Anyone ever had a driving hangover?
 

We just arrived home from a long road trip through New Mexico. I'll post a trip report soon. But here's the thing. We drove all day yesterday, some sight-seeing and high altitude driving. Then, we split the 800-mile plus drive home, much of it at night. Today, I feel really dizzy. Not seriously ill, but it's weird. I feel like everything is off-kilter, and I keep getting a head rush. I'm wondering if this is general fatigue, or driving too much, or something else?

Thoughts?

Well, I certainly don't want to discourage you from going to the doctor if it is something else. But it seems reasonable to me to think that it could be from driving. I know I always feel a little weird if I drive for a long period of time. And, of course, fatigue could have a lot to do with it.

Well I never drive like that, not safe and that probably is why you feel the way you do. When we travel, we only go for 7 hours, stop often and never drive all night. But we are old. Just never have to get anywhere in that kind of hurry.

After a long driving trip I'm so stressed and fatigued you woundn't want to be around me. I have to be left alone for a few hours!

I have never heard of anyone having a driving hangover, but I suppose anything is possible. Are these symptoms you normally feel if fatigued? There are still a lot of viruses going around, including a really bad cold/flu. Also, this is springtime, allergy season. Time will tell if it is something you should take to the doctor.

My husband and I just drove down and back to southern California, 1100 miles each way. On the return, we drove 750 miles on the second day. I did notice my nose was a little stuffy the day after we got back. I'm sure it is allergies, hopefully a harbinger of springtime and not the sign of a dusty house!

After a very long drive like that my neck and shoulders turn to steel, and it leads to a rather severe headache -- clearly all tension. I would understand dizziness accompanying that; maybe I'm too dizzy normally to notice? I always think it would be great to get a super massage after a drive like that, but never seem to manage that.

You were just stressed. I know it's frowned upon by a large majority of Americans, but I would suggest sipping a beer for part of your drive. Of course, don't drink too much but a little might ease your mind.

I suffer from motion sickness. Even without driving that distance, I would have some of hte symptoms from just riding that long.

By the way, there are other ways to relax besides drinking and driving. In a car I would go with breathing techniques, soothing music, and add some more breaks into the trip. Even if it's just 5 minutes to stretch.

I'll add my guess - I get dehydrated when I travel in car for long periods of time - and that causes a headachy thing. I have the world's smallest bladder and traveling companions get annoyed if I need too stop too often, so I don't drink enough fluids. Also, if a/c is on, that is also dehydrating.

Also end up with caffeine withdrawel since when I am at home or work I drink way too much coffee and am addicted.

I suspect Gail is spot-on. Dehydration would certainly explain a lot of your symptoms. After all, you described it as a hangover and hangovers are basically dehydration! Try drinking lots of water and see if it helps.

sfamylou-
Tell me, did you break up the in car portion of your travels by stopping every couple of hours? Do you have any leg pain?

Thanks for all the replies. I am feeling better. I think I'm overtired and yes dehydrated. We live about sea level, and we were mostly about 6-9,000 feet up for a lot of the past two days.

We did share driving, neither doing more than 250 miles or so before switching. We often cover 800 miles or so, switching back and forth, in order to cover the first or last leg of a trip, when there is nothing we want to see or do.

I think also it was the driving at night that made me dizzy. (I was the passenger.) We were on westbound I-8, going through that mountain pass, and it just made me white-knuckled and woozy.

You mentioned that you drove at high altitudes. Have you traveled at high altitudes before?
A friend went hiking and camping in the southwest and on one of the days, the hike went up several thousand feet. He developed a nasty headache, dizzyness, as well as shortness of breath from the lower oxygen levels at the higher elevations. He had to wait for a rescue team with a jeep to bring him back to home base to recover from altitude sickness. Then he was able to join up with his party again when they came down the mountain.

Hi sfamylou, I would bet anything that what you experienced is alltitude sickness. It has often happened to me. In fact I started flying to OR instead of going by car as around Shasta Lake I start feeling exactlly as you describe. I have gotten very ill in high alltitude places. And no doubt lack of water didn't help either. Just take it easy for a couple of days.

Tell us how you feel in 24 hours. Seriously. And if it remains as bad as it seems today consult a health professional like myself.. BUT NOT HERE!

Yes, I have had similar feelings!
Its like NCGIRL said, almost like
motion sickness!
However, if it continues, see your
doctor.
In the meantime, welcome home and
looking forward to your trip report!