I'm writing just to vent really, as I've just had my driving licence revoked on medical grounds, which is absolutely gutting and poses big problems.
I've read other stories from people who have been in similar situations and, even though I was expecting to lose my licence, it was as a serious blow when it actually came through in black and white, almost 4 months after I advised the DVLA of my injuries. I hadn't driven prior to getting the revocation letter anyway and it's probably the correct decision, as currently I'm still feeling light headed.
My story is, I was cycling at the start of June, just a pleasant hour's ride before dinner on a summer evening, when an out of control car hit me head on. I wasn't aware at the time and I woke up in hospital 3 hours later, strapped to a spine board with my head clamped. I was lucky really. I believe I shattered the car windshield with my head. Thankfully I was wearing a decent helmet which I presume saved my life. I suffered some brain injuries, including a contusion and traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage. I was in hospital for 3 days and off work for 9 weeks but I'm back at work now. I'm doing ok I guess although the dizziness and light headedness has really come back this month which has surprised me. I seem to suffer from some serious fatigue at times as well.
Has anyone else got any experiences to share about getting your licence back from the DVLA? Everything I've read seems to make it sound so slow and difficult? The letter says it will be "subject to satisfactory medical reports" - any idea what that means?
Also, regarding the dizzy/light headed feeling, it seems to be getting worse this month - is that normal or should I be seeking help? I'm a typical bloke really and usually reluctant to go to the doctor unless I'm really really bad. I'm not due any follow up appointments or anything, I was discharged from the hospital and just sent on my way to recover. I went to the GP a couple of times in the last couple of months but they just said any light headedness might last a couple of years, I've been offered some CBT sessions as part of an insurance claim - I've no idea what they are and whether they'd be any use for my symptoms?
Last night I felt like my brain was going into a spasm - it felt like "squeezing a sponge". I had to fight it every time it happened and I felt like if I didn't fight to stop it squeezing I might pass out. That's the first time I've felt like that. I'd had an extremely busy day at work which might explain it I suppose. This morning I woke so fatigued and thankfully I had the day off work, but although I'm tired and a bit light headed now I've been generally ok today. Is this a normal post brain injury thing?
Sorry for the rant, I just wanted to write my feelings down I guess.
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RoyRibble
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Hi, I also had a subarachnoid hemorrhage, hemorrhagic contusions, and skull fractures, Mine was from falling down the stairs at home, it's so annoying when I see you were only in hospital for 3 days and then discharged and left to get on with it on your own. All the symptoms you describe are so familiar especially the crazy fatigue , it's disgraceful that people are still being discharged and left to get on with it on their own, the NHS still seem to be living in the dark ages . I'm not sure about how it works with regard to getting your licence back because mine was taken away indefinitely, most do get them back though,
Going back to work after 9 weeks is something I could never have done, but every injury is different in how it affects the individual, I would advise you to slow down because you seem to be doing things far too soon, remember you have a brain injury and your brain needs to rest and recuperate the best it can. The last thing I will say is try to get a neck MRI scan if you can because that's had a huge trauma aswell. I'm now paralysed from the waist down because my neck wasn't checked after my accident and I now have spinal cord damage. But like I said every brain injury is different so what's good for one person might not be good for another person.
Hi, I had a TBI back in 2014 and due to seizures had no licence for the first 4yrs. I had my first seizure for 5yrs in May so I’ve lost my licence for another 12mths.
Whilst I appreciate your frustrations, I handle it with trains (1/3 discount) and buses, for which after applying to the Council I received a 5yr free travel card. I also don’t mind walking. By way of examples, I have visited Keswick in the Lakes and numerous YHA’s in my previous experience.
You need to stabilise yourself and be able to declare to the DVLA you have been stable for the last 12mths. Surprisingly when I reapplied for my new licence it landed with in about 6 weeks with no request for a retest.
The positive for me is if I’m ever taken to a social event with the wife, I can always have a beer!
Another of those posts I may not be qualified to answer but it may be helpful, if not to your kind self to others who find themselves joining the Head-bangers club unexpectedly.
When I came out of my Jeep and attacked a tree with my head 25 years ago was in quite a lot of a mess though your mess sounds more severe. After 3 months in general hospital they let me go on the basis I had a part-time place at WNRU, Clatterbridge. That was a bit rubbish and after a further 3 months they told me they'd done a wonderful job and let me go but before letting me out the door told me I should tell the DVLA about my head injury. I refused on the basis that would cause me problems I didn't need.
3 weeks after that my wife got shot of me so I lost my home and business (2 pubs) but that was okay, I realised it was just best to get the hell out .... and in any case had somewhere to go, my Dad and family took me back.
About 5 years later got a letter from the DVLA thanking me for letting them know and demanding my licence. Told them I had told them nothing and please go away. Letters went on for about a year (all very good for Brain repair 🙂) and eventually I discovered this was another unknown gift from the ex-wife. The DVLA took their time but didn't back off, in the end they demanded I took a test. Did it properly getting lessons and became the only person I know who has taken 2 tests 20 years apart in different towns and passed both first time .... though have to admit there were a couple of moments i thought I'd blown it in the immediate aftermath!
The ridiculous thing is I still didn't feel it was right for me to drive at that point so didn't, taking me another 7 years to go and buy myself a car and start driving every day. I have not been officially checked in the 10 years since, how bonkers is that, but the Brain Injury Service are aware and don't have a problem.
Bottom line, don’t lie but don’t tell them (or anybody else) anything they don't ask for. Now I know I'm dumb but I play dumber because it is safer. Life continues to throw enough curve balls at me and I don't need to create any more.
Hi, It is still early in recovery. Your injuries take time to settle and repair.
Congratulations on your return to work, but remember you are still healing. Any changes in your headaches consult your gp.
Now for DVLA , they will not budge without a letter from a gp or consultant saying they feel you are fit to drive.
It may then just ve a simple case of reissuing you a new licience. Then again it may not. You may have to have a medical and driving assessment. This is not as bad as it seems. It's a long day but they are only testing your ability and safety and not hiw you drive.
I took a wrong turn thought I'd made a mess and pulled up to gather my thoughts. I thought that I'd blown it. Apparently it was a case of handling the situation and not my ability to take a correct route.
Yes I’ve had mine revoked back in 2008 after my TBI and I had to wait 12 months to re sit my driving test which I passed first time then in 2011 I was at TRU rehabilitation in Wigan and had lost my rehab weekly pay packet for achieving my weekly goals
They put it down as an absence and advised DVLA which then they revoked my licence again for a further 6 months so I couldn’t go and see family in Birmingham
Luckily I didn’t have to re sit my driving test again and my licence was reinstated
At the time I was livid and powerless however now looking back it was right for DVLA to revoke my licence
The last thing I would have wanted is to have had an absence or a seizure behind the wheel of my car and put lives at risk
Hi please go and see your doctor maybe it’s just part of the healing, but to be sure please see your doctor. About your driving it seems at the moment that it is better for you not to drive. Just wait a while until you feel stronger then you can apply for your driving license to be restarted. Take care Liz
I had my tbi 4 years ago and Derriford hospital informed my son as I had a DLO that I couldn't drive for 6 months when I came out of hospital I filled out the DVLA form and sent my license back after the 6 months I phoned them up and asked for my license back they sent both me and my doctor a medical questionnaire which were filled and sent back and around 6 weeks later I got my license back the DVLA took my drs word that I was fit to drive ,I always consider myself very lucky as due to my accident I'd had 4 different brain haemorrages but having that license back was pure bliss
Hello RR, welcome to the forum, as you've probably gathered this is a very kind and supportive crowd here.
That sounds like it was a pretty bad BI, and that you've actually headed back to work pretty quickly. Being dizzy is one of the symptoms that happens after concussion / BI - I see on my notes that it was very much a day to day thing for me originally. Fatigue is still a problem for me, but it's not as bad now as it was originally, and I'm a lot better at managing it these days. If I was you, particularly with an insurance claim underway, I would minimally let your GP know that you've still got issues from the accident as these can sometimes persist for a long time - and as we can get a marked lack of self awareness in the short term after an accident, so it might also be worth asking your family if they notice anything different about you?
CBT may be useful if it is done by someone with experience of brain injuries like a neuropsychologist ( terrific people to access) as they can coach you to manage fatigue for example - but not so very useful if they are not brain injury specialists, as they can put the symptoms of a brain injury, like fatigue, down to depression (lot of overlap between the two). A Neuropsychology test can be useful, to see how you've been affected cognitively, and flag up any areas you might have difficulty with, like working/ executive memory for example.
It may be useful for you to ring the Headway helpline, in office hours, as they are very knowledgeable and can suggest the sort of support you could request via your GP. I'm not sure, but think it wouldn't hurt to have a referral to a neurologist specialising in brain injury if you are still symptomatic - but see what the helpline suggest - their number is 0808 800 2244.
One of the things with driving is that even when you get your licence back you shouldn't drive when fatigued ( it's covered by the regular everyday proviso for everyone that drives, that you must always be completely fit to drive before you get behind the wheel). I got the forms from the DVLA when I finally felt ok and my consultants signed the forms to say I was physically safe to drive, but gave me the private warning about not driving when fatigued.
Hope this is helpful and hope you continue to recover.
Thank you all for taking the time to read my post and for sharing your experiences and advice. I will definitely take on board some of the things that have been said. I am definitely one to push things too hard and this month I've really tried to carry on as normal and occasionally I pay the price when the fatigue ramps up too much. I think there's a certain element of denial in my mindset as well and looking fit and healthy doesn't help much either as people just expect me to be over my accident and back to my prior self.
I lose my license for 6 months every time I have a shunt revision. Its a ruddy pain in the backside but I'd rather it happen if the public are safer - and also I've heard that if you don't tell them it invalidates your motor insurance. So you could be letting yourself in for a pretty major lapse of judgement.
RR. Your comments certainly strike a chord on so many points.
Firstly you are so lucky to come out of such an accident alive, so take that as a positive.
Secondly its natural wanting to get back to ‘normal’ as quickly as possible. I went back after two weeks which on reflection was way to soon but felt I had something to prove.
Finally the DVLA are not medically trained so get letters from your neuro and GP to back your case. (Plus its normally six months from the date of the last operation not the accident (although they could have feasibly been on the same day).
Plus are you drinking enough fluids? A pint of water or milk may assist in my experience. I am assuming that as a cyclist you know all about hydration.
One more thing is whether you might experience balance difficulties going back to two wheels. I was lucky and didnt and found during my short driving revocation I used my road bike to good effect as the NHS sadly dont include exercise as part of assisting getting back to ‘normal’.
I even know one young woman who through legal action managed to get a recumbent racing trike bought as part of her damages claim. (They make them in Falmouth, Cornwall by the way). A recumbent trike on a set of traditional rollers indoors is even better during very bad weather!
Also on the positive, if you are a regular cyclist, this can help as oxygen in your blood carried to the brain will assist in reconnecting or diverting around any damaged neuro pathways.
CBT is cognitive behaviour therapy. It may assist. I read up on it and initiated it myself but having someone to talk to may add to the answers you are seeking.
Best of luck with the ongoing recovery but dont expect miracles overnight and do get plenty of rest taking regular breaks if doing mental clerical work. 🚴
Thanks all for the additional comments. Yes, the more I think about it the luckier I suspect I was to not have been more seriously hurt. That's part of the reason why I think I push myself so hard to just try to carry on as normal. When I think of the alternative outcomes I sometimes think I shouldn't really be moaning about anything.
@shreds the comment about hydration is interesting as I do occasionally think I could be a bit dehydrated so I'll keep an eye on that to see if it helps with the fatigue and light headedness.
Regarding the CBT sessions, I'm not a good talker at the best of times and certainly not when it comes to talking about my innermost feelings, so it might not be something for me to pursue at this time. One of the biggest worries that's occupied a lot of my thoughts over the last few months is not knowing what the hell happened in the hours between being hit and coming round in hospital. I've pieced together bits of the story from witness statements and the police etc but not knowing exactly what was happening to me and around me makes me a bit uncomfortable. I wouldn't be able to express any of this to a therapist though and they wouldn't be able to answer my questions anyhow.
As I mentioned before, because people think I must have fully recovered by now and I look quite fit and well, I'm just expected to carry on like I did before I was off work. Because I've lost my licence I now have a commute of up to 2 and a half hours each way (I don't go in every day though as I can work from home on some days thankfully) and today, because my work is a complete mad house, I didn't get to have a single mental break from the time I arrived at work to going home, so I will undoubtably pay the price for this towards the end of the week like I did last week. I've also seen others mention that noise, multiple voices and lots of activity quickly becomes overwhelming and I get that too. When I'm feeling ok its all fine, but when the fatigue hits that's when I know I'm not over this yet and it becomes debilitating, and I never used to get that before my injury.
Thank you all for being here to listen to my rambling. Just writing things down and venting into cyberspace helps to crystallise my thoughts.
My neuro specifically told me not try and remember my accidident.
Your brain has an auto shut off as the trauma of reliving it would be too much. Some things will come back, others as you say can be pieced together trusted testimony from others. But best thing is just try and move forward. You are a survivor and that is good.
Also for CBT I appreciate opening up can be difficult and I dont need a shrink either. So read up like I did and follow the basic principles. Understanding is knowledge and you can use that power to your own advantage.
And use here to splurge any concerns. Its a good place to be.
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Advice when told your symptoms are psychological
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Hoping for some reassurance 
Link between TBI and cardiac trouble? 
