Falling asleep while driving

[goheadmohead]

I really struggle falling asleep while driving. Anyone got any experience with this. I will also have periods of the morning or early afternoon where’s I can hardly stay awake. Is there some sort of underlying medical condition that could be causing this?

I do take some anxiety medication but I can remember vividly having trouble staying awake while driving in high school.

it happens at night, early morning, mid morning, afternoon, etc. when driving. Almost like driving just lulls me to sleep.

Before all y’all jump all over me I don’t fall asleep while in the left lane.

All jokes aside this is a serious question and issue.

 

[57stratdawg]

 

[goindhoo]

How much sleep you getting at night? Try cocaine? Coffee?

 

[11thEagleFan]

Maybe a sleep study? I have honestly never come close to falling asleep while driving because I remember my dad nodding off on a late night trip when I was a kid. Terrifying. I’ve pulled over and napped when I get to that point, or just stopped and gotten a hotel on solo road trips. Radio up, windows down helps in a pinch.

 

[goheadmohead]

It seems to happen regardless of how much sleep I get at night and caffeine doesn’t seem to help.

Haven’t tried coke yet. Sunflower seeds help some but still have issues.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

I'd consult a doctor, but it sounds like it could be narcolepsy

 

[goheadmohead]

I’ve tried windows down and radio blaring. It doesn’t help.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Stop listening to Out of Bounds with Bo Bounds on the Y’all Lifestyle Channel.

 

[o_dawgnabit]

Put some hot sauce in your eyes before you start driving. I promise you won't want to close them then.

But seriously, you should probably go ask a doctor about it. If it's that common for you it's probably narcolepsy. And you'll want to get advice and help on it for you harm yourself or someone on the road

 

[engie]

All you need is a stash of good road beers*

 

[nsvltndog]

Definitely get a medical opinion. I remember a case a few years ago in Northern Virginia where a driver fell asleep and then hit and killed another driver. It resulted in a conviction of some sort and jail time, no alcohol or drugs were involved but it was around 3 AM so they focused on driving while knowingly sleep deprived. Perhaps a bit different scenario but a good reminder for all of us.

 

[Dawgcap]

I really struggle falling asleep while driving. Anyone got any experience with this. I will also have periods of the morning or early afternoon where’s I can hardly stay awake. Is there some sort of underlying medical condition that could be causing this?

I do take some anxiety medication but I can remember vividly having trouble staying awake while driving in high school.

it happens at night, early morning, mid morning, afternoon, etc. when driving. Almost like driving just lulls me to sleep.

Before all y’all jump all over me I don’t fall asleep while in the left lane.

All jokes aside this is a serious question and issue.

Drive 300 miles a day usually. I am lucky to pull over and see customers but usually I have a long ride home and had the same issue.
My biggest problem was getting too comfortable and my mind going to the same thoughts that helped me fall asleep at night. Since being on cpap I’d have had no problems. Seriously that has been an amazing help. Even after a night of drinking my sleepiness has has been greatly reduced. I’m not a fan of the cpap machine until I wake up in the morning. My test came back mild but I sleep so much better at night every night. At a hotel tonight but I’ll sleep with the machine and I’ll be good all day driving.
Make no mistake it’s irritating at times to go through the process and get a machine, then use it but I wake up every morning good and have no issues driving.

 

[The Fatboy]

My uncle has narcolepsy. Difference between your description and his is that his would come out of nowhere. Like in the middle of doing physical labor just boom. Out on the floor.

 

[Dawgcap]

By the way before cpap I drink a Diet Pepsi or coke id get groggy and that’s after a energy drink pre work out in the morning. I’d drink a diet drink at lunch and almost fall asleep. Weird with caffeine but it happened. On cpap. Sleepiness has become almost non existent. And again I don’t believe all the **** of stopping breathing and dying in my sleep but I do rest way better at night.

 

[MagnoliaHunter]

sound like my sleep apnea

I did this for years until i had a sleep apnea study done. It helped tremendously. I wasn't getting good sleep because I kept stopping breathing(sleep apnea). I know two people who hav3 narcolepsy and they don't dose off when driving, when it hits they fall asleep where ever.

 

[Dawgtini]

Get the sleep test and see if you can get a CPAP.

 

[kb549]

Another +1 for CPAP. Like Dawgcap, I do a lot of driving. Before I got my CPAP, I was constantly getting sleepy in the car at all hours of the day. I sometimes had to pull over and take a 15 minute - 1 hour nap once or twice a day. Even in a public place, you put yourself in a risky situation doing that. I sleep like a baby with the CPAP and wake up refreshed in the morning. Without it, I'll wake up several times during the night and exhausted in the morning. You may have another condition, but its worth checking out.

 

[JungRebel]

If you're getting good sleep and falling asleep during the day against your will I would definitely see a doctor.

 

[BossDawg78]

Ever had a sleep study? It could be sleep apnea. I used to have the same problems: tired/draggy throughout the day, getting sleepy while driving or watching tv, no energy, etc. Had a sleep study and I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. I've since been sleeping with a CPAP (you learn to like it) and the difference is pretty damn significant.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Ice chips under your tongue

Or a drop of hot sauce around your the inside end of a nostril (haven’t tried it, a marine told me this is done in the field).

Also, how much do you weigh and how often do you exercise?

 

[PapaDawg]

I struggle with this also. I stop and get out of the vehicle. I walk around, fill up with gas (even if I don’t really need it).Something to get the blood flowing and mind working again. Eating a cup of ice helps too. When all else fails, pull over and take a 10-15 minute nap. It decreases your average mph, but so does a wreck.

 

[Bucky Dog]

Yes you should see first off a sleep specialist as everyone is saying to see if you have sleep apnea or most likely narcolepsy. It’s more common than people think and comes in varying degrees.

I don’t know how old you are or what condition your end but I struggles with that too on the road before I was diagnosed with diabetes. Have you had a physical and had basic CBC blood work done recently?

 

[jdbulldog]

It is an absolute must that you consult with a physician. You are an accident waiting to happen and the consequences can be disastrous for you, your family, and others. In other words, go to a doctor today.

 

[ScrotieMcBoogerBalls]

I have a cpap and still struggle with this. I use it all night every night but still sleepy. I do have a full beard so leakage may be an issue, but i'm not shaving. I might try that hot sauce trick.

 

[Dawgbite]

Driving makes me sleepy as well. I can sleep 8 full hours and get behind the wheel and within an hour or two I'm yawning. I will stop and just get out and walk around the vehicle and I'm good to go for a while again. I blame it on the fact that I'm constantly busy doing something and when I get still behind the wheel my mind thinks it's shutdown time. I'm not on a cpap but probably need to be like every other slightly overweight person over the age of 35.

 

[dorndawg]

I was having similar issues, some mornings around 9-10am I literally could not hold my eyes open. Turned out it was apnea, got the machine and it has been a lifesaver. Wake up feeling great and if I go to bed right and don't drink, sleepiness is a non-issue. The machine is weird and embarrassing and cumbersome at first. You have to fine tune it and stuff. You start to kinda like it.

Go to your regular doctor and tell them everything. They should schedule a sleep study. Gonna go a head and tell you, the sleep study 17ing sucks. I had to do 2 separate ones, which I'm told is common. Just do it and get thru it, your health and happiness are worth it.

 

[Chris Brooks.sixpack]

I've totaled three cars from falling asleep at the wheel, but it's been 20 years since the last wreck. Chewing ice can help but now I'll eat sunflower seeds if I'm sleepy driving. I'm not sure why but it works for me. Get tested though. I have mild narcolepsy. If I'm too tired and nothing is working, I'll pull over for a quick 20 minute nap and that helps.

 

[dawgstudent]

And whatever you do - don't listen to the Chris Brooks show!

 

[Chris Brooks.sixpack]

And whatever you do - don't listen to the Chris Brooks show!

I can endorse this, and even better I practice it. If my voice comes on the air in an ad, I turn the dial. I'd like to imagine other hosts tell everyone in the car to shhh, and turn it up.

 

[BIGDAWG44]

I really struggle falling asleep while driving. Anyone got any experience with this. I will also have periods of the morning or early afternoon where’s I can hardly stay awake. Is there some sort of underlying medical condition that could be causing this?

I do take some anxiety medication but I can remember vividly having trouble staying awake while driving in high school.

it happens at night, early morning, mid morning, afternoon, etc. when driving. Almost like driving just lulls me to sleep.

Before all y’all jump all over me I don’t fall asleep while in the left lane.

All jokes aside this is a serious question and issue.

I drive a ton for work. If I get in a situation where I am falling asleep I usually put germ x in my hands and smell it. I don’t know how unhealthy it is but it works. Or you can just ride in the left lane until a trooper flashes his lights at you and that’ll wake you up.

 

[kired]

I keep sunflower seeds or pistachios in my truck to help me stay awake.

Honestly the closest I've come to falling asleep while driving is when I go home for lunch & drive back to work --- it's a 10 mile / 15 minute drive. Craziest thing, but I can't hardly keep my eyes open for those 15 minutes. So I guess my other advice is if you notice anything in particular that triggers it, try to avoid that.

 

[Shmuley]

Make damn sure no 17n ******** lawyers know your true identity.

 

[MaroonOldCrow]

+1 on probable Sleep Apnea and get a sleep study done. I had this exact problem before I started using a CPAP. I was not doing my career any favors by nodding off in meetings or at my desk, either.

 

[goheadmohead]

Thanks for all the good advice.

I am 33 years old. Don’t work out very often but in decent shape I guess. 5’ 11” and Weigh about 180 pounds. I guess I assumed sleep apnea had to include being overweight but maybe it doesn’t...

 

[FQDawg]

Thanks for all the good advice.

I am 33 years old. Don’t work out very often but in decent shape I guess. 5’ 11” and Weigh about 180 pounds. I guess I assumed sleep apnea had to include being overweight but maybe it doesn’t...

It doesn't. When I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea, I was in the best shape of my life. But my doctor said that the way my jaw rests when I sleep obstructs my airflow. It is purely physiological and has nothing to do with my weight. You could have a deviated septum... that can cause problems breathing when you sleep as well.

I'll echo what others have said about seeing a doctor. And also what others have said about a cpap. I was reluctant to get one but I'm so glad I did. I've maybe slept without it 3-4 times over the last seven years. Have even taken it overseas. It makes a world of difference for me.

 

[ColoradoDawg]

My dad had problems with this. He had sleep apnea. He got a c-pap machine and it got a lot better. Do you know if you have sleep apnea?

 

[fang]

first job out of college was Halliburton, 80+ hours a week AND driving a pump truck (think semi). Big problem driving drowsy (imagine that). the ONLY thing i found that would keep me awake while driving tired was chomping ice, so i'd stop and get a huge cup of ice (preferably hard) and as long as i was doing that, never drifted off.

 

[goheadmohead]

I don’t snore and don’t wake up in the middle of night. Don’t have any gasps throughout the night per wife. Still think it could be sleep apnea?

 

[maroonmania]

I'd consult a doctor, but it sounds like it could be narcolepsy

Yep, my son has this issue and its from narcolepsy.

 

[Dawg Jurist]

I really struggle falling asleep while driving. Anyone got any experience with this. I will also have periods of the morning or early afternoon where’s I can hardly stay awake. Is there some sort of underlying medical condition that could be causing this?

I do take some anxiety medication but I can remember vividly having trouble staying awake while driving in high school.

it happens at night, early morning, mid morning, afternoon, etc. when driving. Almost like driving just lulls me to sleep.

Before all y’all jump all over me I don’t fall asleep while in the left lane.

All jokes aside this is a serious question and issue.

Your Honor, I'd like to have this admitted as Plaintiff's Exhibit "A."

Seriously, man, that sounds like it sucks, but you need to go to a doctor for advice, not a message board. You're a liability on the road if this is true.