My husband has received a letter from DVLA. They want him to send his license back to them ( he sent it yesterday)and they will then issue him with a medical review license , valid for one year. He can then renew it. If in the meantime his gp or neurologist tell him he should give up driving, he is to inform DVLA straight away. He has taken it very badly. Especially as he is only 41yrs of age. I am trying to keep him positive. He has slow vertical saccades. He passed a driving assessment back in May. And I don't notice him driving him unsafely. But I know a time will come when he will have to stop driving. I am trying my best to keep his spirits up. He does at least still have a license. But he is so down . Is there anyone who has any knowledge on medical review licenses please Many thanks x
Driving license.: My husband has received a... - PSP Association
Driving license.
Hi Karibu
Despite the license being valid for a year Doctors are obliged by law to inform the DVLA if at any time they think the person unfit to drive.
Liz stopped driving fairly early on. I noticed that her reaction time was far too slow. For example she wanted to pull out onto a fast/busy roundabout and by the time she actually started moving another car was coming across her path from the right. We also decided that if a pedestrian stepped out in front of her she would be too slow to stop. Her driving was otherwise OK.
I don't know if this helps at all. Just our experience.
Best
Kevin
x
Thank you Kevin. Sorry for late reply. It's been manic here.
I don't feel Phil's reactions are slow at the moment. I watch him like a hawk at the moment. But I do worry that there is an accident waiting to happen. I ask myself ' will it take an accident, injuring himself or other people, for him to have to stop driving'.. We go to see Prof Morris in London next month. I think Phil is anxious that he may tell him not to drive.
Karibu my husband had to stop driving too. He was so upset. However as Kevin describes what happened to Liz that was pretty much the same for my husband. He wouldn't admit it however. I was scared stiff when he was driving. He broke his right arm during a fall and that meant he couldn't drive. When he told the doctor the cast was coming off in a couple of weeks I was sitting beside him and shook my head. The doctor just said he didn't think he would be doing him any favours by allowing him to drive at the moment.
He never said a word about it for about 2 weeks and then he just looked at me and said:" I will never drive again will I ?". I felt so sad for him but I had to tell him the truth. He knew it already of course but it was so sad.
Your husband is so young so all of this is doubly sad. I am so very sorry. We are always here for you though. This is such a cruel disease for both of you to face at any age but I think it's doubly cruel when so young. Remember too that it's progressive.
This group has probably saved all of us. Nothing is too shocking or embarrassing to talk about. Thank goodness for all the big hearted people on here. Remember when you need to ask a question or talk about something or just let off steam this is where you will find people who understand.
Hugs to you.
Marie x
Thank you Marie. Very kind words. Phil is still able to drive at the moment. But he realises that having to send his driving license back and have a medical review license instead, is probably leading to not being able to drive for too much longer. He feels it's all down hill from here.
Big hug back to you xx
It’s hard but when my husband asked if he could keep on driving when we received the diagnosis, the neurologist said that many people are first diagnosed at post -Mortem after being killed whilst driving or after investigations take place when they have serious accidents, killing or injuring others. Those living with PSP lose the ability to move their eyes so can’t see traffic coming along side them. Roundabouts and coming out of junctions are particularly dangerous. It’s really not worth the risk.
XxxX
I agree with you NannaB. It worries me silly!. Phil goes back to Queens Square , London next month for a review. It will hit him so hard if he is told to stop driving. We have an 11yr old and a 13yr old. So he drives them all over the place to clubs, sports etc etc. This disease is so vile! X
I am soooooooooooooo sorry.
Thank you.I am sorry for you too. We are all in this together xxx
So sorry,your husband is so young my husband was 64 when diagnosed and they took his licence straight away your life will be different but you soon get used to the new norm as I call it but online shopping is a great way to do your weekly shop (you don't have as many impulse buys )so there is some positives keep strong x
Thank you. X
If you get a peripheral vision test at Specsavers it will help you decide on your ability to drive .......... if you fail the test I think they inform the DVLA and you loose your license !
Thank you BargiePat.
Phil has just had an eye test at specsavers . This was requested from DVLA. I am not sure if they tested his peripheral vision. But the lady seemed pleased with the tests. The results were then passed on to DVLA. Which is why he has to have the medical review license.
Thank you
I feel so sorry for him, I love driving and it would be hard for me, my mum however never liked it and was overjoyed when told not to.. My Dad who has MS made the decision due to his slow reaction time, which was hard for him as he also loved driving and it would leave them without transport and neither of them able to walk. I am really proud of him putting safety for himself and others over his freedom, as MS hasn't affected his vision, it was just reaction speeds, so a big thing to accept.
Maybe to illustrate the reaction time do the ruler drop test. You hold a long ruler upright with 0 cm just above their open hand and as soon as they see it moving they try to stop it. I just tried it with my family, I caught it at 14cm, my husband at 8cm, my 17yr old daughter at 7cm. I would expect my mum to miss it entirely.
Best wishes for this difficult time. x
Losing their driving license is one of the biggest blows and Ben was very down when he had to stop driving. He did however soon come to accept it, I think he realised he was a danger on the road after some warning words from me that he could seriously hurt someone. The Neurologist he was seeing called him to stop driving after I spoke to him, letting him know that Ben really wasn't safe to drive anymore. He had the option to have the assessment but never did take it up.
Love kate xxx
My hubby smashed 3 wing mirrors on the passenger side in the year before diagnosis. I had been to see the GP concerned by his personality changes, gait etc but did not click the smashed wing mirrors were part of it - I thought road rage. GP suggested I was depressed nothing wrong with my husband!!!
When diagnosed with PSP the same GP was happy for him to continue driving - I was not. Spotted a cycle helmet in his surgery so relayed wing mirror tail he went quite pale and suggested driving not a good idea. Strange how they gone round to our way of thinking!!!
It was tough on my husband but a huge relief too me - his driving was just not safe. We have a local assistance taxi account and this has proved invaluable over the years.
Tough change but a necessary on
Love Tippy
Xxx
Thankyou Tippy. We've had no damage so far. But he did miss a red traffic light a month or so ago. I had to shout at him to break. He said it was because we were in an unfamiliar area!
Karibu my husband used to do that!! A red light is a red light no matter where you are? I had lots of battles with my husband as I knew he had become reckless when he had always been a very safe driver. Thank God he didn't kill anyone!
Marie x
My husbands excuse was, "I'll stop if I want to! Who are they to tell me otherwise!" Just like pedestrians crossing the road, "they shouldn't be there!" Life was such fun. It was such a relief when he did finally did stop driving. My heart goes out to everyone that is at this stage. The first part of PSP, you seem to be taking everything from them, the second, wishing they could do all these things again.
Lots of love
Anne
My husband kept running red lights and crossing the lane lines for no reason - he drove us part of the way home from a wedding in Florida a couple of years ago - it was exhausting - he hasn't brought it up since. The neuro was totally dense and no help to me on this issue.
Tippy you are so lucky to have that taxi service! I don't drive and it has caused me so many problems since my husband had to stop driving.
Since he died it is even worse as people don't realise how isolated you become. I have spent 2-3 weeks not even going outside the door. I rang a friend last night as I hadn't heard from her for a couple of weeks. She told me it is so hard!!! I rang to see how she is as she has had an operation! Which went well by the way. It was only a day procedure. So I guess she has no space in her life for me...again! She did this when my husband was ill and has only come back into my life since he died. I will have to pin a message to the fridge telling me not to ring her as I just can't rely on her! It just upsets me each time.
Sorry for the moan. People don't realise how difficult it is these days if you don't drive. My husband wanted me to take driving lessons but it's a bit late now.
Your tale is pretty disgraceful. When the GP tells you there is nothing wrong with your husband but you have a problem then you have to query whether he should be a doctor?
You have also jogged my memory about something which happened and I hadn't thought of being related to PSP! My husband ran over a dog a few years ago, about a year before he was told he had PSP in fact. Amazingly the dog wasn't killed and actually ran under the car. He was injured but not badly. He was able to run off. He told me the girl who was looking after him hadn't had him on a lead and he just shot out. Now it might not have had anything to do with PSP but maybe it did? A scary thought that it could have been a child? I had been worried in the car with him for ages but he wouldn't accept his driving had changed! It's so difficult but it's a talk that needs to be had?
Take care Tippy.
Marie x
Dear Marie
Are you in the UK or US ?? I feel for you not being able to get out and about is so hard. Are there any voluntary transport services near you or a ring and ride system??
Do hope you can find a solution.
Take care of yourself
Love Tippy
Tippy I am in the UK. I can go to town during the day but can't get to the retail park for example. Neither can I just go for a drive into the countryside or take my Grandchildren to places they liked. I am seen as the boring Nana now!
The only ring and ride system has such rules it is no use unless you are very old and also ill. Oh for the good days when we had a Women's Safe Transport bus! At least I could have gone out at night to the theatre? In fact all of the things which happen in the evening are now out of bounds! We have no buses late enough or direct enough now. I would even have to get 2 buses to go to the cinema or visit my son and Granddaughter. So all the cut backs are really biting.
Thanks for caring though. 😐
Marie x
Dear Marie
Oh dear sounds like your wings are now clipped. I recall Heady saying she has joined a group for widows cannot remember the name. She said they had outings - is this worth exploring , these days we often car share to be ‘greener’
If not I guess it has to be a skate board for you Marie!! Just joking!
Take care, chin up just as you managed PSP you will manage this, just so unfair another obstacle.
Love Tippy
Hi Marie, in answer to Tippy's query. The group I belong to, is the Jolly Dollies. There are about 300 groups up,and down the country. Go on-line and find your nearest group.
Lots of love
Anne
Heady will have a look. Bet they have none handy to get to though! I did join a Widow and Widowers group but was uncomfortable when a new member said he had known my husband. He even knew my name! Anyway another man asked him about me and I realised what was going on.
I went back once after that but man number 2 shouted to me when I was talking to a new woman and trying to be fruendly with her. I had never actually spoken to him and felt he was out of order! The other woman told me she didn't like him and said she felt that the men were there to get a replacement. I felt the same to be honest!
One of them had asked how old she was and she avoided the question but he kept asking her. It had put her off too. There is meant to be someone there to run the group but she isn't very good and last time she turned up 30minutes before it finished!! So I haven't been back since. So maybe your group would be better for me. I don't dislike men but I do dislike rude and pushy ones!
Marie x
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