How many times have you taken the wrong exit?

[Fluffysmom]

I took the wrong exit off the freeway coming home today, the one before the one I was supposed to take.  It totally surprised me that I was there.  Luckily, I was able to wind my way through surface streets and to home, but it was disconcerting.

I'm very tired, dizzy, TN pain dull ache, feet don't pick up like they should.  I'm going to lie down, but just thought I'd ask an old question; who has done this or something similar.  I'm sure you have some good stories; hopefully not too many bad ones.

Kathy

[saveone]

I was coming to a stop light that I had traveled through for 11 years twice a day while my kids were in elementary school.  I got to the light and I wnted to cross the road.  I got in what I thought was the correct lane.  The light turned and there was this pretty green arrow pointing left.  I couldn't figure out why it was there or how I was supposed to get across the road.  The car behind me began to blow their horn, that made it even worse for me.  I finally decided to go left and then figure it out.

I have to say that shook me up.  Now I make sure I am paying attention before I get to a light.

lol...it isn't going to get any better!

terry

[gooddays]

I seems that we have a lot in common with the clumsiness.

When I was growing up, I was very clumsy, according to my family and friends, even though they understood that I was a very bright person.  Nevertheless, I would drop things, hit the walls (I was very thin), brake anything and everything.  To make a long story short, whenever I broke something, my mother (may her rest in peace) would shout out loud "ZULMA IS HOME".  Nobody else in the house broke anything.  Little did we know what I had coming.

This was since I was 14 years old, I am 50 now.  Since then a whole lot have changed,  we have laughed our eyes out, but have done some crying to.  It is easier to laugh than cry.  When you laugh your spirit comes out and you see the sun a little brighter, even if it is raining.

MS is a very serious condition, but you can also become a stand up comedian with every clumsy thing that you do.  I do not know if people would be able to laugh at us as we do.  Thank goodness for laughter.

Keep laughing, MS will not win you over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zulma

[Fluffysmom]

I try to laugh at myself daily; it's not hard, LOL!!!!!!!

I have some dizziness and balance issues, and tremors that are sometimes worse than others.  I've learned that I have to laugh when I bump my head on the car or freezer  or cabinet door, drop something, knock something over, etc., or I'd get depressed.  I've been there, and I'd much rather laugh; it feels so much better!

I've only said the wrong thing a few times when I wasn't with friends that understand, but luckily it has been either with a doctor that will understand, or someone that I may never again.  I might turn a little red, but I laugh!

BTW, I've had the nick-name "Kathy the Klutz" in the past. By best friend doesn't think its funny, so tells me not to use it.  I don't say it out loud, but I still laugh.  It's not like I think I'm klutzy, therefore I am; the dizziness and balance issues came before the nickname.  

Thanks for the smiles; have yourself a laughing good day, too!

Kathy

[gooddays]

Thank you for laughing at my little story.  I have lots of them.  Like I said I blame MS for it, but my internist, who btw went to school together until we were off to college, says that I was born absent minded, he, he!!!!!!!!

I do laugh at myself all the time, if I don't, I would not be able to laugh at anything else that happens around me.  With MS you never know what would happen.  There are times when you need to say something and think about what you are going to say, but something else come out of your mouth, why not laugh?...unless you are in a job interview, he, he!!!!!

Laugh yourself out, it is one of the best ways to handle whether you have a dx or are in limboland.  

My car does have a GPS, I am usually very good at following directions, but like Forrest Gump said "Sh** happens".  Getting lost its not the end of the world, as long as you find your way out, even if it takes you for better.  Just don't let it bother you to the point that the stress may cause your symptoms to flare up or send you to bed.

HAVE A GREAT LAUGH AT YOURSELF AND HAVE A GOOD DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zulma

[Fluffysmom]

Holly; that sounds like a pretty normal mistake to me; you get used to going a certain way, and it's like your car is a horse heading for the barn; you just go the way it remembers, tee hee!  And, you're right, that does beat going 30 miles out of the way around the airport!

Zulma,

I have a little GPS on my phone, but it takes a while to get it running, I can't do it while driving, but there are times when it has really been a big help.  It's best if there is a navigator in the passenger seat, working the doggone thing.

So far my slips have been just taking the wrong exit, like missing one exit to go to a doctor's appointment, having to take a bridge across the river, work my way back across another bridge, and up to the big teaching hospital from a slightly different direction.  

Luckily, I had a friend I could call (with a hands free headset on) and ask for the best route, and I got there in plenty of time for my appointment.

Meg, I don't know where you are in relation to the Bay Area, but I've visited down there.  Have you considered , say taking Amtrak to the area, the BART around, then buses around where you want to go?

If it were me, I'd have to plan it out carefully, knowing which buses to take, where to transfer, and so on, but most of that can be planned on the computer ahead of time.  If you're still falling asleep, you could set and alarm on a watch or cell phone to wake you at regular intervals.

I have a friend in a wheelchair, and she has shown me how not to feel trapped, should I ever lose my car, or my ability to drive it.  I'm pretty good at being a homebody, but I really wouldn't like feeling trapped.

Just an idea.

Hugs,

Kathy

[meg321]

I know its not funny, but sometimes I have to laugh at the things we do.

I always take wrong turns and get lost.  I dont drive too far now either, i used to go to the Bay Area, about 3 hrs one way, every 2 weeks to a month and i started running off the road because i would fall asleep.

Finally had to stop that but i really miss it.  I am very stubborn when i have to give things up.....i feel trapped now.  But you have to make the best of it.

hugs, meg

[Lulu54]

Zulma,
You're not in such bad cog fog though if you can remember you have seen the detour into the country once, twice and three times before instead of just a deja vu feeling!  

All,
If the internal GPS stops working so good you seriously might consider a  real one.  My husband's GPS has traveled with me solo a few times - the trip to Cincinnati in a snow shower to a strange place for a doctors visit was accomplished only with the help of that sweet voice telling me where to go! They have become very affordable and certainly give a driver an additional dose of confidence.

Loving the technology,
Lulu

[gooddays]

It does not matter if you are dxd or not.  Sometimes our internal GPS does not work, he, he.

I have even passed my home, when trying to ge to it.  Of course, like I said before, I have MS to blame it for.

I saw the countrysides that I had not seen in a very long time, but I guess I did not need to see them four times LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take great care,

Zulma

[hbananas]

The exit I take to go home has two sub-exits off it.  Mine's the second one.  When we lived in our apartment, the first one was correct.  I've accidentally taken the first one probably 10 times in the last two years.

That's better than the option of missing them entirely and having to go 30 miles out of my way and go around the airport.

[Fluffysmom]

I'm not diagnosed, but if brain fog was a symptom that would lead to diagnosis, I would have one!  I won't let it get me down; I've had some good laughs because of it!

I hope you saw some nice sights on your meandering trip home.  I've actually had some really nice drives through the countryside with a friend that is sure she knows a short-cut.  It will look like we're lost, and then we show up on familiar ground.  I think she just does it for fun, and really knows her way around!

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

Thank heavens for Sammy!  Good luck on both the drive there and the tests.

I usually avoid driving if I'm not feeling well, but was doing fairly well until I spaced out like that.  I guess "normal" people do that kind of thing, too.

Then again, I drove myself to the ER yesterday.  Well, that was less than 1/2 a mile, and I had taken Provigil and was pretty alert.

Thanks, my friend.

Hugs,

Kathy

[gooddays]

Two years ago I went to visit a friend and stayed overnight.  The following day as I was trying to go home, I got lost and visited two different towns in opposite directions four times, before finding my way home.  I am glad it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, so I laughed at myself until tears came to my  eyes.

I never called my friend because I felt embarrased at my predicament.  It was easy finding my way over, so I though it would be as easy to go home.  He, he.  It took me like three hours to get home.

Do not feel so bad about what just happened to you, I am sure there are other with similar experiences.  Afterall, I always blame my MS for my brain fog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We may have MS, but MS does not have us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care,

Zulma

[doni54]

Hi Kathy,

I limit my driving and especially avoid the freeway.  If I have to go somewhere that requires lots of thought I make my poor hubby take me.

I've got to go to Birmingham, where the traffic is horrendous, on Fri. for my VEP & EEG.  Have to be there at 8 am, during all the morning traffic, so Sammy is driving me.  I wouldn't dare try it on my own!!!

So, to kinda answer your question.  I most likely would take wrong turns, but avoid driving as much as possible.....hahaha

Hope you feel better.

Hugs,
doni