Back in 2013, I had a stroke and was in hospital for 3.5 months. Apart from feeling giddy and my poor voice, I made a good recovery. In the car I drove hundreds of kilometers with no problem.
In the last few years, it is as if my concept of speed has changed. Glancing down at the speedometer when I think I am going 60-70mph and see I am only going at about 46mph!! Everything on the roads seem to be going fast. My wife says it is all in the mind, but I go at what think is the right speed, but actually it is slow. It also my worry that my reaction times are slower.
Now, this could just be old age or it could be a result of my stroke 10.5 years ago.
I am wondering others would are "old" also experience this?
Driving is no longer fun.
3 comments:
Roger,
I'm sure you would be interested in the work of Iain McGilchrist
A very very brief taster is here https://www.ted.com/talks/iain_mcgilchrist_the_divided_brain
There is much on YouTube eg https://www.youtube.com/@DrIainMcGilchrist and elsewhere
His background is as an English Literature and Philosophy Scholar then as a Psychiatrist and researcher into brain function. You will see he has written some big volumes which show how the two sides of the brain processes the world in two very different but complimentary ways - he then develops this into ideas about the prevailing culture and science and then onto physics, cosmology and the nature of matter!
His theory in my view is both explanatory and predictive (but I am still trying to understand all he says - not having his intellect)
He does not mention functional changes related to the cerebellar stroke that you experienced but that insult may well have changed the way your brain processes the world.
Although I at 75yrs have not knowingly had a cerebral infarct (it is quite possible to have silent strokes) I too drive slower than I used to and rarely go faster than 55mph as that feels just fast enough for me (but not those behind me!) So it is probably probably related to aging/changing brain functioning.
Your wife is right to say it is all in your head (if not in your mind)??
Thanks Chris. I shall take a look. 73s de Roger G3XBM
I will be 80 my next birthday and still driving. I probably drive a little slower than I used to do. I am not too keen on driving at night now and find on coming car's headlights seem to dazzle me more that they used to but apart from that no problems as yet.
Martin.
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