posted
I know there are others who take Ativan or Klonpin or strong pain meds. Just a reminder that these meds can slow down your reaction time.
Hubby totaled the car today. It was a 1994 Geo Prism with 200,000 miles on it but it is still a great financial loss. He rear-ended an SUV at a stoplight. Knew the light was red and saw the stopped SUV. I was not in the car at the time.
From the skid marks it looks like hubby just did not brake soon enough even though he was going uphill at the time. This is the first time hubby has ever been in an auto accident -- he just got new bifocals a couple of weeks ago so don't think it is a vision problem.
The only other possibility is that his right leg (braking leg) is much weaker than we realized. His tremors have always been worse in his left arm and right leg.
I thought it was safe to let him drive a couple of miles to Biscuitville for his oatmeal while I slept in an extra 15 minutes. I ended up walking 3 1/2 miles in the sun to get to the hospital ER -- taxi never showed up and the policeman I tried to flag down on patrol just waved at me. Finally got a ride the last 1/2 mile.
Hubby was not really hurt -- just some abrasions on his neck and chin and abrasions and a bad bruise on his left arm from the airbags deploying. He didn't really fall apart symptom-wise until after I got him home.
Even sadder than the fact that we had dropped collision insurance a couple of years ago is the fact that I had the air conditioner replaced while hubby was in the hospital. Had thought we could hang onto the car another year as it was in good repair.
Hubby was not any more medicated than usual, but he had only been out of the hospital for 3 days and this was the first time he had driven in 3 weeks. Looks like I will be doing all the driving for awhile anyway and he will lose that freedom for now.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Oh, Bea,
My heart aches when I read what you and hubby go through, time after time.
I'm glad that your hubby's injuries do not sound too bad, but I'm sorry about your car. More than that, is just the stress of dealing with more trauma in your life.
I pray that the person in the other car will be reasonable. I have been in car accidents pre-Lyme, where I was the victim, but in one got slammed into a car in front of me, and in one case did have to get a lawyer to get my medical bills paid.
I purposely don't take any of meds like that during the day, but your warning is a good one.
Please let us know what happens and know you can count on your Lymenet family for prayers.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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LisaS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10581
posted
Sorry to hear about the accident. But glad hubby is okay. It's a scary thing that us Lymies are all out there driving. I have a couple dents on my car from a phone pole I've hit twice now right in back of my driveway. But just glad he's okay!
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Bea, I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm glad your husband wasn't seriously injured, and I hope the people in the other car were okay.
Thank goodness for airbags.
Carol
Posts: 6950 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
uffda bea/hubby; so sorry to hear of the accident but glad hubby is ok! but the loss of your dependable car is gone. you 2 have traveled all over the usa getting lyme care for your DH.
boy, you've got a lightning storm overhead, and it just refuses to go away to another area.
may it break for good, you see a rainbow, and collect on the pot of gold .... it's about time for GOOD NEWS ONLY for the Siebert family.
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sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
Bea, in ways that completely transcend the tiny world of Lyme, you truly are an inspiration of how to deal with adversity with great grace and courage.
I firmly believe that as you sow, so shall you reap. Better times will be yours.
Huge hugs and many prayers to you and you husband.
love, dilly
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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MagicAcorn
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8786
posted
Oh Bea, I am glad your husband wasn't hurt.
I hope things turn around for the two of you soon.
randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
bea, i am so sorry. glad he was not seriously hurt.
my hubbie has started to show problems driving too. and he simply won't listen to me!!! now i wonder why that is??? LOL...
no seriously, anymore, i offer to drive my car. i'm afraid to let him drive it. it's a 2004 Honda Accord which i really like and i don't want to see it totalled, but after yesterday, it's scary.
think i'll drive all of the time.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I can so sympathize Bea! I totalled my very old car a few months ago by rear ending another car at a merge. It was my first accident in 30 years of driving.
No one was hurt, but because my car is so old my insurance company totalled it and it cost me more than $3,000 to have it fixed, which seemed better than buying a new car that I can't afford, either.
I had had an episode at work where I suddenly couldn't stay awake, but thought I had come out of it enough to drive home. Bad judgment. I didn't fall asleep in the car, but was so spaced out I just didn't look forward after checking the traffic coming from behind quickly enough before accelerating, and the car in front of me hadn't moved, as I assumed it would.
Because I have a high traffic urban commute, I'm scared of driving now. Because of that, and feeling so awful in general, I'm basically working from home and driving as little as possible, but I'm not sure how long I can get away with it.
All my best to hubby....I hope he's recovering and will be able to drive again soon!
monkeyshines
Posts: 343 | From Northern VA | Registered: Oct 2004
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