i have fallen asleep at the wheel more then once. thank-god someone was following me and she knew that i had narco. for me it's pretty scary driving. i was once told that i blacked out and i was driving the van. well my van keys are put up. i don't drive that much anymore. i'm afraid to get behind the wheel. i wouldn't mind if they took my licence away. i wouldn't want to fall asleep and hurt someone.

Rather than start a new discussion, I just wanted to add on to this one. When I was younger, almost 10 years ago I fell asleep multiple times while driving. I never had an accident, but I would get honked at and it would wake me up. Now that I know I have N, my biggest phobia is having a car accident.

I haven't fallen asleep that I know of since then, but my boyfriend suspects once last year I did and he woke me before I knew it happened. Lately I have noticed when I drive, even short trips, I have a hard time doing the speed limit. Like I'm just too tired to go faster or something. I also find my eyes want to stare straight ahead and it is hard to focus my attention to the side. It is easier to move my whole head than my eyes. But to move anything takes determination. Do you think I am having sleep attacks or micro naps or AB while driving? Or does it just sound like I am successfully fighting sleep? I drive as little as possible already, but have been talking with my boyfriend about whether I should really be driving at all.

To me, it sounds like AB. It was the first symptom that I really noticed as an issue, and for the same reasons.I'd be driving somewhere new and get there without remembering how, or I'd "come to" because someone would honk at me for stopping at a greenlight or slowing in the passing lane. I never was actually asleep, I thought I was awake and aware, but I'd have a sudden, overwhelming exhaustion, not exactly sleepy, but hard to focus my eyes. I often slurred when it was coming on. I wouldnt realize how out of it I was until it was over. I also would hallucinate that cars in front of me were driving in the wrong direction.

I never had an accident, but have come far too close a few times. Now I rarely drive further than 20 minutes, avoid driving before 10am, and always load up on stimulants or caffeine. It's really a matter of how controlled you think your N is.

I think I've had N for a long time. I remember when I was 8 mos. pregnant with my daughter, I worked 11-7 shift at the hospital. I would go out to my car in the morning and wake up 45 mins. later sleeping inthe car in the parking lot. I blamed it on being pregnant. I also fidget when I feel sleepiness coming on, I'll bounce my knee while driving until I can find a place safe to pull over. When I take my meds promptly and get my nap I seem to be able to m aintain myself.

As honestly as I can answer this question, when I get a drowsy attack of the sleeps, I can stay awake. However the driving experience feels passive, like I'm not taking an active part in it. And that's when I know to stop pull over and sort myself out.

I've had my driving license revoked by the DVLA, I'm in England and will now hoave to wait until my doctors can prove the condition is under control to be able to re-apply for it. I don;t yet have a diagnosis of Narcolepsy, which is so frustrating because I can;t access treatments that will help, yet.

There is a divice that fits behind the ear, and an alarm goes off if your head falls down. I bought it in a hospital drug store.

While that sort of thing is neat, and certainly has it's place, when you are driving, even that alarm is not fast enough to prevent tragedy. The space you cover in less than a second is incredible, and depending on what kind of attack you are actually experiencing, you may not be aware and reflexive even after the shock of noise or whatever it uses.

Overall, driving is a really difficult decision for all of us to make, especially when so many of us do not have other options.