Driving Advice

[Mr Stefan]

Driving

Well done to Jossmax, I agree with you, be honest with the DVLA.

It is a a time of worry not knowing if you meet the standards, and I realise the upheaval it will cause some folks not being able to drive, is it possible to check with your sleep clinic, to check on your status prior to asking the DVLA to review your case?

Best of luck to all those who are awaiting news from the DVLA.

Mr Stefan

[jossmax]

What the DVLA want to know is that you are compliant with their stated rules.
Minimum of 4 hours of quality sleep.
I was lucky in getting such a fast turn around with my sleep clinic and put on APAP very quickly. Regards the timing, I referred to my timing. That is to say as soon as i had been using the APAP for 2 weeks I then notified the DVLA. They sent out the forms, by which time I had my APAP card read and details printed and sent to my consultant the same day as I had an appointment with him.
SO Yes I more than met DVLA requirements. More over I had the information to then give the DVLA and back that up with the report the consultant did.

[GrumpyBiker]

By no means official advice but my NHS trust told me that the DVLA will allow 3 months grace period before you advise them, to give time to get 'on treatment'. That is officially allowed, ie in the written DVLA rules, for some other reportable conditions so it seems reasonable to me.
I was however, one of the lucky ones who was advised of the diagnosis and placed on APAP the same day.What I did once I suspected I had OSA and started on the path to treatment was google everything I could on the subject as I have always had a healthy distrust of advice given by bored 'official' sources.
I have done the same with my otosclerosis and my family histories of various health issues. We owe it to ourselves to be well informed.


Andy

[Floatyboaty]

It does not always work that simply though, you only have to read these threads to know that. It is a postcode lottery as to timing and whether you have your licence revoked or not. It does also depend on who you speak to in DVLA and what you say. It should not be like that but it is.
We need to be really careful on the advice we offer on here as although in general, most of us have had a 'fairly easy ride' unfortunately some GP's have taken it upon themselves to inform DVLA on our behalf before we have had opportunity to get a machine, let alone get compliant (and DVLA say we are), (well that is how I read some of the reported cases on here).Please let us be under no illusions here, for some people this DVLA reporting system is not quite as straight forward as some of us lucky ones have found it and there are many inconsistencies.

[silvercarper]

As the provision of CPAP machine and full face mask was delayed this completely messed up my timing for informing the DVLA. It meant that I had to say ,on the forms, that I was not being treated.
I was advised by the DVLA to surrender my license rather than have it taken away.
This finally made me buy my own mask and the hospital supplied the APAP 2 days later.
Rather than surrendering my license I have written to the DVLA that I am now being treated and my "oximeter" was OK.
I am now waiting now for a reply.
The only good thing is I have timed it right to coincde with the fishing close season.

[Brummie Jon]

3 month grace period

Hi

I asked the DVLA about this 3 month grace period and they told me that it was not true, we are expected to tell the DVLA immediately we get the letter, by telephone or email preferably. As soon as possible these days is very quickly indeed.

*BJ*

[silvercarper]

Surely if the consultant / doctor tells you not to drive you dont drive. end of story.
Informing the DVLA is the paper work which is a pain.

[threewheelweave]

What I Did - Hope it Helps!

Hi

I was refered by my doctor. I undertook the oxygen test at home which was inconclusive. I begged for a cancellation to be seen quicker. I got one the same day! I had a one hour meeting with the second to the main consultant at Papworth. He said based on the evidence I had presented I had OSA but nothing in writing. He then offered another larger test at home, I said that I had found the oxygen test bad enough to get on with and explained that I was not going to mess the clinic about and could I go straight to a full sleep study trial. He asked if I wanted "Gold Star" treatment and I told him it would be very much appreciated! He thought about it for a minute and then showed me the form - he said "you've got your wish"! I received an appointment within a week offering me a place in three weeks time. I called them up and told them that I would like to take any cancellation they looked at my notes and said it was written across the top of every page! I then got a phone call three days later and they offered me a slot that night - I took it immediately. I had my sleep trial and said yes to every additional consultants study programme. After the trial the main consultant Dr Tim Quinnell came and told me they had the answer and new what was happening. He said I'd be sent a further appointment to come in to test out on a machine. I asked for any cancellation and told him that I had taken everyone offered to get this far I reiterated that I was not going to be one of the 100 missed appointments and that if there was anything he could do I would really appreciate it! He was persuaded and told me that if there was a bed that night it was mine. Twenty minutes later his senior nurse came back and said I had got the bed, I briefly went home to update my family and returned to Papworth by 6pm. I was moved to the sleep ward as they had had a further cancellation - I got my loan machine and was measured up for a mask. They showed me a nasel mask and a full face mask I told them I was a mouth breather and was issued with a Resmed Quattro FF Mask. I was shown how to put the mask on and adjust it and commenced my first night under observation and adjustment with CPAP. By about 3am the excellent staff had added a humidifier at my request and had adjusted the pressures to 7cmH2O by 4am I had it up to 8cmH2O and then followed the best 4hours sleep I can remember in twenty years!
I was discharged with loads of info and contact numbers and went home the following day. I have used my machine everyday since. After a week on the machine I contacted DVLA by telephone and requested the forms. They came about a week later. (By then had a copy of my consultants letter sent to me.) I waited a week then filled the DVLA forms in accurately with as much detail as possible. I also told them that I was feeling great and that the machine was being used every night and that "I no longer had excessive daytime drowsiness". I have never felt better. I also informed HR at work and gave them a summary of my treatment and the DVLA ref number.

Three weeks later (TODAY) I have received a letter from the DVLA telling me that I can keep my license without any restrictions!

I can tell you that is a serious weight off my mind! Life for me and my family with a wife currently in a wheelchair (broken her leg in two places!) living in the countryside, working in a remote county town would be impossible without a license to drive! I am a very happy bunny indeed!

Hope this helps someone else out there! Take care of yourselves - Cheers!

TWW
UK

[Tigers Fan]

Two parts to the problem

Hi GrumpyBiker - I agree, we owe it to ourselves to be well informed.

Hi threewheelweave - well done to another pro-active member who didn't lose his licence.

Hi FloatyBoaty and a few others - are you not confusing two separate issues?
First, the post code lottery exists in the NHS and gives us all different problems about becoming compliant on CPAP. Second, the DVLA have a set of rules with which we have to conform if we don't want to lose our licence (ask for the forms, fill them out truly and return within 21 days). Or is it 28 days?

As I've always said, it's a matter of timing - we have to get onto CPAP and be compliant before we are obliged to return the forms to the DVLA. Now, if the NHS in your area will not or cannot play ball and get you a machine and mask in time (to match DVLA's requirements), then surely it is decision time for you.

On one hand, if I wait for the NHS I will lose my licence. On the other, James will sell me an Apex XT-III for £239 or a SleepCube Standard for £250 and a Zzz Nasal for £49 or a Zzz Full face for £74 - cheapest rig £288, most expensive ££324. It will arrive in a couple of days and I don't need to lose my licence.

Haven't got £300? - beg or borrow it, don't go on holiday, etc, etc. Ask Brummie Jon to put a value on what losing his licence has cost him, in cash and pain. Compare it to losing your job, house, etc.

It's not fair? - tell me about it! but let's not pretend we are all victims and can't take action to avoid losing our licences. And if you REALLY want unfair, ask someone with cancer of the throat if they'd swap for OSA!

Lose your licence or retain it - your choice.

Tigers Fan

[silvercarper]

The woman I spoke to at the DVLA seemed to be aware that people were having to buy CPAP equipment.
In my case she was interested in how much it cost to buy the full face mask I had to get.
I think its worth making the DVLA aware of the post code lottery.

[threewheelweave]

Strong Points!

Hi

Tigers Fan makes a strong point and one that is all too real with me!

My sister inlaw had cancer strike her 21 months ago so knowing what my brother and his wife have been through really does put OSA in context.

Cancer treatment is also a postcode lottery - she is 16 months in full remission and had the best treatment possible - if she still resided near where I live she would not have got the treatment she did - very fortunately my brother and his wife moved to an area a few months previously with the best specialist cancer unit in the UK (when they moved they had no idea it was going to prove SO IMPORTANT!) Best decision they ever made!

Good advice to get the dosh together and get a machine yourself any which way you can - it has to be better than no license!

Get as much info on your subject - we did endless searches to understand the latest treatment thinking for the cancer and it really paid off - being well informed is worth all the effort!

Take care of yourselves - cheers!

TWW
UK

[kim sheree]

No not yet I am hoping that 'no news is good news' as the saying goes, but at the back of my mind is the thought , how would I appeal such a finding, who would I need to contact, what would I say etc etc
I have submitted myself to the procedure and I am following all the advice given and am getting at least 6-8 hours of use with the CPAP device, so I can do no more.
I hope everyone else who should have contacted the DVLA has do so as I think it could cause problems if as a result of an accident it was reveled OSA was a contributing factor.
Thanks for the interest as soon as I am made aware of the findings I will post the outcome.
Mr Stefan

Have you now had a favourable response from DVLA
kim

[Gruffie]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and this is my first post - I hope you're all getting on ok with your treatment!

I have a particular issue with informing the DVLA of my OSA and hope you guys would be able to offer some advice!

Just over a year ago I was diagnosed with mild OSA by a private clinic and the consultant advised that I would probably be ok with a mandibular advancement device. He didnt mention driving or contacting the DVLA (neither did my GP) and it didnt even cross my mind to contact them as although I felt tired I didnt actually suffer from sleepyness.

Fast forward one year and my new girlfriend said that I was still snoring even though I was wearing the mouth splint. I was also still suffering from some tiredness during the day. I went back to my GP and got refered to a sleep clinic through the NHS. They diagnosed me again with mild OSA (9 events per hour) in April and they said I must notify the DVLA but to wait untill I started on CPAP. I've just completed a 2 week trial with an auto CPAP machine and now have my very own Resmed spirit. The sleep clinic are happy with the results (I averaged 5 hours a night in the trial, and am now up to 7 hours a night as I've gotten more comfortable with it) and said I should now notify the DVLA.

The problem is, I'm not sure what I should say to the DVLA - will there be a problem given that I had a diagnosis last year and wasnt even aware that I should have notified them? The clinic are satisfied that I'm compliant and I certainly don't have any symptoms now I'm on CPAP (and the missus actually finds the gentle wooshing noise quite soothing!).

Many thanks for your help!

[GrumpyBiker]

When you contact the DVLA they will send you a form to fill in. This asks the dates you saw your doctor/hospital. I would give the dates of the last series of visits. You will also be able to state you are compliant on tratment by CPAP and that you are not suffering from daytime sleepiness. This will mean that the DVLA will write back to tell you that you can keep your licence.

Andy

[gargler]

Gruffie,
Go to this website and you will find all the info you need plus be able to download the forms that you need to submit to DVLA:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/Index.htm

Steve