Are you legal?

[fbirder]

I found something out yesterday on the Ataxia UK forum..

If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling in fingers and/or toes) and you are a UK driver then the law says that you must inform the DVLA -

gov.uk/peripheral-neuropath...

[Hillwoman]

No way am I doing that. Living out in the sticks, I need emergency driving capability.

There's a lack of consistency in DVLA rules. I was horrified to find out from the optician just how bad one's vision can get before they demand the return of your licence. I'm very cautious and only drive when I'm sure the positive effect of a B12 jab on my eyesight has actually kicked in.

[pugdogs10]

I have been very appreciative of your help and info in the past but in this case I don t think I really wanted to know that..in fact I think I have just gone into remission!

[Lisahelen]

Perhaps you should have kept this to yourself Frank. Lol

We could all have pleaded ignorance of the fact. Lol

But as drs refuse often to acknowledge this as one of our symptoms and they so often know better than us mere patients(!) i will say that my dr says i dont have such a problem if i get pulled over. Lol

[fbirder]

I've emailed the DVLA asking for clarification.

The prospect of getting fined doesn't worry me. The prospect of my insurance company deciding that my insurance wasn't valid worries me a lot.

[clivealive Forum Support]

That's just given me pins and needles fbirder

[catherinejordan]

Omg no way

[Frodo]

For once, lack of diagnosis, testing and appropriate treatment is on the side of the patient.

I think you'd have to be very bad indeed not to be capable of driving safely. I know someone with MS who voluntarily doesn't drive although they can still walk normally. I believe they still have their license.

People usually know themselves if they are able to drive or not, although there are always those who take risks regardless. There are hundreds of things that affect driving performance and ability.

[Hidden in reply to Frodo]

Early on in my (then inadequate) treatment, when any of my limbs might suddenly "go to sleep," I quit driving until a few years after the last of that. My license is restricted to daylight driving, which is fine, since I am helpless in darkness.

[Frodo in reply to Hidden]

Exactly, that was the most sensible and safe option. Hope you're feeling better - sounds like you've improved.

[Hidden in reply to Frodo]

Thank you, Frodo. I am doing better. All the improvement has taken years, even with my shot frequency having been been stepped-up twice. There was something else going on, too, that was keeping me even much more tired. See my last post at this link here:

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

[Hillwoman in reply to Hidden]

Yikes! Were there no other symptoms of the BC? Having just read your addendum to your old post, it sounds as if you've been through a lot.

All the best for the coming year.

[Hidden in reply to Hillwoman]

No, no symptoms, except (in hindsight) gradually increasing tiredness over the last few years. My tumor was rather large when it finally showed up in my annual mammogram.

Thank you.

[BethattheBeach in reply to Hidden]

kewpie, I would like to wish you well for 2017 and hope you continue improving your health. So glad to hear your cancer has been treated. Take care.

[Hidden in reply to BethattheBeach]

Thank you. The present plan (hope) is for ten years of treatment.

Wishing you all great health and happy times.

[Lindax]

Yes, I was starting to have driving lessons and mentioned that I suffer from ataxia to the instructor. Next lesson here told me that I had to inform the dvla as it was on the list of potential diseases that could stop you driving. I had to fill in an online forms, put down names and hospitals in attendance. They got in touch with my GP, specialists etc with dates, times , contact details. Also theywant to know everything else about you at the time health wise. It's been over 5 months and they've returnedthe form again for more information about VI. I wish I hadn't started it to tell you the truth especially as I'm not sure driving is for me anyway. It's all too big brother.

[scorpiojo]

I have made contact with someone who had a positive diagnosis of PA and the DWP won't accept he can't work full time, or the diagnosis as they don't recognise PA.... So why is it different in different in different depts of Gov etc... In this case FB I'm glad I've not had any further testing :(((

[fbirder]

Saw my neurologist today and asked about this. He looked on the web and decided that chronic neurological problems only needed reporting if they adversely affected your ability to drive.

He reckons mine doesn't, and is going to put that in a letter.

Sorted!