Quote Originally Posted by WindingRoad View Post
Shootingstar that is interesting stuff you mentioned because my father was diagnosed as having narcolepsy and he and I have a lot of similarities to your partner in that regard. My father and I both have low blood pressure and slow heart rate. I too have to be VERY careful driving. When I am tired I have in the past fell asleep at the wheel. I nearly wrecked my car on a handful of occasions. My father DID wreck his car and miraculously survived without a scratch. Apparently a truck driver saw him wreck and the car spun out of control about 6 times before spinning into the median of the interstate. That being said, when I have long trips now I try and take someone with me, drink a lot of coffee or take the cat b/c she meows occasionally and RARELY use the cruise.

I always notice how much more alert I feel after I ride or run. I'm sure other people feel this too but I don't think to the same degree. I say that because sometimes I honestly feel intoxicated some days until I go run or ride. It's strange and a little unnerving since my father was also diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease a few years ago. I really hope those things are not connected.
How old is your father? Does he still drive or what does he do help himself stay safe? I don't he should drive anymore and now with some AZ Disease..

My partner drives a rented car...less than 5 times annually. We haven't had a car since we've known each other...last 22 years. Yes, he used to drink over 10 c. of coffee daily decades ago to stay awake because his job required business trips for site visits at times. He's had his sleep disorder since his late 20's but he was not diagnosed until his late 30's.

When he drove to the side of road with his son, who was then 10 yrs. old, he had no recollection how he got the car there. Then he knew he was endangering himself and everyone else. He lost his appetite for driving much at all.

He has tried prescribed mild narcotic drug to stay awake...but the aftereffects made him feel lousy and he didn't want to get his body hooked on a drug for life. So he abandoned it.

For him to drive 100 km. in a car, it requires him to stop at least once so that he doesn't fall asleep. So moving my stuff from Toronto to Vancouver was a lovely leisurely trip of a lifetime to see Canada...

I'm glad you try hard to stay safe. Seriously, very seriously rethink in the future that you must choose to live near transit, to bike....you have already got into some accidents. So that you can drive less. This is for your own safety. It is a priority since you are still young. (I'm guessing here.)

Please don't use cruise control for the car, not with your condition.