The Colon Club

.....this weekend. Thank you neuropathy.
I have mentioned this before in other threads how I would hate if it happened and this week it did.
On Wednesday I went to a company Christmas lunch. I could have taken the subway but I chose to do the 20 minute walk to get there and then back again because I was told I should aim for 10,000 steps per day. I don't know if it was the cause but that night I couldn't feel the clutch pedal properly while I was driving home and had more than a few episodes that made me uncomfortable. I stayed home on Thursday, drove on Friday again with some episodes and decided on Saturday that I can't drive my beloved blue tank.
I have driven a standard for 40 years. And I absolutely hate that cancer has taken this away from me. For now I can drive an automatic, but now wonder if the neuropathy is going to progress to the point that I can't drive at all.
It's been 3 months since I finished chemo and 10 of 12 were at 75%, why me? My feet still feel like they are in wet sand. All the time.

(Rant over)

Mo:
You have my genuine empathy and understanding.

I am genuinely sorry that the effects of neuropathy are significant enough to cause you to make the decision to curtail driving your standard transmission car - at least, for now.

I had to make a similar decision to forfeit driving a little over a year ago. Unpredictable hypotension of Addison’s made me a risk to be behind a wheel. I came to the decision on my own. It was not just for my safety that I parted ways with the keys. Honestly, it was more my concern for the high possibility that I would injury/harm others, assigned liability risk, and legal peril.

My strong opinion: Driving is a privilege. Driving is not a right.

I applaud you for having the inner wisdom to make the right decision, based on the effects of your neuropathy today.

It is a decision you can review and adjust if/as sensation returns and allows for safe driving.

My brother has intractable epilepsy. He has never driven a car. My brother gets out-and-about using walking as his primary means; he also uses Portland’s light rail system and keeps an account with a local cab company. He knows Portland, Oregon like the back of his hand because he has witnessed the city as a pedestrian and taken the time to really experience it. There can be unexpected benefits in not being in a car and dashing about.

I share my brother’s story to let you know that other people also have health situations that do not allow for driving.

The unvarnished reality of loss of health is that it brings additional losses and collateral damage. For me, many of these co-existing losses have been more painful to me to adjust to than the actual health conditions that I deal with.

Take solace and comfort in knowing that you have made the right decision in not getting behind the wheel of your standard transmission car. You have shown strength of character in putting the safety of others above your own love of driving and its feelings of independence.

For me, the decision to not drive is a forever decision. And I am OK with that. It’s amazing what all we can adjust to.
Karen

Mobrouser, that truly sucks. I don't have any words of wisdom, but just wanted to let you know that I feel for you.

It's been 3 weeks since my last oxali dose and my neuropathy is not done progressing yet, I can tell.

I have not being able to drive since January last. Because of GBM4 legally I cant drive. 3 years ago while on Folox I stopped for a while because of neuropathy. I really miss my motorcycle. Its such a loss of independence. Hopefully your neuropatyh will clear and can get back to your car. From what I've seen neuropathy ccertainly reduces for the majority of people when they have a few months after chemo.

Mobrouser,
Sorry to hear this- I’m sure it’s frustrating. I wanted to offer my story- It’s been almost a year since I finished chemo. I noticed that my neuropathy got a bit worse before it got better. It was my whole foot, but now it’s just the toes. I did have acupuncture- not sure if that helped, or just time.
Hope it improves for you!
Korey

I'm sorry you're at this point, but wanted to ask if you tried acupuncture? My acupuncturist has been doing laser treatments on my fingers and that has kept the nueropathy at bay for my first five cycles of chemo. I have it, but it resolving about five days after each treatment. Might be worth a shot if you haven't yet pursued? Considered experimental but seems to be working for me.

Sorry to hear about your neuropathy, mob.

Here''s a link to an old thread where a topical cream was formulated which helped someone with pretty severe neuropathy.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56876&hilit=neuropathy+topical+cream

Best Wishes,
peanut