Driving Licence

[mistymopps]

I have just been informed by DVLA that I have lost my driving licence. Their reasons are that I have apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and frequent symptomatic episodes of atrial fibrillation and that I am on the list for an ablation. I have had apical HCM diagnosed in 2013 so that's not new. The only symptoms I have with AF is palpitations in my stomach (not chest) and irregular heart beat. No fainting or lightheaded or chest pain. My pulse will go to 90 but then returns to around mid 70s-early 80s. My AF is paroxysmal. When in NSR my heart rate is 60. I would welcome any advice on how to get my licence back. The DVLA say I need 4 weeks of controlled AF and the backing of my consultant, but I don't know what the standard "controlled" is. Please help I really need to be able to drive.

[Hidden]

Is it just a Car licence, or Bus, Lorry etc?

[CDreamer]

I have never had any difficult with having AF and driving - have you ring them and spoken to them? And I am a bit more symptomatic than you describe.

For other conditions I had to fill in a long form, they then wrote to my consultant, I had to pass tests and once everything got the green light I got my licence back but with a 3 year renewal requirement.

[cassie46 in reply to CDreamer]

Last December I had to renew my license as I was 70. I had to fill in all my details again which included AF (permanent) and glaucoma. I had to take a eye test for the glaucoma. On the normal DVLA form I believe that they ignore AF only if you have fainting bouts or are unable to drive do they want to know. Because it was for the 70 license I did have to fill in all my medical details, so had to put Consultants name, hospital and the last treatment and appointments for last year I think for the AF. Had the eye test (even though I had seen my eye consultant one week before the test) and passed. Received my license a few weeks later.

I do not think it is because of the ablation, never heard of that before unless they have changed the rules again. I would say my AF is not conrolled, my heart rate varies throughout the day anything from 80 to 110, but I do not have many symtoms, I am on medications but they do not conroll it completely. I am having to consider a pace and ablate, this will help but it will not cure or controll AF completely.

Your other medical problem I assume that this had been already advised to the DVLA and no action taken.

I wold contact to them and ask why they made this decision, seems very odd. Let us know how you get on.

Cassie

[CDreamer in reply to cassie46]

Hi Cassie - my AF is not controlled - whatever that means - and my HR varies from 55 - 185. Those questions weren't asked on the form I filled in. I can't take any medications and they didn't even want details of my AF consultant.

I had to have the eye test - for a different condition and did lose my license when I had double vision but I got it back after 6 months when the DV was under control within 2 weeks after applying for it and fulfilling all of the criteria.

I declare 3 conditions.

[cassie46 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CD

My HR also goes upto 180 at times but the quoted 80 to 110 is what I call normal day to day rate. Saying you must have 4 weeks of controlled AF is daft - what does it mean - you have to be symptom free and HR must be steady? Not many of us could comply with this.

[Hidden]

I have exercise induced AF but that didn't affect my Group 1 licence to drive a car. As Koll has referred to, the medical requirements for HGV and PSV are stricter than for Group 1. It seems to depend which part of the DVLA Medical Group review the medical criteria for your licence. I held a Group 1 licence that was clean for 50 years. In July 2016 I had a stroke that means I have I am blind on my right side. In June this year I sent the DVLA Medical Group my opthalmic test results showing that I have 6/6 vision - I can read the bottom line of an eye test card - and, confirmation from a one hour assessment by a driving instructor on non-public roads with traffic, that I can meet the current driving test standard. Fourteen weeks later despite DVLA having access to my medical records, I received a letter stating that they wouldn't look at the eye test results without a letter from a GP stating amongst other things, that a stroke is not a progressive and degenerative disease. On the other hand I know an 81 year old with an inoperable tumour on the aorta who is deemed fit and safe to drive. I wish you luck but be prepared for frustration, inadequate public transport and having to ask for lifts.

[1Jerbear]

Here in the U.S. the requirements for commercial license (big trucks) keeps getting more strict ,but a car license not too bad yet . When renewing a license for car just take an eye exam .