You may be aware that if you've lost your driving licence solely due to an eyesight defect after a stroke, that you can exceptionally apply for a driving assessment after 12 months, subject to a number of criteria. Not driving for 12 months and then an assessment on roads that you may not know is daunting. If that applies to you, see if there is a race track near you that does advance road driving assessments for 17 year olds (no licence needed), with the paddock and track set up with roundabouts etc. I was surprised and delighted that a nearby race track is happy to accommodate me with one to one instruction and assessment.
Reapplying for driving licence after a s... - Different Strokes
Reapplying for driving licence after a stroke
44 Replies
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Exercise.
I am 58 and had a hemorrhagic stroke some six months ago. I've had setbacks along the way, not least of which was almost 3 months with no hospital cover until I had a decompensated episode 3 weeks ago. First Doctor or Nurse I'd seen on the specialist stroke team since nearly 2 weeks before that. No point in pointing, because that doesn't get me anywhere. Thankfully, I'm getting sorted now.
Anyway, the reason I'm responding to this one is my driving, I used to be a first class driver and this has knocked everything to bits, I'm gutted. I could see that I wasn't strong enough a while ago, but now, now I've got my car working and I AM stronger, I'm still not strong enough. More exercise is the only way. More, more, more exercise. My right arm and leg aren't as strong as I'd like, not nearly. More exercise.
Exercise.
in reply to TonyToo
Do you have a disability driving centre near you drivingmobility.org.uk
I recall that their assessment costs about £40 if you are referred or £80 if you are not referred.
TonyToo in reply to
There's one in Derby and a p/t one in Newark, so not too far. Still, further than I've been in 6 months.
I think any problem lies with the physical side of things (I know that's what they're there for) as both the Physio and the Specialist have given me the go-ahead mentally, so the physical's where to start. I want to rule out any possibility of a "normal" resolution to this state of affairs first before deciding on a different course of action.
My GP is a strange kettle of fish, I haven't seen the surgery in at least 2 years, maybe 3 (until next week) so I have no idea what they think.
It's one big adventure!
in reply to TonyToo
Arm strength and mobility don't need a gym. You can exrercise with a can of baked beans and try a variety of exercise bands.
TonyToo in reply to
Yup, got that. Only the can of beans is a bottle of tomato ketchup haha
Got an exercise band too. Wondering how to use it though, not exactly user friendly are they? 
At least some of them have hand or foot holds...
in reply to TonyToo
Depending on the strength of the resistance band put one end under your foot, or put your foot in the middle of the band. Hold the end(s) of the band in your hand(s) then keep your elbow(s) to your side(s) and raise your fist(s) towards your shoulder(s) to strengthen your upper arms. There are many exercises on YouTube. This one is aimed at women but so what: youtube.com/watch?v=MUcEtrx...
Most of the exercise classes that I go to or have been to - Pilates, yoga, Fit Ball, Body Balance, Spin, Abbs, Circuits - are 90% to 100% female but in no way are they easy; guys you're missing out!
Bands come in different resistances and if your grip is a problem either get some bands with hand holds, or tie a loop big enough for your hand, or thread the end through a short piece of plastic pipe - say an inch in diameter - so that you can grip it. However boring it might seem, the end result can be worth it. Just give yourself small targets along the way.
TonyToo in reply to
I couldn't agree more.
sorry for the short answer, but going to see my GP for the first time in years this morning, will give long one later.
TonyToo in reply to
For driving, I need more suppleness in my right ankle coupled with some more strength generally. More awareness of where my toes are autonomously... Not a big ask.
My arm/hand is quite good and continues to improve (as does my foot) so I reckon at max a month and I'll be back on the road.
BRING IT ON! 
Wittycjt in reply to
I see you make posts like this on here as well as links on here. Are you able to explain to me how you do these things I am computer dense any help or direction for directions would be appreciated. Thank You, Cindy
in reply to Wittycjt
I assume that you are talking about the resistance band video. I pasted in the web site address. As it was YouTube, it shows the entry graphic to the video instead of the address.
Do you have to declare your stroke to dvla and how long can you not drive for?
in reply to Susie2007
Hi Susie;
you can't drive for a month after a TIA or full stroke. Then it depends what parts of your body are still affected. Guidance is at gov.uk/stroke-and-driving
Susie2007 in reply to
Thanks john I wasn't sure about that
Depending how strong your ankle is, you can use a resistance band or do heel raises. To start with sit in a chair and put your leg out straight with your heel on the floor without your toes touching the ground; without taking your heel off of the floor, rotate your foot as though you were drawing a circle with your big toe. A few circles one way and then a few circles the other way. Then with your foot still and with the heel on the floor, raise all of your toes and then scrunch them downwards; this will work you calf muscle. With the foot still, heel on the ground and toes off the floor put the resistance band under the ball of your foot, hold both endes of the band and pivot your foot downwards as though you are pressing on a pedal; imagine that you are braking in your car. When you're are strong enough, stand next to something solid and fixed like the kitchen sink, hold onto it with both hands to steady yourself, and see if can raise your heels a little way off the floor as though you were going to stand on tip toes (no ballerina stuff mind!).
I wish you luck with returning to driving. I have to wait until the summer, have my partial blindness assessed, clinicians reports, then if that's OK apply to the DVLA for a one day licence for a driving assessment. It's a pain in the whotsit, but I need my independence back instead of my wife driving everywhere and me trailing arond behind her.
TonyToo in reply to
I know what you mean, being dependant on someone else sucks big time - and not just for the dependant one. The driver feels it too. There are times when I haven't been out (I'm sure) because I don't want to inconvenience someone else. I'm sure you've done the same.
Your advice is very good you know? I have a tendency to dismiss advice with a light-hearted comment, to laugh it off and yet you come back. It's seriously appreciated man, John, thank you.
What is quiet ly driving memad is the tedium of taxi chat as I have to use taxis to get into work et
The only thing I can suggest (well 2 really) is either pretend to be very busy (3) by (4) having headphones in and pointing at the screen a lot, like talking to strangers more, be very ignorant and ignore them totally or get your driving licence back. There are probably other suggestions but not right now.
I'd go for Like talking to strangers more personally.
i am having driving lessons but I can see it is not going to be easy so I don't want to put any more pressure on myself right now -especially as I am having to deal with all sorts of other crap just now. I like talking to strangers- about things that matter, not trivia. Recently a taxi driver wanted me to give him directions to the town hall in a city where he has been living for 16 years! Bit gobsmacked with that one!
I'm the same with a reflex response, even down to politely declining a cup of tea. We stroke survivors are all in this boat together even though we didn't choose or expect the journey. The poor old NHS - they have kept me in this world on more than one occasion - don't have the resources so we need to chat and support one another. My knees look like they are from two different people and the exercises that I mention are from physios, a personal trainers, yoga and Pilates teachers that I've had the good fortune to work on my body. We are going to show this accursed stroke that it takes more than this to beat us!
TonyToo in reply to
You won't have cup of tea then?
I have put so much weight on since I came out of hospital 1 stone and a half in 2 weeks!!! Need to do something gs fed up sitting getting handed food all day
in reply to Susie2007
Hi Susie. A pound of fat takes around 4,000 calories so it sounds more like fluid storing. I recall being on Prednisolone and I put on 13kg in 12 months. I would eat anything, including getting up at 4 a.m. to eat Natural bars and peanut butter sandwiches washed down with a pint of milk!
Why? Just say no to being fed. I went in at 17 stone and now I'm less than 15. Eat minimally. I think my weight was a contributory factor in my stroke. Ideally I'd be about 13.5 stone, 32" waist. Doable? Possibly.
Is yours doable? Again, possibly.
in reply to TonyToo
When I went into hospital due to pulmonary toxicity secondary to Dronedarone, I was 11 stone at 7.5% bodyfat with a waist less than 32" from lots of gym exercise; and the hospital described me as under-nourished. Prednisolone not only makes you want to eat, it also changes fat distribution and increases your internal fat reserves. Prednisolone really turned up my tastes buds so after being close to death - I also had relapses for more than a year - it was great to be alive and take pleasure from eating. I no longer take my stats as I used to do in my gym days, but I'm around 11.5 stone with a waist size less than 34" and total cholesterol of 3.8. I was less than that when I had a stroke last July.
TonyToo in reply to
The thing that nearly killed me was humble aspirin, a drug that's supposed to be good for us.
Hi I'm just stopping amlodipine after a month because of ?? side effects. GP told me to see how I'm feeling by next Monday and if these are still happening he'd look at other medications to replace clopidogrel. I wrote ?? Side effects as I'm not really sure what drug is causing what side effect.. Or if these symptoms are TIA after effects? We spoke about taking aspirin instead so I'd be interested to learn about your experience with it if you wouldn't mind? Thanks
I'm (was) in a totally different situation to you. I didn't have a TIA, I had a full blown haemorrhagic stroke, which is a bleed rather than a blockage. If my blood were thicker at the time (cue the blood thinning aspirin) I probably wouldn't have had a stroke in the first place. Sorry to have been no help whatsoever 
in reply to TonyToo
Since you ask, a nice cup of virtual green tea would go down a treat.
I mentioned reflex reactions. I was in hospital a little while after the stroke and a doctor thought he would test my reflexes. No fancy hammer to hand, he bashed my knees with the end of his stethoscope; not a flicker of movement - dead or an alien lifeform? Apparently I now have depressed reflexes: that would have been a gift to Eric Morecombe.
I'm a rag bag of medical odds and ends, so my GP invites me to be the mystery patient for first or second year medical students to quiz and examine. I'm not sure who is more concerned about the responses, me or them.
TonyToo in reply to
Virtual green tea coming up!
I bought 2 packs of Liquorice Allsorts (Tesco flavour) when I came out of hospital and for some reason I didn't eat them. Same with the Pistachio nuts, the butter Mintoes, the salted peanuts etc. Nobody (at the time) told me it'd be a bad idea to eat them, I just didn't. That's not to say I didn't overeat in other ways (and kept the weight on) I did. But when I found what it was doing, I stopped.
I was a smoker & a drinker when I went in. Stopped like that. Haven't touched either since.
Maybe it's about where the stroke occurred, maybe. A Thalamic Bleed. Maybe it's just that.
How's your driving going? Well I hope.
I'm not doing it yet, no car. It's going in on the 12th (I'm taking it in) so it's then that I'll find out one way or t'other.
in reply to TonyToo
Hi Tony;
today I did the advanced driving course (for 14 to 16 year olds!) at Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire as it's not on a public road. I had to learn to drive for current examiner's requirements and not as I've done for the last 50 years. Thanks to Julie Murphy's driving school for giving me the opportunity knowing that I'm blind on the right-hand side after the stroke. I haven't driven for 11 months but it felt perfectly normal and, I didn't "give it the beans" despite being on a race circuit.
I've written to the DVLA Medical Group asking them to confirm if the visual field requirement at the 12 month anniversary of partially losing my sight is not the 120 degrees of the initial test. Secondly, whether the second visual field test has to be done by Specsavers who are the DVLA test agents. I'll report back here with the outcome, as the DVLA responses are ambiguous in my view and that of my Opthalmist. Depending on the DVLA response, the next step will be a visual field test to see if has worsened. Then I apply to the DVLA Medical Group for a one day licence to take an assessment on public roads at the local Disability Driving Centre. The examiner will report to DVLA on whether I should be considered for the restoration (or not) of my driving licence. My Opthalmist hasn't heard of anyone with hemianopia getting their licence back, but I have to have a go at being the first. Then if I'm successful, I'll have to prise my BMW 120D out of my wife's hands!
Good luck for the 12th.
Good luck to you too, I'm not very good at the writing thing, I can't concentrate for very long at a time.
The DVLA are ambiguous anyway, their way of being is flawed. But I'm too tired to go into it now, I'll get round to it.
It revolves round "Are You Your Own Boss" and if not, who is?
LOL at you doing a 14/16 year old (advanced) driving test. How did you get on?
The DVLA Medical Group have confirmed that I can be considered (as an exceptional case) provided my eyesight has not deteriorated further since the test after the stroke and, I meet all of the other criteria in the Guidance document. There was no mention of having to go to Specsavers who did the test that was submitted to the DVLA medical Group. Therefore the retest does not require me to meet the 120 degree visual field.
The 14 to 16 year old test: I had to slow right down and forget normal driving / rally days / karting / Honda Pilots / Group N rally cars / not to mention dumper trucks and caterpillar track diggers! I'm used to using more revs in a lower gear into a corner and then powering out of the apex; none of that and a maximum of 40 mph. My visual processing wasn't an issue, nor negotiating a tight right hand chicane. Then there's checking two blind spots and three mirrors on an almost empty race circuit before pulling away and, checking the nearside for cyclists behind me when I pull in from 40 mph: no it wasn't Brad Wiggins behind me on a bike. Reverse parking between little cones. It was great to drive again even in a little gutless Peugeot diesel. Just give me the "key to the highway".
TonyToo in reply to
Well done!
I went driving too. Took my car to be washed (it hasn't stopped raining since) then posted my vote. I'll be back on the road properly in just over a week's time. It feels right.
You'll be back normal driving just as soon as you want.
And sooner than you think.
My Opthamlmist said that he was not aware of the DVLA Medical Group restoring the Group 1 driving licence to anyone with homonymous hemianopia (HH). HH means seeing with both eyes but the brain only processing vision on the same side of each eye. In my case I see the whole of the left hand side and just to the right of my nose. That means I have less than the 120 degrees of horizontal vision required to drive a Group 1 vehicle such as a car. I sent my Opthalmic test that confirms I can read the bottom line of the eye sight chart (6/6 vision) and, a certificate to prove that post-stroke I can drive on non-public roads to the current driving test standard. It took 14 weeks for the DVLA to reply that they wouldn't look at the Opthalmic test until I send them a letter from my GP (GPs rarely do that now). The legislation that requires 120 degrees of horizonal vision assumes that you drive looking rigidly to the front and not glancing to the right to check the door mirror. I'm currently deemed unsafe to drive but I know people who variously drive with: an inoperable tumour on the aorta, double vision, Parkinson's, and recovery from encephalitis. Apparently all of them are fit, safe, and have faster reaction times. Mini-rant over but probably contining after another 14 weeks when I get a response from the DVLA.
The concept is that you can apply eight weeks before the 12 month anniversary of your stroke for your group1 car licence to be restored if your licence was revoked due to an eyesight issue caused by the stroke. In theory you could be driving 12 months after a stroke. The reality is much different. I had a stroke in early July 2016 that left me blind on the right hand side although I have sight in both eyes (hemianopia) and I can read the bottom line of a test card. In February this year I received a long list of requirements to apply for the restoration of my licence. By May I clarified what I need to provide and sent off the information in early June. Fourteen weeks later I received a letter referring me to the requirements in the February letter. A further submission and today I've received a provisional licence valid only for the length of a driving assessment. The driving assessor's report then goes back to the DVLA Medical Group for further deliberation. I'm now at 18 months and counting. I can see why my Opthalmist said that he's never known anyone with hemianopia get their licence restored.
I hae got mylicence back and had a assessment on roads but in a duel contro,lled car i dont drive much as my confidence level is not high enough in my opinion but i keep driving locally until i feel more confident wish there was a driving track near me Good luck
in reply to Maylin
Brilliant, well done and keep at it. You could try refresher lessons to build up confidence.
I am due for my DVLA Medical Group car driving assessment in February in a dual control car with L plates on the public roads, despite having a clean licence for 50 years. However, beforehand on that day there's a 40 minute cognitive test, followed by tests on a rig for arm and leg strength and reaction time, then driving on non-public roads, followed by the 40 minute assessment on public roads. In total about two hours. The interesting thing is that the legal requirement for eyesight is still reading the number plate. The 120 degrees horizontal vision doesn't appear to be a direct legal requirement, although if you're tested and fail, your licence is revoked. Applying for what is termed an exception entails a minimum wait of one year - in my case 17 months - a further wait for a driving assessment, then an additional wait whilst a decision is made regarding the licence: so 20 to 24 months after the stroke has caused impaired vision.
If all of those tests are necessary, then why aren't they compulsory for every group 1 driver?
Maylin, good for you. It’s hard at first but the more you do it you will build up your confidence, I know from experience. Just remind yourself when you’re driving: “ relax and breathe, I’ve got this” let us know when you’re attempting the race track, lol. All the best, Cindy
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