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[Night_Owl]

I've driven since 18 years old and am (was?) a confident driver, could drive anywhere alone.  However, now having more concerns about my driving - particularly when on Utrogestan - fearful, dithering, brain fog, slow reactions etc etc.

Motorway driving and huge juggernauts bother me A LOT, parking is not so good these days, my wheel trims are scuffed, whereas I used to be able to park in a very tight space - my spatial awareness has changed and I can't get it back.  I often have that strange "brain lapse" when I drive for miles thinking deeply about something else then "come to".  I worry constantly about getting caught in M25 traffic jams -  mainly due to anxiety of a weak bladder and a migraine descending upon me while I'm stuck for hours.

For me, this is all down to the meno brain.  My testosterone levels are very low - I've quite literally "lost my balls" - this must have something to do with this - and my behaviour in general, ie. I get more fearful/anxious about many things that never used to bother me.  Is it down to hormones or just awareness of life, I ask myself.  I've tried using Testim before but it just made me feel wretched and headachey.

I'm trying to fight it as I have a weekly two hour (each way) drive to my elderly, widowed father who needs support and had a stroke 3 months ago - but I often think, how will I manage to do this for years to come as I can't see it getting any better.  I'm fine with local driving - it's just the long distance, motorways, country lanes with narrow bends  (with an aggressive driver 2 inches behind the bumper), rabbits running out of hedges etc etc.

More than ever there is rude, intimidating, aggressive driving on the roads, urban and rural (I live SE London) - eg. tailgating by Audi A4 man or white van man (and I don't drive slowly), not giving way to the right at roundabouts, not giving way when obstruction is on their side of road, steaming towards you, nearly taking off wing mirrors - you know how it is.

I'm getting to the stage where I'm more comfortable with my partner driving but I don't want it to become like that - I want it to be equal.

Anybody else feel similar, how do you cope with it all.

[Dancinggirl]

I do agree that there are some seriously bad driving habits going on from younger drivers - aggression, unnecessary speeding and frankly bad manors.

Whether we are on HRT or not, I do believe our ability to be a competent driver does diminish from our 50s and that's not just women  - my reactions are certainly not as good as they were.  We therefore have to be aware of this. I personally would welcome a test (maybe every 2 years) from the age of 70 which assesses our driving to keep, not just us safe, but all other road users.
  DG x

[ellie]

I am quite disabled, but I can drive and feel at my sharpest when driving. I regularly do moterway driving, and also drive 140 miles across country often. My husband has to admit that I am the better driver  ( not easy ) .  I have been driving since I was seventeen and have always loved driving......A lot of my friends have stopped driving or will only drive short familiar distances....
    I agree that some sort of test should have to be taken at perhaps 70 , and if people are not happy to take one, they shouldn't be driving in my opinion.

[littleminnie]

I'm glad to say that my driving is the only thing that hasn't changed since meno.

[babyjane]

my driving reactions are certainly slower and I do not concentrate well enough to drive on long journeys or on unfamiliar roads nowadays. Plus I have a cataract which also cuts across my vision at certain angles so that is also a factor is my choosing not to drive except on familiar roads in and around my home town

[Annie0710]

My night vision has deteriorated and so don't drive at night now unless it's in my town where I know almost every road


Annie x

[ellie]

Driving Schools do refresher courses  for people who have lost a bit of confidence , might be worth thinking about for people loosing a bit of confidence....
 Where I live they have introduced a lot of 20 mph zones, and my pet hate is drivers that pull up behind you and flash their lights....Well I am afraid they are not going to intimidate me, I don't want a speeding ticket 

[Pennyfarthing]

I like driving and clock up plenty of miles every week but it's all local.  I can't even remember the last time I drove on a motorway .... We have no motorways in Norfolk and apart from a trip to Leicester recently (again no motorways) we seldom have to leave our county.  When we go abroad we fly from Norwich too! 

[Ju Ju]

I find driving long distances draining now and I am not keen on motorways. I'm better since starting HRT. I did have a very scary incident before HRT, when I became totally disorientated and didn't know where I was, which was coming out of the supermarket I regularly go to. Fortunately the sensible part of my brain took over and I told myself it was ok. I could pull into the car park over the road so that I could to sort myself out. I thought this must be the start of dementia and was very upset, but since then I have read this is not unusual with the menopause.

[babyjane]

I had a weird sensation the other day when I left the local hospital car park.  It was very early morning and I hadn't had my tablets so I don't think that helped, but I felt as though I was on the wrong side of the road and should be driving on the right like they do in Europe.  It felt really weird.

[Michelle46]

Hi Sparkle
Where in Devon did you go?

[CLKD]

If someone rushes up behind me I put my flashes on, if the road is narrow I stop and get out with hands on hips ….. this happened several years ago when I could see that the main road was blocked to my right and traffic to the left was edging forwards so no way could I proceed when the traffic lights changed to green. This went on for a good 10-15 mins.. That Man behind flashed his headlights a couple of times so I got out, as above - went up to his car and asked him to get out which he did, I then led him to the junction and said "that's the reason I haven't moved forwards, you are obviously a stranger here so wouldn't know that there might be a hold-up!" walked back to my car and got in.    .  All the while thinking "HOW DARE YOU FLASH YOUR LIGHTS AT ME!" ……..

I don't drive a lot as Himself and I go everywhere together, well someone's got to carry the shopping ;-).  I also get really anxious when I need to drive because my head is generally fuzzy most of the while.

[ellie]

Got to be careful when confronting other drivers even when they are in the wrong......a similar thing happened to me except I was going slow because of loose chipping on the road..I stopped my car and told the man behind to behave himself  , and that was that or so I thought.......He overtook me when he could and we both picked up speed.....he then slammed his brakes on hard!  Then sped off 

[babyjane]

Road Rage can end up fatal in the worst case scenario.

[Joyce]

I can't do long distance driving any more. Never thought twice about it years ago. Night time driving only happens locally.  As for folk who drive up within an inch of my rear bumper, I just slow down more. Hubby said to do this. I lock car doors & don't take anyone on, though there are times when I want to gesticulate rudely.