Driving to and from treatment??

[lorna]

 I am just wondering how many people drive themself to and from dialysis? Most nurses advise againsed it and i know most people including myself have a driver but i had a nurse yesterday who looked at me like i was crazy not to drive myself and she saw no reason why i shouldnt! I was suprised but maybe its more commen than i thought?

[GraphicBass]

My doctors and the center's nurses haven't said not to drive, and many patients drive themselves.

I'm pretty new at dialysis, but I've started drive myself to the center, accompanied by my wife. She then comes back and drives me home. I usually feel pretty good after dialysis, but we're doing it this way for a little while longer to make sure I continue to feel good before I start driving solo both ways.

I can't stand being driven, so I'll take over the commuting duties ASAP, pending my reactions.


gary

[Poppylicious]

My Blokey (husband) drives himself.  We live nearly thirty miles from the hospital and he goes straight from work MWF.  The only times he's needed someone else to drive him his after operations when he's been told not to.  I imagine it depends on the person though; there's one chap who sits next to Blokey at dialysis and he has to have someone drive him home because of how he always feels immediately after his session.

[boswife]

I drive my husband (Blokey   )  to and from D.  We were just talking about that this morning.  Actually kinda laughing about me 'possibly' babying him as only one other person has their partner drive them in (unless on a gernie of course) and stay until they're all hooked up and set up.. My hubby is very capable actually, just likes the attention I believe.. Im ok with it, and will be doing at home soon. 

[peleroja]

The six months I was on hemo I always drove myself.  I learned, however, not to get out of the car until I was home and could collapse.  I nearly passed out when I stopped once to get money from the ATM.

[thegrammalady]

i drive myself. don't have any other choice. medicaid pays for medical transportation but i don't qualify for medicaid. the local bus company has a dial a ride system but i don't live in an area with easy access. i'm just careful and make sure i'm not woozy afterwards. nocturnal has made things much much better. while it would be inconvenient, if necessary my daughter would take me and pick me up.

[billmoria]

I don't drive. I could drive there but don't trust myself to drive home. I have transportation.

[KICKSTART]

Im the only one at my unit that drives to and from , but then again i just like to get in my car , light up a smoke and go ! 

[kitkatz]

For the first nine and a half years of dialysis I drove myself. Since my husband retired, he has been taking me regularly.  I loved to be chaperoned around.

[Riki]

I don't drive, period, so I have transportation that I have to pay for.. *sigh*

There's a few in my unit that pride themselves on being able to drive to and from treatments, and the only time they don't drive is when they physically can't.

[Des]

My unit has no set rules on this but Hubby refuses me driving at 10pm at night.

 

[del]

Hubby always drove himself to and from dialysis.  He always had me or a friend with him though just in case he got sleepy!!  Had nothing to do with him just getting off the dialysis machine.

[rsudock]

I drive myself to and from dialysis...I only live 5 minutes away. Since I get home around 11pm I talk to my boyfriend on the cell so, someone knows I am home safe.

[lorna]

That makes alot of sence, In my opinion i would be fine driving to and most times from just depending on my post blood pressure. It has been dropping pretty low latley so i never know how i will feel but i dont get out of the car unti i am home either as i almost passed out in the store once! My mom wont let me drive she says shes just not comfortable with it so i understand where she is coming from! I miss my indipendance too and am crossing my fingers that a transplant will come through sooner than later! thanks for all the replys

[okarol]

  (bumping up, fun thread to read)

[Gandalf]

I drive myself to dialysis, and from there directly to work.  It is a little hairy at times, and on occasions I have had to ask a friend to walk me to my office from my car (low post dialysis BP, that distance from car to office seems a Marathon and a Half!).  I guess its a factor of circumstance, and a desire for independence at all costs.  Would imagine there are no hard and fast rules, and even vairies from  session to session.

[Des]

Nope, I don't feel so well after dialysis so hubby picks me up.

[Desert Dancer]

We only have one vehicle, so while I was in training 15 miles from home I took two buses and one train each way. We figured if I *did* have any problems at least I wouldn't be behind the wheel.  I never had any dialysis-related problems, but that is why I got the medic alert bracelet.

[huldafolk]

When not in hospital/ I drive myself to and from and have for past 7 years. I do get vertigo and nausea at times. These times I call for a ride from a family member or end up over at the ER for a few hours until I an stable and the vertigo has passed. ( it can take 2-3 hours for the symptoms to pass).  Have driven home when all is well at start of 20 min drive home and 10 mins into drive, the vertigo starts and I am driving like a .15 B.A.L. drunk with circular tunnel vision and cold sweat running down my face and body.  I just can't stand the thought of giving up on driving>  FREEDOM.

[knittingdan]

I drive 65 miles one way for treatment, but I'm young and relatively healthy for a dialysis patient.  There have been a few times where I have had to pull over and take a nap, but 99% of the time there has been no problem.  The biggest thing I have to watch out for is low BP, so I try not to eat anything immediately after dialysis, or overexert myself until I've had a chance to recover.

[thegrammalady]

between christmas and new year i missed a treatment because i couldn't drive. i had done something to my neck muscles and couldn't turn my head. i go on at 7pm and finish around 2am. we didn't realize until almost time for me to leave that i wasn't going to be able to drive. there wasn't any room for me on tuesday during the day. the center made arrangements for me to start early on wednesday so that someone could bring me, then when i got off at 11pm it wasn't so late to pick me up. but this is the only problem i've had in 4 years. i felt fine and didn't gain a lot of fluid.

[iketchum]

 I drive myself to treatment, with my truck in winter and motorcycle in better weather.