel. I'm willing to bet a large number of accidents are due to sleepiness. I am so glad you're okay but don't do it again.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Oct 15
I've only ever been that tired while driving once before. It was many years ago. I had driven 4 hours to go to a concert, and it was while making the 4 hour drive home, same day, after the concert that I came fairly close to falling asleep a few times. Thankfully I made it home okay without any problems.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
23 Oct 15
I should. I did not drink anything caffeinated after about two. I was in some pain last night as well.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
23 Oct 15
It never bothered me when younger, but now if I dont get enough sleep..I am deadly lolz..so happy you got home safe GG. Hope you get some good solid sleep soon.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
22 Oct 15
Be careful . It is a blessing that you made it home.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
23 Oct 15
mercy sakes, hon! thank goodness ya made it home safe 'n sound, not doin' harm to yerself nor others. i don't drive when i'm impaired, either by lack'f sleep 'r weird health hiccups. 'tis a huge responsibility to get 'hind the wheel...
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
23 Oct 15
If my husband is driving late at night I keep talking to him just to make sure he is still on the job. I would avoid driving if I were very tired because, like you, I can fall asleep just like that! Sometimes I do it with a cup of tea in my hand and it is still there when I wake up.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
23 Oct 15
Driving like that is dangerous to you and all around you.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Oct 15
I read once that driving sleepy can be worse than driving drunk
@Marilynda1225 (91129)
• United States
22 Oct 15
Driving when you're tired can be as bad as driving drunk. Hope the coffee works it's magic and you get your energy back
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
23 Oct 15
I used to hate my drive to a job I had @GardenGerty . 2 hours up; a 10 hour shift and 2 hours home. At first I would drift off with only 20 miles left, then it was 45 miles. Finally when I realized I had been sound asleep for a solid 2 miles, I quit that job after 7 years. I think after all that time the drive was coded into my brain and I just went into auto-pilot. There was 1 time I awoke in time to see the back end of a semi very close up and another where I awoke just prior to going off a 30-foot embankment.
