Medical

[rdenhomer]

I have had a letter to book a medical with the dvla Doctor I have to go to my doctors for a blood test next week is it worth going or should I wait until I have the medical with the dvla

[LAJ123]

Hello rdenhomer,

I'm not sure how the two are connected. If your GP is getting bloods from you, s/he has a reason for doing so, so you should go.

Jim

[AyrshireK]

Don't know what your story is but the two doctors appointments are seperate issues and you should still go for your blood test.

[rdenhomer in reply to AyrshireK]

I have had my hgv licence taken of me I had spell in hospital and they sent a note to my doctor saying I am a heavy drinker this was 2 and half years ago since then I have had to renew my hgv licence now they are saying I have to prove I am not dependent on drink that's why I. Am not sure about two blood tests

[LAJ123]

rdenhomer,

The two issues are separate.

When I applied for a new license due to changed address, I filled in the medical information part with complete honesty about the reason for my liver transplant, which was alcohol related.

Then I was sent for a medical, answered a few questions and had bloods taken. Got my new license a month later. So if you're fit and healthy and can show you're not alcohol dependent, preferably alcohol free, you should have no problem. You might find they issue a short term license, I have to renew mine in one year. Interestingly, at no time was my license actually suspended, but it would have been had the medical shown alcohol dependence.

One thing you need to be aware of is that the blood test does not simply test for alcohol actually in the sample, but it detects the level of alcohol intake for long before the sample was taken. So the tactic some use, of no alcohol for a week or so before the test is a waste of time.

As a heavy goods vehicle driver, you have a higher standard to meet, so its right that you should be asked to prove you're not a risk to others while driving.

As for the GP visit, its important that you attend.

I hope all goes well for you.

Jim

[RodeoJoe in reply to LAJ123]

That's interesting. I had cirrhosis diagnosed at 27 years old. It always remained as cryptogenic (or cause unknown) but virus and alcohol were eliminated. Because of this the consultant advised me that I could continue to drink alcohol as long as it was 14 units or less a week. I did that for years, but as my liver decreased in function and I felt sicker I naturally gave up both alcohol and cigarettes as my body sort of rejected both. This was about a year before I became really ill and ended up in hospital the first consultant I presented to at my local hospital refused to believe I wasn't a heavy drinker and it wasn't until after biopsy that he acknowledged that my cirrhosis was not caused by alcohol and I hadn't been recently drinking. From this I was led to believe that it wasn't possible to test for drinking more than a week or so before by blood test alone and a biopsy was required.

[LAJ123 in reply to RodeoJoe]

Hello there,

hope you're well.

Perhaps this might explain. This is the standard test used by the DVLA. All samples are sent to Kings College hospital.

Jim

viapath.co.uk/sites/default...

[LAJ123 in reply to LAJ123]

This site also explains how alcohol use over the previous 7 - 14 days can be assessed.

cellmark.co.uk/drug_testing...

[Geffy22]

Agree with above, the two are separate.

I assume you stopped drinking,so tell the doc about your licence and you want to show no alcohol and they may add in a gla test - it is primarily used to see if a patient is drinking. This would be good evidence for your data doc appointment.

Good luck