Medical driving ban - Heart Condition.
Discussion
Ho hum.
I've got an Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) which a few weeks ago saved my life.
Despite being only 43 I've got quite a long history of heart problems, first surviving multiple cardiac arrests back in 2005 at the age of 34. These cardiac arrests were as a result of a rare complication to a viral infection.
Very lucky to survive that back then, spent a week in intensive care and another two weeks in hospital. Came out and cracked on with life. I'm married with two children and just got on with it not looking back at all.
Last summer driving home on my own doing just under 30mph and not far from home I suddenly felt a bit weird and then suddenly I thought I'm going to pass out. Thankfully I was going slow and had the good sense to knock the car out of gear and slam the brakes on. Within a few moments I passed out.
When I came round I was on the wrong side of the road slowly rolling along so I was told. Thankfully people had stopped and helped me in firstly stopping the car and secondly calling an ambulance. I cannot thank those who stopped and helped enough.
Off I went to hospital in the ambulance. Arrived at A&E and was thinking I'd be home later that day. Nope. Almost two weeks in hospital again with loads of tests done culminating in a cardiac MRI scan. As if MRI's are not bad enough during a cardio one you have two canulas, one in each arm. Through the first they inject a contrast dye which makes you feel extremely hot, the second is a drug that stresses the heart to simulate very heavy exercise. All that while you are following instructions to hold your breath while the imagining takes place. I was in the tunnel for about an hour.
The MRI showed some scarring on my heart muscle from the cardiac arrests eight years before. I was told that this scarring can create short circuits for electical impulses that form your heartbeat and that as a precaution I needed to have an ICD. The good news was that I was in good shape, very good blood pressure and no other issues.
The ICD listens and monitors most of the time doing nothing, if my heart starts to misfire and in my case the arrhythmias that do this are Ventricula Tachycardia and Ventricula Fibrillation. You have probably all watched casualty or er and seen the bits where they either shout "He is in VT or VF, get the paddles". Well that is me.
After the implantation of the ICD I had a six month medical driving ban. A bit tricky to deal for one so used to and so much into cars.
All was good until I was laying in bed reading an old Robert Ludlem novel when I had a curious feeling again in my chest and then moments later BANG! I received a shock from the ICD. The standing instruction is to dial 999 get in an ambulance and get to A&E when this happens. Off I went.
The ICD can be wirelessly interrogated and it revealed that I had gone into VT and got shocked for it. A few days more in hospital and home, this time on some meds that were suposed to calm things down and stop it happening again.
I eventually got my licence back in March about nine months after the initial incident the summer before. The DVLA were really good and very helpful. As someone who has always been ultra confident and a big fan of making efficient progress it was a big step.
A few weeks ago it happened again, I went down and was shocked back to life. Into hospital again. This time they performed or tried to a procedure called an ablation. An ablation quite simply is where the areas of heart muscle causing the arrhythmias are mapped and burned away. They go in through a vein in your thigh and thread the gadget up into your heart.
Sadly they couldn't get my heart to do its misfire tricks so they couldn't burn bits of it away.
Home now feeling a bit low contemplating the future, contemplating the wait until "next time my heart tries to kill me again", "the next time where hopefully the ICD will do its trick again" and that I would even think about getting behind the wheel, another six month holiday from driving.
The way things are, I cannot see me ever driving again. I don't want to put myself or more importantly others at risk on the road. Quite a difficult thing to take in for a petrol head I must say.
Ho hum.
I've got an Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) which a few weeks ago saved my life.
Despite being only 43 I've got quite a long history of heart problems, first surviving multiple cardiac arrests back in 2005 at the age of 34. These cardiac arrests were as a result of a rare complication to a viral infection.
Very lucky to survive that back then, spent a week in intensive care and another two weeks in hospital. Came out and cracked on with life. I'm married with two children and just got on with it not looking back at all.
Last summer driving home on my own doing just under 30mph and not far from home I suddenly felt a bit weird and then suddenly I thought I'm going to pass out. Thankfully I was going slow and had the good sense to knock the car out of gear and slam the brakes on. Within a few moments I passed out.
When I came round I was on the wrong side of the road slowly rolling along so I was told. Thankfully people had stopped and helped me in firstly stopping the car and secondly calling an ambulance. I cannot thank those who stopped and helped enough.
Off I went to hospital in the ambulance. Arrived at A&E and was thinking I'd be home later that day. Nope. Almost two weeks in hospital again with loads of tests done culminating in a cardiac MRI scan. As if MRI's are not bad enough during a cardio one you have two canulas, one in each arm. Through the first they inject a contrast dye which makes you feel extremely hot, the second is a drug that stresses the heart to simulate very heavy exercise. All that while you are following instructions to hold your breath while the imagining takes place. I was in the tunnel for about an hour.
The MRI showed some scarring on my heart muscle from the cardiac arrests eight years before. I was told that this scarring can create short circuits for electical impulses that form your heartbeat and that as a precaution I needed to have an ICD. The good news was that I was in good shape, very good blood pressure and no other issues.
The ICD listens and monitors most of the time doing nothing, if my heart starts to misfire and in my case the arrhythmias that do this are Ventricula Tachycardia and Ventricula Fibrillation. You have probably all watched casualty or er and seen the bits where they either shout "He is in VT or VF, get the paddles". Well that is me.
After the implantation of the ICD I had a six month medical driving ban. A bit tricky to deal for one so used to and so much into cars.
All was good until I was laying in bed reading an old Robert Ludlem novel when I had a curious feeling again in my chest and then moments later BANG! I received a shock from the ICD. The standing instruction is to dial 999 get in an ambulance and get to A&E when this happens. Off I went.
The ICD can be wirelessly interrogated and it revealed that I had gone into VT and got shocked for it. A few days more in hospital and home, this time on some meds that were suposed to calm things down and stop it happening again.
I eventually got my licence back in March about nine months after the initial incident the summer before. The DVLA were really good and very helpful. As someone who has always been ultra confident and a big fan of making efficient progress it was a big step.
A few weeks ago it happened again, I went down and was shocked back to life. Into hospital again. This time they performed or tried to a procedure called an ablation. An ablation quite simply is where the areas of heart muscle causing the arrhythmias are mapped and burned away. They go in through a vein in your thigh and thread the gadget up into your heart.
Sadly they couldn't get my heart to do its misfire tricks so they couldn't burn bits of it away.
Home now feeling a bit low contemplating the future, contemplating the wait until "next time my heart tries to kill me again", "the next time where hopefully the ICD will do its trick again" and that I would even think about getting behind the wheel, another six month holiday from driving.
The way things are, I cannot see me ever driving again. I don't want to put myself or more importantly others at risk on the road. Quite a difficult thing to take in for a petrol head I must say.
Ho hum.
bloody hell, thats a full on set of events you've had.
i know how your feeling with the not driving thing, its bloody hard to take especially when your a petrolhead.
i had a fall in may, and suffered some head injuries
so at the mo i'm in the same boat, not allowed to drive a car or the lorry for work
which means no driving, and no wages.
and what i get in benefits from the goverment is pretty laughable.
the plus though, i'm just grateful too be here after the injuries i sustained, at 1 stage the consultant was talking with me and explained that within the next hour i may have to go for an operation on the internal bleeds on my head
luckily i didn't.
i know how you feel, and it is crap but we're still here
good luck.
i know how your feeling with the not driving thing, its bloody hard to take especially when your a petrolhead.
i had a fall in may, and suffered some head injuries
so at the mo i'm in the same boat, not allowed to drive a car or the lorry for work
which means no driving, and no wages.
and what i get in benefits from the goverment is pretty laughable.
the plus though, i'm just grateful too be here after the injuries i sustained, at 1 stage the consultant was talking with me and explained that within the next hour i may have to go for an operation on the internal bleeds on my head
luckily i didn't.
i know how you feel, and it is crap but we're still here
good luck.
colin_p said:
Thanks Chilli,
What you have been through also sounds awful. Hope you get sorted soon.
ta mate What you have been through also sounds awful. Hope you get sorted soon.
had a ct scan 2 weeks ago and fortunately the ear is now back to normal, and 2 of the 3 internal bleeds on my head have also gone. so just the 1 left, and waiting for the 2 fractures to heal so heading in the right direction fortunately.
like you though, i bloody miss the driving.
OP, I'm in a similar position as you, not the same problems as you but Cardiac issues anyway.
Released from hospital last night after another bout of Angina. Had a heart attack earlier this year followed by angina then had Angioplasty last week.
There is no way I can pass the DVLA treadmill test, so says my consultant, & I believe him !
I only have three years to retirement, but you are much younger.
OP, I wish you the very best, for your future.
Released from hospital last night after another bout of Angina. Had a heart attack earlier this year followed by angina then had Angioplasty last week.
There is no way I can pass the DVLA treadmill test, so says my consultant, & I believe him !
I only have three years to retirement, but you are much younger.
OP, I wish you the very best, for your future.
Thanks Gus and I hope you get better soon.
The exercise test is quite easy by the way but I suppose it depends on how bad you are. It is like a vigorous walk up a gentle gradient for twelve minutes. It starts slowly and flat then increases in speed and gradient at three minute intervals up to twelve minutes.
The exercise test is quite easy by the way but I suppose it depends on how bad you are. It is like a vigorous walk up a gentle gradient for twelve minutes. It starts slowly and flat then increases in speed and gradient at three minute intervals up to twelve minutes.
colin_p said:
Thanks Gus and I hope you get better soon.
The exercise test is quite easy by the way but I suppose it depends on how bad you are. It is like a vigorous walk up a gentle gradient for twelve minutes. It starts slowly and flat then increases in speed and gradient at three minute intervals up to twelve minutes.
Problem is that I have circulation issues to my legs. I cannot walk briskly for half a minute !The exercise test is quite easy by the way but I suppose it depends on how bad you are. It is like a vigorous walk up a gentle gradient for twelve minutes. It starts slowly and flat then increases in speed and gradient at three minute intervals up to twelve minutes.
OP, probably of no consolation but a quick tale of I guy I worked with years ago. Was about 23 stone, 32 yrs old and lived with his mum. Had never had a girlfriend and, although good at his job, was a bit of a loner, due to his weight I guess. Then he had an epileptic fit. 1 yrs medical driving ban whilst they sorted out his meds etc.
He lived about 8 miles from the office with no direct bus/train links, so he bought a bike. 2nd hand, a pretty unfashonable thing. Well the weight began to drop, and so he combined the cycling with a healthy diet. After a few months when his arse has shrunk slightly he got a racing bike. Lost about 8 stone that year, got a hot girlfriend. Never bothered with a car when he got his licence back. Continued to lose weight.
Last I heard (he'd be about 50 now) he still hasn't got a car, is long since married to said hot girlfriend, has 3 kids and competes in veteran iron man competitions. Is pretty good by all accounts.
Having a car is great, but being alive and not killing anyone else is better. As one door closes and all that.
He lived about 8 miles from the office with no direct bus/train links, so he bought a bike. 2nd hand, a pretty unfashonable thing. Well the weight began to drop, and so he combined the cycling with a healthy diet. After a few months when his arse has shrunk slightly he got a racing bike. Lost about 8 stone that year, got a hot girlfriend. Never bothered with a car when he got his licence back. Continued to lose weight.
Last I heard (he'd be about 50 now) he still hasn't got a car, is long since married to said hot girlfriend, has 3 kids and competes in veteran iron man competitions. Is pretty good by all accounts.
Having a car is great, but being alive and not killing anyone else is better. As one door closes and all that.
Had another event today, I went into VT then into VF.
If it were not for my ICD I would not be here. I collapsed and hit the deck really quite hard, got four loose front teeth and a massive shiner around the top of my right eye socket where I went down.
Life is a bit tricky at the moment.
If it were not for my ICD I would not be here. I collapsed and hit the deck really quite hard, got four loose front teeth and a massive shiner around the top of my right eye socket where I went down.
Life is a bit tricky at the moment.
colin_p said:
Had another event today, I went into VT then into VF.
If it were not for my ICD I would not be here. I collapsed and hit the deck really quite hard, got four loose front teeth and a massive shiner around the top of my right eye socket where I went down.
Life is a bit tricky at the moment.
Colin, this is getting silly. I have a similar condition to you, but just have a recorder implanted at the moment. My heart goes bonkers each day, but I don't have the requirement to be shocked....although it stopped twice before, apparently.If it were not for my ICD I would not be here. I collapsed and hit the deck really quite hard, got four loose front teeth and a massive shiner around the top of my right eye socket where I went down.
Life is a bit tricky at the moment.
I also had the procedure to burn the nerve, twice I fact, and both times they couldn't reach it.
Your situation seems extremely serious, and I wouldn't rely on a small shock to keep me alive. Can you ask for a referral to another cardiologist for their advice?
Good luck with and hopefully a simple burn will eradicate the problem, as I know it's not nice and leaves you on edge quite often!
Cheers mate.
Chilli,
I've had an attempted ablation (the procedure where they try and burn bits of your heart away) but they couldn't induce the arrhythmia. If they cannot induce it, they cannot see and map it and therefore cannot burn that area of heart tissue away.
That was at the Royal Brompton up in town which is the top heart hospital in the country. The Brompton is paired with Harefield and they share equal status.
So I've seen and been treated by one of the top consultants and the top hospital and they couldn't do anything.
I actually had a good look at the screen this morning when the ICD was interrogated and it was really quite un-nerving what happened;
A three beat run of VT (Ventricula Tachycardia, everyone who has watched casualty or ER or the other medical programs knows that they shout "He's in VT, get the paddles"....)
The ICD prepared to pace me out of that.
On the third beat of VT, it landed in the re-polarisation phase or something similar (the terminology escapes me).
When that 3rd beat landed it took me straight into VF with the ICD measuring 263 bpm, straight into the shock zone. VF (Ventricula fibrillation) equals certain death within minutes unless you are shocked back. It is worse than VT!
ICD charges for 9.3 seconds and then whacks me with the max 41 joule shock.
Then back to normal sinus heart rhythm.
The whole thing took about 11 seconds.
The ICD did its stuff, no messing, no fannying about.
Extremely thankful to have it as VF is a killer within minutes unless you get defibrillated.
My nerves are right on edge at the moment but I'm home and still alive............for now
I've had an attempted ablation (the procedure where they try and burn bits of your heart away) but they couldn't induce the arrhythmia. If they cannot induce it, they cannot see and map it and therefore cannot burn that area of heart tissue away.
That was at the Royal Brompton up in town which is the top heart hospital in the country. The Brompton is paired with Harefield and they share equal status.
So I've seen and been treated by one of the top consultants and the top hospital and they couldn't do anything.
I actually had a good look at the screen this morning when the ICD was interrogated and it was really quite un-nerving what happened;
A three beat run of VT (Ventricula Tachycardia, everyone who has watched casualty or ER or the other medical programs knows that they shout "He's in VT, get the paddles"....)
The ICD prepared to pace me out of that.
On the third beat of VT, it landed in the re-polarisation phase or something similar (the terminology escapes me).
When that 3rd beat landed it took me straight into VF with the ICD measuring 263 bpm, straight into the shock zone. VF (Ventricula fibrillation) equals certain death within minutes unless you are shocked back. It is worse than VT!
ICD charges for 9.3 seconds and then whacks me with the max 41 joule shock.
Then back to normal sinus heart rhythm.
The whole thing took about 11 seconds.
The ICD did its stuff, no messing, no fannying about.
Extremely thankful to have it as VF is a killer within minutes unless you get defibrillated.
My nerves are right on edge at the moment but I'm home and still alive............for now
First off, you haven't been banned! There is no stigma with a medical revocation.
My thoughts are with you, it sounds like you have a very serious condition. I hope things pick up for you and to be honest driving would be the last concern on my mind if I were in your position; my genuine best wishes to you in regard to your journey to recovery
FWIW, I've been off the road for 10 months and am just coming to the time when I can reapply for my licence, although I am told there is an eight week backlog before my application is even looked at, let alone processed, checked with my doctors and thereafter reviewed for approval by the DVLA medical team.
Anyway, the point is that a lot of people go through a medical revocation and you just get used to it after a while. It has been particularly difficult for us with me as a breadwinner, a self-employed dad of two toddlers and with a wife who can't drive. But, you can get a free bus pass and possibly a disabled railcard giving a 1/3 off (I didn't get the latter as I have no diagnosed illness). I know that is little consolation when all you want to do is drive, but I hope that it helps you to know.
After the experience we have had as a family, I would do anything to help anyone local to me (South Hants) so just shout if I can help or if you want any advice on the DVLA processes etc. That offer goes out to all by the way.
My thoughts are with you, it sounds like you have a very serious condition. I hope things pick up for you and to be honest driving would be the last concern on my mind if I were in your position; my genuine best wishes to you in regard to your journey to recovery
FWIW, I've been off the road for 10 months and am just coming to the time when I can reapply for my licence, although I am told there is an eight week backlog before my application is even looked at, let alone processed, checked with my doctors and thereafter reviewed for approval by the DVLA medical team.
Anyway, the point is that a lot of people go through a medical revocation and you just get used to it after a while. It has been particularly difficult for us with me as a breadwinner, a self-employed dad of two toddlers and with a wife who can't drive. But, you can get a free bus pass and possibly a disabled railcard giving a 1/3 off (I didn't get the latter as I have no diagnosed illness). I know that is little consolation when all you want to do is drive, but I hope that it helps you to know.
After the experience we have had as a family, I would do anything to help anyone local to me (South Hants) so just shout if I can help or if you want any advice on the DVLA processes etc. That offer goes out to all by the way.
Edited by texasjohn on Wednesday 13th August 19:50
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