Re: Drivng & ALS
I kept driving until I felt it was unsafe to do so. The thing I first noticed was having to take both hands off the wheel to move the gearshift, and laboring to turn the wheel when the car was moving very slowly (like backing out of the driveway). Knowing how ALS progresses, I knew I was losing strength on the steering wheel when the car was moving faster, too, even though I was unaware of it yet physically.
I also was aware that my perception was not as all-encompassing as before. Maybe that just happened to me, but I felt I wasn't picking up peripheral vision details as well as I normally would. My overly brisk reflexes worried me, too, although I didn't feel their effect in my driving. I knew the day was coming when I couldn't drive any more, and I wasn't sure how to tell when the time was right to quit, but when I found that even a short drive ... a mile to the grocery store ... left me exhausted, I decided that was it. I asked myself, "Would I want to be on the road with someone as impaired as me coming at me?" and the answer was no.
It was a relief to stop. I used to love to drive, but I find I can manage perfectly well without it, even in L.A. I'm glad I stopped BEFORE something terrible happened.
That's just how it was for me. Everyone can assess their own capabilities.