6 replies to this topic

[purpley]

I'm just starting to figure out that I probably have narcolepsy, and this section of the Forum on driving is SO ON TARGET that I can't believe it! My sleepiness in cars is a running joke in my family. If my spouse and I take our minivan and are driving some friends somewhere, my spouse is always the one who drives, and I give up the "shotgun seat" to someone else. It's not just to be polite, but because I know I will fall asleep, and it will be easier for everyone else to chat if they're all up front and I'm snoozing way in the back. I simply cannot stay awake in cars for more than a couple of hours, and driving is even worse than being a passenger when we're on the highway. There's something hypnotic about the hum of the motor and watching the trees or the dash...dash....dash....of the painted white lines flying by as I drive past. Trains will also put me to sleep with the rhythmic clacking and rocking motion. Airplanes don't -- I'm generally tired and I'll fall asleep at some point like usual, but I don't feel extra sleepy. I think I need to sense the "hum" of the motor for something to put me to sleep.

So, freaky but true -- I once fell asleep while I was a backseat passenger on a motorcycle, on the highway. It was my first time ever, there was no "sissy bar" (that's the backrest), so I just had my arms wrapped around the waist of the driver. I felt a little sleepy after a short while and the next thing I knew, I was hearing her yelling at me through the headset mike in my helmet and she was pulling off the road. Apparently she felt my helmeted head nod against her shoulder and realized something was wrong. Thank god I hadn't released my grip around her waist! Naturally I had no clue at that point why I did such a "stupid" thing, and boy was I embarrassed. As you might guess, I haven't ridden on a motorcycle since...

[Thelma]

I have similar problems driving. I just can't control my sleep when I am driving! While I have fallen asleep in other places--at my desk at work, taking a shower or bath, at the dinner table while eating---driving is by far the worst!! It is the most awful feeling and as I get sleepy I start to rub the top of my leg with my hand vigorously! Not sure why I do that--it is like an automatic reflex or attempt to stay awake that does not work. Sometimes, with all 3 children in the back seat, I just pull over and sleep for 5 mins! I'm sure people think I am crazy!

But I understand exactly how you felt on the motorcycle! My husband and son like to hunt and ride four wheelers. I never get on the four wheeler. I have driven it across the yard a few times. One day they convinced me to ride through some trails in the woods. My son was driving me on one and my husband had our daughter on the other. My husband turned around to check on me and my son and my head was just a wobbling---I was falling asleep! We had to stop a minute then head back to the house! It was not fun for me because I couldn't stay awake! Don't get me wrong, I love to be a passenger in a car---best sleep ever! But I will not ride on a four wheeler or motorcycle again! That was just scary!

[Enginerd]

So, freaky but true -- I once fell asleep while I was a backseat passenger on a motorcycle, on the highway. It was my first time ever, there was no "sissy bar" (that's the backrest), so I just had my arms wrapped around the waist of the driver. I felt a little sleepy after a short while and the next thing I knew, I was hearing her yelling at me through the headset mike in my helmet and she was pulling off the road. Apparently she felt my helmeted head nod against her shoulder and realized something was wrong. Thank god I hadn't released my grip around her waist! Naturally I had no clue at that point why I did such a "stupid" thing, and boy was I embarrassed. As you might guess, I haven't ridden on a motorcycle since...

[sleepyhead1975]

Oh that's happened to me. Ex and I hired a moped on holiday, to do a bit of a tour of a Greek island. It had been a long day weeving through the Kefalonian mountains and we were trying to get back to our resort before a storm set in (a particularly nasty one at that). I remember feeling sleepy and thinking oh oh! There wasn't much to do, but to cling on and hope. Not that that helped, as i soon nodded off. Miraculously, I still managed to hold on. Remember coming too and thinking phew!! I had a found myself in a few of these situations before my diagnosis was made. Sleepy episodes were all a bit haphazard, with attacks coming on fairly quickly.

[Gabby]

So, freaky but true -- I once fell asleep while I was a backseat passenger on a motorcycle, on the highway. It was my first time ever, there was no "sissy bar" (that's the backrest), so I just had my arms wrapped around the waist of the driver. I felt a little sleepy after a short while and the next thing I knew, I was hearing her yelling at me through the headset mike in my helmet and she was pulling off the road. Apparently she felt my helmeted head nod against her shoulder and realized something was wrong. Thank god I hadn't released my grip around her waist! Naturally I had no clue at that point why I did such a "stupid" thing, and boy was I embarrassed. As you might guess, I haven't ridden on a motorcycle since...

 

 

 

 

 

It's not really that freaky to fall asleep on the back of a motorcycle.  We realized that it was impossible for me to get my own bike but I still love to go on charity runs with my hubby.  Before heading home from these runs we make sure that I'm still doing okay and have remembered to take my afternoon meds.  But I still have to give him signals occasionally that I'm awake.  We were once just 4 or 5 miles from home when I started dreaming about and old Indian chief talking to us.  I don't remember coming off of the freeway or making the u-turn we take as part of a shortcut to get home.  He said I leaned when I was supposed to and everything.  So my body just continued to do what a passenger would naturally do.  Then a  couple of months ago I felt him reach back and squeeze my knee and I didn't know why.  He too noticed that my helmet started pressing against his harder and harder.  I don't remember falling asleep and swore I was awake. Now it's part of our routine that I squeeze his waist every few miles.  If i'm not able to do it, we'll stop and call someone to come and get me. But my rides are getting shorter and further between.  Once a week he takes me out to dinner though so I get my wind therapy.  Heck.  He had to catch me in February from falling forwards in the stands at a NASCAR race. 

[DeathRabbit]

It's not really that freaky to fall asleep on the back of a motorcycle.  We realized that it was impossible for me to get my own bike but I still love to go on charity runs with my hubby.  Before heading home from these runs we make sure that I'm still doing okay and have remembered to take my afternoon meds.  But I still have to give him signals occasionally that I'm awake.  We were once just 4 or 5 miles from home when I started dreaming about and old Indian chief talking to us.  I don't remember coming off of the freeway or making the u-turn we take as part of a shortcut to get home.  He said I leaned when I was supposed to and everything.  So my body just continued to do what a passenger would naturally do.  Then a  couple of months ago I felt him reach back and squeeze my knee and I didn't know why.  He too noticed that my helmet started pressing against his harder and harder.  I don't remember falling asleep and swore I was awake. Now it's part of our routine that I squeeze his waist every few miles.  If i'm not able to do it, we'll stop and call someone to come and get me. But my rides are getting shorter and further between.  Once a week he takes me out to dinner though so I get my wind therapy.  Heck.  He had to catch me in February from falling forwards in the stands at a NASCAR race. 

That's really endearing that he's so understanding. It seems like so many people on this board post stories about how their SOs are like "stupid woman/lazy boy, always falling asleep, what about my needs?!" It's nice to hear someone in a supportive committed relationship, despite debilitating N.

[sleepingmonkey]

I, too, fall asleep on the back of motorcycles (and in car rides lasting over 20-30 minutes). My ex bf loved to tell me how inconsiderate I was, and how I just want the time to pass more quickly so I sleep the ride away, but ya know, obviously that's not something I can control. We took a trip on the bike down Rt. 1 in California (twisty road on the edge of a cliff), and I fought to stay awake, but in the end, sleep won...as it always does!