I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: sullidog on February 10, 2010, 05:27:14 PM

Title: driving on dialysis
Post by: sullidog on February 10, 2010, 05:27:14 PM
For those of you who drive to and from dialysis do you have any issues? If I could drive the only thing I'd be scared of is my bp dropping after dialysis while I was driving, so for those that drive is it hard sometimes? Do you guys have a backup plan just in case you can't drive yourself home?
Troy
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: del on February 10, 2010, 05:49:00 PM
My husband always drove himself to and from dialysis for 6 years except for 2 or 3 times when he got sick at the end of treatment.  he did in center for 6 years so that wasn't bad. he always had someone with him though just in case he got sleepy.  It was an hours drive to the unit and he left home around 6 in the morning!!
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: Rerun on February 10, 2010, 07:34:40 PM
I drive.  I can't drive at night.  So, I moved really close to the center and I can drive over there at 6:30 in the morning when no one is on the roads.  When I get off it is light. 

I've gotten off dialysis and driven home, changed clothes and driven to meet some people and both my arm went into cramps.  I had to pull over.  My BP has dropped and I've had to pull over also.  You have plenty of warning.  I don't just pass out.
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: RightSide on February 10, 2010, 08:32:16 PM
I drive myself to and from my dialysis center.

The only problem I've had is some bleed-out episodes, where my fistula began bleeding again profusely after I left the center.  I had to run back to the center to have them patch it up.  My neph is trying to adjust my heparin dose, so I won't bleed out as much in the future.
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: tyefly on February 10, 2010, 09:57:03 PM
  I would thinkg that if you dont think you cant drive becuase of D then maybe your D needs to be ajusted.... I just dont feel that people should be that wiped out.....   come on...   thats not right......something needs to be done so we all can live happy healthy lives...... and do normal things...... I wouldnt give up driving    I would get the D straighten out....
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: Hanify on February 11, 2010, 01:18:58 AM
I did haemo for 3 months in centre and never could have driven.  Couldn't usually get home without vomiting anyway.  I'm not so pro PD for nothing you know.  Haemo in centre was a terrible experience for me.  I'll only be back there for training (someday) and will be getting that machine up and running by my bed quicker than lightning!  They'll never have seen someone get so competent in such a small time lol.
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: murf on February 11, 2010, 01:28:31 AM
When I was on hemo (now PD), I used to drive to the centre. There were a couple of occasions where I crashed and couldn't drive. Had a back up plan to be picked up if this happened. Sometimes the nurses would not let me leave until my BP was over 100. BTW, loving the PD. Took me a while to get used to the bloated tummy but now: no driving, no needles, little more fluid.
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: whiskeyfrank on February 11, 2010, 05:12:17 AM
I suppose considering most replies, i was very lucky, i drove to and from the center all the time i was on dialysis. I was on lines so had no access issues though.

The only thing that did put me off is when i got migranes, that wasnt nice.

Generally though i didnt have an issue driving at all.
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: iketchum on February 11, 2010, 04:07:38 PM
I drive myself to and from dialysis. In the winter I drive my truck, in beter weather I drive my motorcycle. My problem is retinopathy and losing vision in one or both eyes. I manage to stay off the sidewalks when I drive.
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: sullidog on February 11, 2010, 05:41:29 PM
I just made this topic cause I was just curious, it's not dialysis as to why I can't drive, I'm blind  so I think either way ya don't want me on the roads.:)
Troy
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: del on February 11, 2010, 05:42:43 PM
My husband always drove himself to and from dialysis for 6 years except for 2 or 3 times when he got sick at the end of treatment.  he did in center for 6 years so that wasn't bad. he always had someone with him though just in case he got sleepy.  It was an hours drive to the unit and he left home around 6 in the morning!!

The getting sleepy for hubby wasn't because of dialysis he just gets sleepy sometimes when he is driving.  he often pulls over and lets me drive and he will have a nap!!!
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: kitkatz on February 14, 2010, 03:57:37 PM
I drove myself to and from dialysis for ten years. Never thought about anything happening. Bled all over the car once on the way home.  Had to stop the car to throw up a few times. Hubby is retired now and takes me to nocturnal and picks me up.
Title: Re: driving on dialysis
Post by: peleroja on February 15, 2010, 08:29:58 AM
When I was on hemo for 6 months, I drove every time.  I learned quickly that as long as I was sitting down I was ok.  The one time I got out of the car to get money from an ATM, and the one time I went into a restaurant for dinner, I nearly passed out.  After that I made sure to only use drive through restaurants to get my dinner.  Once home I'm really close to the back door, so could get inside before collapsing.