Not a question.

[mattie]

This has happened to me, and I'm posting it here so that others don't have to go through what I'm going through at the moment.

I have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea (OSA).
Basically, you stop breathing multiple times during the night and the brain wakes you up again to start you breathing. You are not aware of this at all, and think that you have been sound asleep all night.

Because of this I suffer from day time tiredness, poor concentration and some other symptoms.

However, as this can affect your driving, I contacted the DVLA, as I am required to do by law.
They sent me a medical questionnaire, which I filled out, and the result of this is they have revoked my driving licence.

My job requires me to drive, and I have a company car.

I can reapply for my licence once I have started treatment, and my condition is under control to the DVLA's satisfaction.

My point is this, if you are diagnosed with this, wait until you are being treated, before informing the DVLA, then you won't find yourself in my situation.

[Ethel]

That is very bad advice.

Too many accidents are caused by people falling asleep behind the wheel- it is a very real and serious problem

[Stormrush]

I agree.

How would you fancy falling asleep at the wheel when innocnet people are in your path??

I think DVLA have the RIGHT to revoke your licence.

I understand that it isnt your fault you have this condition but do you really want to be responsible for someone elses life taken or disability, or worse still soemones child??

Very very bad advice..

[THECORBYLOON]

If you are not safe to drive, what is the problem? What about folk who drive with uncorrected defective eyesight, how would you feel if the driver drove into you?

[Bathsheba]

Aah mattie, i do feel for you. I know you posted this with the best intentions, but i'm sure with hindsight, you will realize why you are getting the responses you are.
I know someone who sleeps with a mask on, and is now much better, and i know he never informed the DVLA of his condition.
You did the right thing, and i sincerely hope you haven't lost your job through your honesty x

[Marijn]

I wish you well and hope that you get your condition sorted very soon. But the DVLA are doing this for your protection and every other road user, so try not to feel got at.
Best wishes.

[sqad617]

Ethel is correct "too many accidents are caused by people falling asleep behund the wheel", BUT not necessarily due to OSA., more commonly due to long hours at the wheel, alcohol and drugs.
The DVLA, indeed have a problem, banning someone after diagnosis and before the onset of treatment will mean people who rely on their driving liscencs, will not own up.
Would you?

[bednobs]

as others have said that is Sh!t advice. You do not have a RIGHT to drive< the dva let you drive under lisense
If there is a medical condtion that makes it dangerous for you todriv they should revoke your lisense until its under cntrol. I used to share a house with someone who suffered occaisional fits. He always said to me if i found him fitting not to call an abulance because if he went to a and e with a fit he would get his lisense revoked. He thought this was a good idea till one day he had a fit while he was driving, wrote off his car and caused himself extensive injuries (luckily no-one else was hurt)
It is a crap situation for you to accept, but this is stupid, stupid, stupid advice

[sqad617]

Bednobs, if you refering to my answer, then I haven't given any advice "crap" or otherwise. If you are not, then fine.
My point was that only a minority of accidents due to falling asleep at the wheel due to OSE.
Now. if you had OSE diagnosed and started treatment, your job and your livelyhood, depended on your driving liscence being intact, knowing that your liscence would be taken away, then would YOU declare it.
I didn't give ADVICE.....I asked a QUESTION which hasn't been answered.

[mattie]

Thank you everyone for your responses, as has been said, with hindsight, it was not the best thing to say.

However, had I known that I could potentially lose my licence, I would still have gone to see the doctor.

At least I now know that I have got a treatable condition.

[bednobs]

lol i was referring to matties advice, not yours. And knobby, you are right, your spelling is awful - can't even spell my name right!

[sqad617]

I apologise bednobs.

[sara3]

mattie, sorry to hear about your condition and I hope you get some respite soon.

I have to go with the majority though. it worries me how many people drive around with various conditions, when they could be a danger to themselves or others.

can your employers give you some home or office based work in the meantime?

[mattie]

Sara3, unfortunately not, my job requires me to go wherever is necessary, I don't have a regular place of work, nor can I work from home.

What I have found interesting is the advice given by the doctors I have seen.

When it was suggested that I may be suffering from sleep apnoea, I was merely advised by the doctor not to drive, and was not told that I had to inform the DVLA of a potential condition.

I was signed off for 6 weeks, during which I had further tests. I voluntarily didn't use the car, even though there was nothing stopping me from doing so.

Even when the diagnosis was confirmed, I still wasn't told to inform anyone, I already knew that I had to.

[sqad617]

Pragmatic and sensible doctors.....in my opinion.

[sara3]

my ex had 2 mini-strokes within 2 days, and the hospital said he was okay to drive when I asked. 2 days after that he had a massive stroke, so there's no way he was well enough to drive.

at least you used your common sense, and I applaud you for that. all the best x