Migraines, Depression, Drinking and "Driving"

People should know not to drink, and mix drugs. I have an occasional glass of wine, but I don't drink to get drunk. I think people need to have common sense with taking medication. I always call the pharmacy, if it's at night, for example: taking cold medication with daily medication. It could be dangerous.

Always read your bottle, and the pamphlet that comes with it.

Denise

Hey Big Sis,

     As a health care professional and your little brother I am very proud of you for being on this forum and trying to help people who are in pain.  Keep up the good work!!!

I'm probably one of the few, but I have pretty much given up driving completely if I can avoid it. I have DBF drive me places, or have him run errands. I've completely given up alcohol as it seems to be a migraine trigger, though I occasionally will have a taste of someone else's glass.

Most of the reason I have given up driving is because I just do not feel I am safe on the road, especially since I've developed new migraine symptoms in the past week. I've had this same migraine going on for several months now, despite a number of attempts to break it, and the continual pain and other symptoms mean I can't devote my full attention to driving.

I'm probably in the minority though. I miss driving, but I don't feel safe doing it.

What in the world!  This was a good article that you wrote about this here on our site.  This man should have NEVER been at that wheel!  I hadn't even heard of this, and it enrages me.  My migranous world has kept me from reading much (light triggers my headaches), and I thank you for pointing this out.  Thank you for being vigilant and eloquent. 

I started in with migaines after a severe accident in 2000. I had very rare episodes prior to the accident, now those episodes are about two to three times a month at best, but can last for 4 days each if I don't keep my medication around. I know I am extremely lucky because, as I was always told in my days of parties and raging, I am a light weight, " a cheap date"....One cocktail and I was well on the way to dancing on tables.  I have a size and metabolism thing that allows for low dosages to be effective where many have to take higher doses or stronger medications, I can stay at 100 mg imitrex and make it a day.

That being said, I am extremely lucky in one other aspect.  I have a boss that recognizes my worth and allows for me to take time needed to get them under control. Take an afternoon off, a morning off and best yet. I work from home so I don't have to drive to work.  He is a miracle in that respect since there are few employers who understand or even care to understand that migraines are not the typical illness...They cannot be "cured", they cannot always be controlled and the medications are our life's blood

I know that, when I start these things that I am incapable of driving safely. The hallucinatory effects alone are distracting and in busy traffic, they quickly become worse and the pain can come on like gang-busters.  The medication, for me, does make me a bit drowsey but the headache itself, even without the pain, has enough symptoms (like precursors to an 8.0 eatrthquake)  that will divide my attention and keep my response time down.

Those of us with these fun little episodes must learn self respect - to respect ourselves enough to keep us out of harm's way and to respect those others than ourselves enough to protect them from our inability to always be in control. We should not be putting our lives in danger and should never be putting anyone elses life in danger, We have a responsiblity to ourselves but also a responsibility to the world.  If for no other reason than to educate the populace that we are not defective, we are not incomplete or something less than anyone else because we have these headaches, but like anyone else, we are valuable people and offer as much if not more in spite of our issues with these events and even because of them. We can be more insightful, more caring and more forgiving of others becaus e of our experiences.

In effect, we deserve to treat ourselves with more caring and concern .  We are capable and we arepossibly higher functining than many since we can actually do more while in pain than many can do on their best days.

We also need to allow for the adjustments we must make to take care of ourselves and if a job change is necessary, we need to allow ourselves to make that change.  Steering our "tanker into the rocks" is not an option

Was the Captain tested for his blood level alcohol in this specific incidence? I am sad to think he would drink on top of his pancreatitis and multiple meds that contradict drinking, in addition to drinking on the job. A previous DUI does not inform this specific incident without testing in my humble opinion. HOWEVER, I agree with others that I DO NOT drive when taking certain combinations of prescription medications to treat a migraine, or in the often very distracted period that I call the migraine "hang over."

Certain individuals who have these conditions deserve to make a living, but need professional evaluation, reality acceptance and soul searching as to whether they need to adjust what they are doing for the safety of others and themselves. Perhaps physicians need to be more straight forward when advising patients about their over-all whole health picture before such a tragedy occurs.

one is a choice,

the other is not.

i'm sick of being dumped to the lowest common denominator.

and yes we have to be responsible about meds and work.

the govt/insurance is the devil in this. they say easiest cheapest care for you -drugs to repair and get to work... and if you do this and have accidents,  and the rx drugs are the problem- its all your fault.

the label says beware.

EVERY "capitan" of a ship or plane or train or bus etc. should have to test sober before each day of work.

period.

if pain is bad ENOUGH YOU NEED TO BE HIGH your off.

period.

if you choose to do substance abuse you get one reahb and a leave .

can't manage that ,your gone.

period.

i am homeless living in m y car many pain/other  meds i can't take to be responsible.

yes there needs to be more non drug access to pain management.

yes there needs to be employment that doesn't include transport or machinery for chronic medication users.

the voc rehab/ work comp  systems now fights help with career change ( for public safety!) and will try to send you back with a handful of pills.

Look at this example of the penny wise, pound foolish cost!

I must say that I am guilty of drivinig under the influence of a migraine itself and migraine medicine. I have to admit that the Lyrica I take does cause fatigue and I should think twice about driving.

a-migraineur