Has anybody else had their licence revoked due to a Medical Condition? (1 Viewer)

[BillyS]

Had the Tunnel booked for 1 day after my 66th Birthday, in view of Touring Spain and Portugal, for about 8 weeks over Christmas and the New Year when I got the shocking news from DVLA to say that My Licence had been revoked. I was recently diagnosed with a mild to moderate form of Sleep Apnoea. Although I have suffered with this for years, I thought I would get it treated to satisfy the Missus. If I had known this was going to give me so much grief, I would never have bothered. I have had to postpone my trip, and cancel the Tunnel, until I get my Licence back, whenever that may be. Although my wife has driven our M/H a few times in the Uk, she has never driven it abroad, and I know it would be far too stressful for her to drive all the way through France, right round Spain, and all the way up through Portugal and then head back up to Calais. If any one else has had their Licence revoked, how long did it take for you to get it back? I am absolutely gutted, and wish I had never notified the DVLA.

 

[BillyS]

I wish to add that I have been issued with a CPAP Machine, and have used it for the last 2 weeks. There is an SD Card fitted in the Machine, and I am returning to the Hospital this coming Tuesday, so that they can download the Data, and can verify the DVLA that I am using the Machine as directed by them.

 

[jessthedog]

Had the Tunnel booked for 1 day after my 66th Birthday, in view of Touring Spain and Portugal, for about 8 weeks over Christmas and the New Year when I got the shocking news from DVLA to say that My Licence had been revoked. I was recently diagnosed with a mild to moderate form of Sleep Apnoea. Although I have suffered with this for years, I thought I would get it treated to satisfy the Missus. If I had known this was going to give me so much grief, I would never have bothered. I have had to postpone my trip, and cancel the Tunnel, until I get my Licence back, whenever that may be. Although my wife has driven our M/H a few times in the Uk, she has never driven it abroad, and I know it would be far too stressful for her to drive all the way through France, right round Spain, and all the way up through Portugal and then head back up to Calais. If any one else has had their Licence revoked, how long did it take for you to get it back? I am absolutely gutted, and wish I had never notified the DVLA.

Sorry to hear of your condition Billy and I hope you get under control as soon as possible.
You said that it is mild to moderate, so the DVLA are erring on safety. If you were god forbid, to fall asleep whilst driving and injure or kill someone. Questions would be asked why your licence wasn't revoked.
get well soon

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[daveandsan]

Might have problems with your insurance as well.

 

[BillyS]

Might have problems with your insurance as well.

I notified my Insurance, and they weren't too bothered when I informed them of the Diagnosis, unfortunately, this was before my Licence was revoked

 

[Mr Milliemobile]

I have surrendered my licence twice due medical conditions, first time was 10 months to get it sorted and cleared to drive. Second time took 16 months. I think I was treated slightly different because I surrendered rather than had licence revoked. Given our ageing population I guess the workload for DVLA medical branch it getting bigger each year. The only ting Tha helps is a good gp or consultant to provide the necessary medical information to resolve the issue

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[Neckender]

Sorry to here that billy, I was diagnosed with a mild form 6 years ago and was asked all the questions did I ever nod off driving etc. The specialist said I need not notify dvla as I was issued with a mouthpiece which opened my airways up and I had no problems until recently.

Three months ago I was diagnosed as mild to moderate and issued with cpap machine and it as transformed my life sleeping now for longer hours through the night and bad dreams stopped. I feel totally energetic revigorated, no tiredness whatsoever, I don't nod off when reading or watching tv anymore. My scale was 12 before the cpap and now I'm down to 0, the nurse at this different hospital asked if I'd notified dvla and I said no as the last consultant had told me I needn't bother.

John.

 

[BillyS]

I have a copy of the letter, which the Consultant who diagnosed me, sent to my GP, and probably to the DVLA as well. The thing which really p***es me off is a sentence in the letter, which states," I have advised the Patient not to drive, if he feels tired." Surely, this applies to every driver on the Planet !!!!
Everybody knows that you shouldn't drive, if you feel tired, but how many have driven to work, after a late night, or a very gruelling day at work, late Party, etc. etc. Even I have driven tired to work on occasions after a hard week end of Partying, long days at work, etc. I'm sure many have done it, and probably quite a lot do it, even today. That Sentence really gets up my back. I'm sure the Consultant is only covering his back, but it is very frustrating. Unfortunately, the Consultant in question is on holiday until the 14th November. However, I'm due to see my GP a week before, i.e. on the 7th. I'll see if he can do anything to speed things up, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[Neckender]

Cpap stops you holding your breath.

John.

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[Tea Bag]

Hi.
A few years ago,a good mate started to have trouble staying awake at the wheel,rather than go to the Dr.he tried all sorts of sleeping tablets etc. his wife was concerned, i found out that Loughborough University had a "Sleep observation unit" (Sleep in and be monitored).
Now this may not be still going,but worth a punt,it may help you get your licence back quicker,thats the up side...
He is retired now,and they go European coach tour holidays,so they still get out and about,i wish you and your wife the best of luck,on the bright side,i have two mates that have had major heart surgery,and went back driving.
Tea Bag
PS. Just looked it up,it seems it is still going. Loughborough Clinical Sleep observation unit. At the time i looked it up then,they wanted volunteers.

 

[BillyS]

Prior to my Consultation, I was given a kit, about the size of a " Sony Walkman" ( If anyone can remember them !!) which was strapped to my stomach, plus another unit , about half that size, which was clipped on to my Pyjama neck, and connected to my nose, via a tube, plus one of those things that clips onto your index finger. This equipment, I took home and wore one night. It measured how much air I breathed in through my nose, how many times I turned over in my sleep, during the night, my Pulse, my Heart rate, etc. The following morning I took the equipment back to the Hospital, where they downloaded all the Data off the Test Equipment, presumably off an SD Card,which must have been loaded into the kit. I presume this is the norm now a days, instead of going to a "Sleep Clinic", where people sit and monitor you all night. The kit I wore at home probably did all the same as a Sleep Clinic, at a fraction of the cost. Plus the Equipment was then returned, to be used by the next Patient.

 

[Neckender]

Same here.

John.

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[sedge]

Yes - but that's more specifically for sleep apnoea when all the signs are there beforehand - and there are other sleep connected problems!

 

[Manxcat]

I had a seizure in June . automatic loss of licence for 6 months .


Now I have had surgery it should be OK to drive but the process of getting the license back is taking ages .

 

[BillyS]

I've had this problem for God knows how many years, maybe 20-30 years, or longer, but only went to the Doctor recently, because my wife was concerned about me stopping to breathe while asleep, plus my heavy snoring. It had absolutely nothing to do with my Driving, or falling asleep at the wheel. I was a Service Engineer for 20 + years, driving Service Vans, ( Transits, Mercs, etc) daily up to 300 miles a day, plus doing my work as a Service Engineer. I just wish I never went to the Doctors about this, then no one would have been any the wiser. I know someone, who, has Glaucoma and drives, and hasn't informed the DVLA, plus someone else who has Sleep Apnoea, had been issued with a mask years ago and still drives.

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[Riverbankannie]

I'm afraid to say you might have a long wait. We are waiting for DVLA medical department to rule on stress test and echocardiogram done at their request in August. C1 at 70 requested back early April and still waiting. Last time I phoned up they said medical department not got round to it yet. All doctors seen say he is fit to have the licence.
Saving grace is that DVLA issued a temporary licence without C1.

 

[BillyS]

I thought I was doing everything legal, by informing the DVLA, have sent my Licence off to them as requested, and feel penalised for trying to do everything right. It makes my Blood boil, when I hear of people driving without a Licence ( any Licence ) without any Insurance, or a valid MOT, yet here I am feeling a right mug for doing everything above board and legal.

 

[Solly]

I have used a CPAP machine for 7 years I seem to recall I was diagnosed after one night in the sleep clinic and issued immediately with a machine. I as told that they would inform DVLA of my condition and that I was receiving appropriate treatment to enable me to continue driving DVLA subsequently informed me that they had received the notification and advised me to inform them of any change in my condition.
I have had to contact DVLA by phone in relation to renewal of my licence age 70 in respect of my HGV licence. I have to say that I found them extremely helpful. If you have not already contacted the sleep clinic it might be worth doing so to request that they send a letter re your ability to continue driving as soon as possible. Again I have always found my sleep clinic very helpful.
Like others here I found that the CPAP changed my life and I'm sure it will you and in particular your Wife who probably like mine was long suffering in respect of the snoring. I never heard it Myself
I had a very stressful job and had not recognised how much my poor sleep patterns had affected my job and my life. I have not found that My diagnosis affected my insurance its always been very reasonable although this is likely to change in respect of the recent theft of my Moho.
Hope it all gets sorted soon for you.

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[ChrisL]

Hi Billy, i was diagnosed in 2003 and have been on CPAP ever since, the consultant told me that if i was using the CPAP as prescribed and no longer had sleepiness issues i did not need to inform the DVLA so i didn't and neither did he, fast forward to 2013 where having being made redundant i decided to go for an HGV license, i had my medical and declared my sleep Aponea and had to wait 8 months for them to allow me an HGV provisional license, they did not tell me not to drive in that period but obviously i did not have a physical license to show to anybody should i need to, part of the reason for the delay was because i hadn't seen my doctor or the consultant about the Aponea since i had been diagnosed so they had no way of knowing if i was compliant with my treatment and despite having several telephone conversations with them they didn't actually tell me that was why they were procrastinating, i then bought a new CPAP machine with an SD card and was able to download the data from it and sent them a copy and hey presto two weeks later my license turned up in the post complete with HGV provisional entitlement. So in short make sure you send them enough data to show that you are 100% compliant with your treatment and you should get it back in a month or two.

 

[BillyS]

Many thanks for that ChrisL

 

[rb62]

3 years now since I had my CPAP machine,went down the doctors because of my snoring and waking up feeling c**p,off to the sleepy clinic as he called it,back home with the kit for a nights test,took it back next day and within 48 hrs had a machine because I was stopping breathing,the longest time being 126 seconds! Not looked back since.
I seems sleep apnoea is sleep apnoea to the DVLA however mild and as long as you inform them and are having treatment you are OK.

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[Puddleduck]

I have experience of the licence revocation.

Martin had to stop driving for a while but as soon as the DVLA had the letter from the specialist saying his condition was fully controlled his licence was reinstated. I think it is the same process with sleep aponea.

My own licence could be reinstated as soon as Thursday (not holding out much hope of hearing that soon though) as I have now been 6 months without fainting. I only fainted under specific circumstances that can not occur when driving - the specialist told the DVLA that and they still revoked the licence. I didn't even have to tell them which makes it worse ...... still will check on my licence status online on Thursday and chase them if necessary. I still haven't driven the new motorhome yet except to move her up and down the drive.

PS You DO need to tell your insurance company.

 

[Puddleduck]

I had a seizure in June . automatic loss of licence for 6 months .


Now I have had surgery it should be OK to drive but the process of getting the license back is taking ages .

My last episode was in May - and we know what triggers it but the DVLA won't budge even with my specialist phoning them, writing to them and pleading the case.

I thought I was doing everything legal, by informing the DVLA, have sent my Licence off to them as requested, and feel penalised for trying to do everything right. It makes my Blood boil, when I hear of people driving without a Licence ( any Licence ) without any Insurance, or a valid MOT, yet here I am feeling a right mug for doing everything above board and legal.

That is how I feel as well. Yet I would feel worse if I did have an accident knowing what I do.

Having said that before diagnosis when I was "legal" to drive I did not as I didn't know why I had had the incident. Half wish I had stopped driving voluntarily for 6 months and not told them, then told them after the six months was up and without further problems.

An ex-neighbour of ours can't see 3 metres and gets in his car and drives everywhere - very very slowly. Lady next door has severe memory loss (another condition you need to report) and continues to drive. Her hisband has sleep aponea and hasn't told them..... he is NOT compliant with the treatment. Grrrrrrrrrr

I would like eye tests to be required each time people renew their driving licence. Not just a tick on the application to say you pass the requirement but a signed statement by an optician, it could be built into the normal eyesight test and not cost a great deal.

 

[maxi77]

Just a thoughtfor all the guy who killed several people in Glasgow a couple of years ago was some kne who had hidden his tendency to lose consciousness. What is worse losing your licence till it getssorted out, our killing people. You choice.

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[BillyS]

Just a thoughtfor all the guy who killed several people in Glasgow a couple of years ago was some kne who had hidden his tendency to lose consciousness. What is worse losing your licence till it getssorted out, our killing people. You choice.

I suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, which means that my brain gets starved from Oxygen to the Brain,due to blocked airways. This occours while I am ASLEEP, IN BED, and not while I am awake during the day, and driving. NARCOLEPSY, is something completely different. Someone who suffers from Narcolepsy, can nod off at the drop of a Hat, any time, anywhere. Something completely different.

 

[rb62]

A recognised symptom of sleep apnoea is falling asleep during the day.

 

[BillyS]

A recognised symptom of sleep apnoea is falling asleep during the day.

I was diagnosed with obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome, i.e. caused due to obstructive airway( or airways) I don't fall asleep during the day. It's, that I stop breathing while asleep, which causes my wife so much worry, that made me go to the Doctors

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[MitchandJenny]

ChrisL

I thought that said CHRIST !!!
I thought, bloody hell, someone has connections !!!
Mitch.

 

[MitchandJenny]

I lost my licence for an automatic 6 months following a "Brain Fart" and just before the due date to get it back I rang up and he said I'll send a letter to show the police if you get stopped meantime..
Which he did (no-one stopped me)
But he did tell me that it takes 2 weeks for incoming mail to go from the DVLA sorting department to the correct desk !!!!!
Good eh !!!
Mitch.

 

[Puddleduck]

Just a thoughtfor all the guy who killed several people in Glasgow a couple of years ago was some kne who had hidden his tendency to lose consciousness. What is worse losing your licence till it getssorted out, our killing people. You choice.

Which is why I said I wish I voluntarily not driven for 6 months, and assuming I had no further episode (now very very very unlikely) I would then tell them ...... no way would I drive if there was ANY chance I was not fit to do so, and I am an ultra cautious soft of person.

As it was it took them 3 months or so to decide during which time i could have driven, but chose not to.

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