Well my season may have come to an early end, well it never really got started but you know what I mean. I've just been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea which is a notifiable condition to DVLA. I have a form to fill in etc and it is likely the DVLA may suspend my license until the Consultant gives the OK. I'm sure the Insurance company will be rubbing their hands when I ring to tell them
Sheez. Sorry to hear about that. Hope it's all sorted quickly and that the insurance company don't play the ar$ehole.
Damn. I've no idea what it is, but it doesn't sound good. If all else fails and you can still drive, then there's always getting your biking kicks on track?
See what the quack says. If one door closes another opens. When I was off the roads for a year for speeding I joined the CTC cycling club, did cycle touring. Some characters in there - some nice people - enjoyed my time in the CTC that never would have happened if it wasn't for the speeding ban.
They may not take it off you at all if you can satisfy your doctor that you are not suffering with tiredness through the day. You will be asked if you find yourself falling asleep through the day, whilst watching tv, whilst relaxing etc or whether you find it hard to concentrate because you're tired. If all of this is no then you may not have to surrender your license at all. Do you drive for a living or commute long distances? If they do take it off you, you won't be without it for long. You may end up wearing breathing apparatus at night as part of the treatment then it's just a case of getting all the boxes ticked by the doctors and DVLA and you'll be back on 2 wheels.
Cheers Folks Basically I stop breathing when I am asleep, so my brain (yes I do have one apparently ) makes me wake up, then I go back to sleep often without realising I have been awake. Problem is that I never get a decent sleep and so am permanently tired. Not sure if you can go on track without a license, and if I have my license suspended because of this I doubt any organisers would allow me on track for insurance reasons. I have had a sleep study and I pick up a CPAP machine next week. Done the question thingy 3 or 4 times now and am normally only borderline on that which will hopefully help with the GP to DVLA interface, but as usual searching online provides some lovely horror stories of people being suspended from driving for 3-4 years with no real reason. It also appears the rules changed this year to comply with EU rulings and that makes it a more onerous process and includes a regular checkup requirement. Commuting can be a long drive, but I contract and so don't always have to drive much much beyond a 30 minute drive to the mainline station. Still fingers crossed that the Consultant is on board once I actually get to see him
My missus often stops breathing when she's asleep and wakes up with a start. One day she's going to catch me hiding the pillow...
The other angle you can play with your doctor is how important motorcycling is to your health and wellbeing. You need to be back on 2 wheels as soon as possible otherwise you could get depressed. Your doctor will want you healthy, happy and working. I don't think you will be without it for that long mate, my uncle was in the exact same situation and It was only a couple of months.
I'm always sceptical with stories of people losing their license for several years....how many of these people work where there are excellent sick benefits and it suits them to be off work?
Report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman into some reported cases of Drivers losing their licenses incorrectly and for prolonged periods. http://www.sleep-apnoea-trust.org/w...pair-How-Drivers-are-let-down-by-the-DVLA.pdf
Hopefully not too long as you say, but 2 months will see this season gone. I'm hoping the Consultant is a biker GP is OK so far and said she felt she didn't need to report it to the DVLA when she originally sent me off for the check-up etc.
This will sort it mate.... Handy too for Mrs Barstewardsquad in case you start getting behind with your manly chores, being tired & all that
Good stuff! Knew you wouldn't be without it long. First good day in March my bikes come out.... By my skewed logic that's only 8 weeks away!
I suppose the only problem is, that he'll be back to clogging the middle lane up in his Reliant Robin
