Pam - I'm so sorry you even NEED all the good advice you're getting here. I hope the doctor says 'False alarm, you're fine.' But I'm sure glad you're seeing the doc.
CA traffic scares me to death! We drive to SoCA from Tucson every Dec. I grew up in Long Beach and have a bunch of buddies to visit just before Christmas. I can't believe I learned to drive on those freeways! That was THEN! THEN was a LONG time ago! I'm always so relieved to get off the freeway and on to the side streets!