ICD AND DRIVING

[MarieMarie1]

Hi All, What's the score with driving with an ICD. I Have received conflicting advice. I believe you have to stop for 1 month after device fitting if icd fitted for precautionary reason or you had a ventricular arrhythmia without incapacity? I understand otherwise if shocked 6 month driving ban?Have most of you managed to continue driving normally?

[Lowerfield_no_more]

You must let the DVLA know you have an ICD fitted. The form is on the DVLA site. You are not allowed to drive for 6 months from fitting and then you are assessed for fitness to drive

gov.uk/guidance/cardiovascu...

[MarieMarie1 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thank you for your prompt reply. DVLA have been informed accordingly, as for 6 months not allowed to drive did you have a cardiac arrest, lose consciousness then I understand that is 6 months but government sites states 1 month not allowed to drive if you did not lose capacity.

[Lezzers in reply to MarieMarie1]

Hi Marie

You're quite right that if the ICD is fitted as a precaution and not because of an event then the no driving is for a month. If the ICD has been fitted because of an event or if it delivers therapy then it's 6 months no driving. It's a rolling 6 months, so if your ICD delivers another therapy during this period then the 6 months starts over again. However, you don't have to be incapacitated for the 6 months no driving to apply , the DVLA guidance is that if therapy is delivered for tachycardia thats likely to cause incompacity then the no driving is 6 months, I've screenshot the DVLA advice for you & below is the DVLA link that covers ICD's. However the hospital or pacing clinic will advise if the no driving is 1 month or 6 months. I hope it helps.

gov.uk/guidance/cardiovascu...

DVLA

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to MarieMarie1]

Sorry for providing misleading information. You are quite right that there are several different qualifying conditions on closer inspection of the info in the gov.uk link I provided. In being the definitive legal instruction regarding ICDs and driving, non compliance may mean a driving offence has been committed, as I am sure you are aware, so it is in the licence holder's interest to get it right as you are doing, especially as there are several different clauses with different outcomes as I have now discovered.

[FrankWillbe]

Don't just start to drive again, check with the ICD team. My car insurance won't cover me again until I was medically cleared, which was when I had the ICD check up.

[MarieMarie1 in reply to FrankWillbe]

Hi Frank, He is not driving and has his ICD check up in a couple of weeks as I said.

[MDR1]

Hi my ICD is precautionary and I informed the DVLA and my insurance company. I was told not to drive for one month, at the end of which the DVLA automatically contacted me and told me I could drive again. The insurance company was fine with it.

[Gazania27]

Hi, my husband had an ICD fitted following a sudden cardiac arrest on 6th December last year, he has had a shock in Jan and Feb, everything you arrest and it shocks you the 6 months start again from the date of the last shock. The hospital should have informed you, the hospital my husband was in told him at least 5 times thatbits 6 months! He doesn't even drive

[MarieMarie1 in reply to Gazania27]

Hi thanks for sharing thar. My partner was told by the hospital after fitting it 1 month but then received a letter from the DVLA indicating 6 months. His heart did stop beating for a while apparently but he didn't lose any consciousness or capacity. He obviously would not drive for the 6 months if he was to be shocked

[MarieMarie1 in reply to Gazania27]

I meant to add sorry to hear your husband went into Cardiac arrest last year and has had several shocks since, I am sure it is a scary time for you x

[MarieMarie1 in reply to Gazania27]

Hi, Can I ask were you about when he has had his shocks? What does he do and what do you do?

[Gazania27 in reply to MarieMarie1]

Hi Marie , I have been with him for the very first time he went into SCA, and did the CPR, and for the 2 subsequent shocks he has had in Jan and Feb. Both shocks he was just sitting on the sofa, he got a pain in the center of his chest on the first one in January, went very clammy and sweaty , he just flopped back in the sofa , then a few seconds later the ICD delivered the shock, He jumped up of the cushion and his arms went up , only way I can describe it was he looked like he was doing the Mexican wave.

He then came round instantly and asked me why I was crying , he had no idea what had happened.

Second time on the sofa again, no pain this time , he had some water as he felt dizzy and light headed and very weak and then same thing g again as the first time, indo t think he was ad unconscious the second time as he felt the shock and said a rude word, but came round instantly and didn't remember anything like last time. It's very odd to watch it happen and also very frightening xx

[MarieMarie1 in reply to Gazania27]

Thank you so much for sharing that with me and others. Yes I am sure very frightening times but how I incredible the ICDS are.Did you call the ambulance after the shocks for a check up or do you getting a call from the device team?

[Gazania27 in reply to MarieMarie1]

The first shock he got I called ambulance , the second one we phoned the hospital and they told us to come in .

[Tykes2608]

Hi in my experience I had 10 months without a licence..... initial 6 months but if shocked the 6 months start again