Well, here goes, first night of treatment

[Brummie Jon]

Enough of the hostility.......

Third night on CPAP......... 7 hours straight...
No leakage, no blocked nose, no sore bridge of nose or upper lip..... all good so far
AHI 7.8

Not feeling any different to usual, slept on the train to work and in the car during my lift home...........

perhaps I have a lot of sleep to catch up on, or maybe I don't have OSA.......

next........

BJ

[leswaller]

I think you have got a lot of sleep to catch up on. Also are you being more active when you are awake

[DevonBound]

Becoming slightly boring - but what the heck!

Okay I will add my final comments on this - until another comment ticks me off!

Taking advice on the DVLA from someone who had a very smooth ride bites a little....
My case is well documented in this forum - but can I add, certainly for myself and most likely Brummie Jon - we were advised to inform the DVLA by the Doctor....This I did (regretfully!!) I filled in their forms with utmost honesty...now this is were it gets a little hazy to me...Tigers Fan are you suggesting that when this form arrives, having being diagnosed at this stage to have OSA, that we should fill in the part that reads: Do you suffer from Daytime Tiredness - that we should have filled in NO? Having discussed my revokation with the DVLA until I was blue in the face - they tell me it was this section alone that got me an automatic revoking of licence.....Surely everyone who believes to be suffering with or has been diagnosed with OSA will answer this section YES! you should then expect Automatic revoking of licence if not on CPAP.....This was the case with Brummie Jon and I....maybe we should have lied!, after all, myself personally, have driven for 20yrs without so much as a bump or felt collar...perhaps I should have said no - is this waht you sugest to newbies? otherwise Tigers Fan telling the truth will get your licence revoked - ignore the 90 day waiver grace they are supposed to give you - didn't happen!
As for getting your licence back quickly - forget it, if only life was as simple as you see the DVLA's consistency!.......Point Made? Probably not!

Anyway what am I all in a lather about - being CPAP complaint for 8 weeks now and after the 2nd application for the return of my drivers licence I have just been given my liberty back today and am free once more to enjoy the pleasures of the road!

[Brummie Jon]

excellent news

Hi

Great news getting your licence back DB, if I get mine back within 8 weeks I guess I'd see that as a result. I shall send my DVLA form back at the end of this week and see what happens.

I didn't have such a good night last night. I woke up at about 3am unable to breathe with a totally blocked and dry nose. Took of the mask and slept (?) without it. When I woke up, no blocked nose, the lack of humidity is definately drying me up. I don't know whether to get a humidifier or to flush my sinuses before bed every night. I imagine a good regular flushing would help in more ways than one...... I'd still like to avoid a humidifier if I can. My sleep technician is only at the sleep clinic on Thursdays so I ask her advice then.

*JP*

[GrumpyBiker]

Why the reluctance for the humidifier? I was suffereing with a dry mouth (I am a mouth-breather and use a full-face mask) until I was issued with a himidifier.
Some of the reading I have done on OSA suggests that there may be some damage to nasal tissue resulting from long-term drying out of the nose as a result of PAP thereapy. The (controlable) issue of rainout is, in my opinion, minor in comparison.

Andy

[GrumpyBiker]

Okay I will add my final comments on this - until another comment ticks me off!

Taking advice on the DVLA from someone who had a very smooth ride bites a little....
My case is well documented in this forum - but can I add, certainly for myself and most likely Brummie Jon - we were advised to inform the DVLA by the Doctor....This I did (regretfully!!) I filled in their forms with utmost honesty...now this is were it gets a little hazy to me...Tigers Fan are you suggesting that when this form arrives, having being diagnosed at this stage to have OSA, that we should fill in the part that reads: Do you suffer from Daytime Tiredness - that we should have filled in NO? Having discussed my revokation with the DVLA until I was blue in the face - they tell me it was this section alone that got me an automatic revoking of licence.....Surely everyone who believes to be suffering with or has been diagnosed with OSA will answer this section YES! you should then expect Automatic revoking of licence if not on CPAP.....This was the case with Brummie Jon and I....maybe we should have lied!, after all, myself personally, have driven for 20yrs without so much as a bump or felt collar...perhaps I should have said no - is this waht you sugest to newbies? otherwise Tigers Fan telling the truth will get your licence revoked - ignore the 90 day waiver grace they are supposed to give you - didn't happen!
As for getting your licence back quickly - forget it, if only life was as simple as you see the DVLA's consistency!.......Point Made? Probably not!

Anyway what am I all in a lather about - being CPAP complaint for 8 weeks now and after the 2nd application for the return of my drivers licence I have just been given my liberty back today and am free once more to enjoy the pleasures of the road!

DB, what I am suggesting is that you use the 'reasonable time' to notify DVLA. If like myself, you are put onto PAP thereapy quickly or imediately, then wait a few weeks to inform DVLA. This will allow the patient, like me, to answer honestly that they no longer suffer from daytime sleepiness. It is far easier to hang on to the licence than it is to get it back. That three-month grace period is the time you are allowed before informing DVLA - not for them to use once informed. I believe the more we can inform other folk of the way to play the DVLA game, the less disruption they are likely to experience without being a danger to themselves or others.

Andy

[Tigers Fan]

GrumpyBiker rules OK!!

Dear! dear! I'm away for a couple of days and my words are twisted into suggesting you lie to the DVLA!!

You say it perfectly, GB, but I doubt they (DB and BJ) can hear because of their mind set. A new perspective is required, chaps! The days of deference are gone, thank gawd. GPs and Consultants are medical people. What they know about DVLA is similar to what we know. Anyway, would you say 'yes' to a dickectomy just because they said you needed one?

You don't need to tell the DVLA anything until you have a confirmed diagnosis of OSA.

They give you time to get treatment but don't hang around, particularly if you go the NHS route.

NOBODY except yourself can know whether or not you are sleepy during the day. Tell the DVLA that you are and they take your licence away.

Get PAP therapy, get compliance so you are not sleepy during the day. Tell DVLA that you have OSA are on PAP therapy and are not sleepy during the day (providing that is a true statement, DB!) and they say 'thanks for letting us know'.

I'm delighted it's over for you and you are driving again, DB!

Tigers Fan

[DevonBound]

Guys - Almost tired of this point...but maybe just a few more rounds in me yet!

GB, to all newbie’s to this forum, your points are absolutely correct and I would advocate your statement to all who have yet to be confirmed with OSA and awaiting treatment....likewise, as I have to all my friends and work colleagues....Lets hope the debate within this post reaches all before they make the mistake of contacting the DVLA pre-treatment!

Tigers Fan, speaking for myself here; through bad experiences only and not through having a particular mind set, my situation played out due to the very poor medical advice that I received about informing the DVLA early, and not because I feel like taking my anger out on someone simply because I have been diagnosed with a condition I don't particularly care much for...
I have no angst for this world, except against beaurocracy for beaurocracies sake....talking to the DVLA is like talking to another person and them putting their hand in your face and stopping your conversation short because they know better and then ends the conversation by walking away with their hands over their ears....there was no medical evidence backing their decision to revoke my licence and they weren't prepared to even talk to me about it! How frustrating is that!!....but for me it has been a horribly frustrating time with needless chains of events mainly down to a rather inflexible system......and taking your point from one of your earlier posts, I also agree that if someone is uncontrollably tired without treatment - take their licence! but before you do that, get personal and ask the right questions from them...because the DVLA Medical forms ask only two things:
1) Are you tired during the day - Yes! and
2) Are you receiving treatment - No!.....
This should have warranted an investigation surely?

And it is this point only which I ever intended to get across - the system is far too rigid and your experiences of this system are far to cool to be lecturing me on rights and wrongs of DVLA's system......if you were still a dependant working man and were caught in the same cross fire from the DVLA; and don't get me wrong, I am under no disillusions that many have gone before me; I rather think that your tolerance level would have shrunk beyond recognition....and although I don't know you perse - I know enough about you from your reaction to these threads to know that your patience would have faltered just like mine & BJ's...

Anyway....all is right with the world once more for me (except my darned AHI Reading, I will gladly take your advice on that!) and here’s to the DVLA and all who fall foul to her!

[Tigers Fan]

Last and final post on this topic

Dear DevonBound

I'm worn out by this! Enough! No more! Mercy!

You say, "not through having a particular mind set, my situation played out due to the very poor medical advice that I received about informing the DVLA early." And I say that is a mind set - since when does advice about telling the DVLA constitute medical advice?

But the mind set I'm really hung up on is your insistence that the DVLA need medical evidence to back up their decision. Their decision is based on the 'Yes' and 'No' answers you detail. You gave them the information that The Rules stipulate MUST result in a suspended licence.

"should have warranted an investigation surely?" What for? What is to investigate about 'Yes' and about 'No'? Where do you think the grey area lies? Who would you have pay for an investigation for every upset ex-driver?

A mind set is that you deserve a different set of Rules to the rest of us, even if you didn't bother to find out what the Rules are, but unthinkingly did what your Doctor told you.

I cannot find rigidity in a system that falls over backwards to leave you in control and gives you time to get treatment. If you choose to relinquish that control and forfeit that time, it is your chcoice, no-one else's - not even the Doctor whose advice you took.

Had I lost my licence as you did? 'Fuming' would not cover it, I'd be incandescent - at myself, not the DVLA! But then, I wouldn't lose my licence as you did, I'd find out for myself what was required and what the pitfalls were. Oh! that I had always got it right, that I had never made huge mistakes that cost me dearly - but I have learned not to rush into anything, especially things involving Government Departments!!!

Had your posts been about, " Don't fall into the same trap and make the same mistake that I did", with a view to helping those following you, you would have received nothing but support and admiration from me. Instead, you chose to jump on BJ's band-wagon and blame the DVLA - we know my reaction to that.

I've been lecturing you? I think that comment belongs in the doing what Doctor tells you mind set.

Talking civilly with you again (from another thread)? I have never done otherwise and not noticed that you hadn't - except you are not civil in your comments about the DVLA, who are ordinary working people doing their job, administering the Rules.

Now, can I keep my word and not repond to another few rounds?

Tigers Fan

PS I'm truly delighted that you have your licence back. BJ should have his as well, very soon.

[DevonBound]

Alright - We will have to agree to disagree on this one.....I don't think there will ever be a last word here otherewise!....but for the record I still disagree!

I am now (As mentioned before) committed to the cause of warning others about the pitfalls of the DVLA where OSA is concerned.....lets hope this post gets to those before they fall into the same trap that I did!

[Floatyboaty]

I too, never 'lost' my licence. When I was diagnosed and the letter said to inform the dvla I looked up what I needed to do on DirectGov. I then waited for my appointment at the sleep clinic which was 4 days away as I wanted to ask questions.

After this appointment where I was issued with my cpap I waited a week to see if treatment would work, which it did. I then phoned dvla. They sent me a form by return I sent in my form as soon as I received it and less than 2 weeks later received a letter to say that I fitted the medical criteria and could carry on driving but to contact them if anything changed.

Mind you, I had not driven for nearly 2 years as looking back now I think my body had already decided for itself that I was not fit to drive.

I am now feeling so much better and know that I will start to drive again soon as I now keep awake as a passenger on long journeys of 3 hours or more which is a really good sign.

My advice to any newbies is to read up on the subject before you do anything else.

[Tigers Fan]

I rest easy

DB and Fb, you have made my perfect morning complete (well, except for I can't figure how to change the time on my Cotton Traders 'Weather Station'. It's always problematic but today it is really trying to wind me up. What it doesn't know, of course, is what bins are for!) One of you continues to disagree with me about something and the other confirms there is nothing to disagree about.

But my delight is about being onboard for helping those who follow us on this CPAP journey. It's a great gift you give - in my life, third after giving time and after openly listening, is sharing ourselves with others.

You'll have noticed that I'm so delighted that I've posted again. I am so delighted!!

Don't you just love being alive and waking up after getting a good kip? PAP rules OK!!

Tigers Fan

[Brummie Jon]

I guess that I was just unlucky

Hi

I guess I was just unlucky that there was a five week gap between being diagnosed with OSA and getting treatment.

PAP does not rule OK for me, permanent weight loss, a healthy lifestyle and losing the mask is the way I'm headed..... Surely what we all want is to eventually lose our OSA and not be propped up by the crutch of CPAP ? ............

*JP*

[Tigers Fan]

Laudable goal

Way to go, BJ - but in the meantime ........

[Poppy56]

weight

What if you're not overweight? I'm not particularly overweight and live a very healthy lifestyle but I still have OSA.