Sleep apnea may loose license :(

[Teajunkie]

I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea to top it all off

Now I have been informed I stop breathing every 2 mins during the night.
so it seems the hospital are contacting the dvla !!!
wtf how does that work?

i would never drive tired EVER!
looking around it seems they take away your licence to drive.
now my problem is I'm the main driver and the registered owner of our car and wife is named.

will my insurance be invalid now or can my wife keep driving it as it is?
i have full no claims since 18yrs old missus has always been on my insurance so will we loose all no claims?

p.s. I have to use a stupid fucking machine to sleep now too.

[littlebilly1]

I
looking around it seems they take away your licence to drive.
.

Friend of mine has sleep apnea, uses his Bane mask every night and not had an issue with his driving license and the DVLA as far as I'm aware


Sent From Tapatalk

[Zoots]

I thought sleep apnea only affected you when you were ASLEEP? Not like narcolepsy?
WTF has this to do with driving mate ??

[MsDG]

There is a duty to inform the DVLA (and insurance) for some conditions, regardless if you think it effects you driving or not. Just because your Apnoea is is being reported to the DVLA, it doesn't automatically mean you will be banned from driving.

http://www.sleep-apnoea-trust.org/de...to-drivers.htm

If the worst happens and you are restricted from driving your no-claims bonus will be valid for up to 3 years after you stop driving (depending on insurance company). Your wife would have to take out her own policy but if she has been on your policy without claim for (say 5 years)... she should be able to get a policy with 5 years no claim bonus. Indeed, your current insurance may be willing to transfer your insurance into her name.

Bottom line, don't get worked up about it.... get yourself better.... and most importantly, don't loose sleep over it!

[jimmy mumu]

have you had your lungs checked too. i have this and copd. might be worth asking...

[sinister_monk]

Mate, I have sleep apnea. It's not the end of the world.
I have a cpap machine, continuous positive airway pressure machine ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_airway_pressure ), and provided I keep 70% compliance in using it I wont lose my Driving license.
You are required by law to inform both your insurance and the DVLA. But you should be suitable for a sleep study and your own CPAP, your specialist/consultant should be putting you forward for such.
On a personal note if you want any further info, please PM me.

[Teajunkie]

Thanks @sinister_monk
Sorry forgot to update this thread.....

i went on a sleep study which showed I stop breathing every two minutes.
so I'm on a nice silver cpap machine with full face mask all night every night.

i found it hard at first when the pressure was set at 19 but I am getting used to it now and can sleep with it on all night,
they also gave me a humidifier unit which clips on the unit as it gave me unbelievable dry mouth and throat!

I was under the limit for loss of licence he explained that the limit was say 40 I was at 39 so bloody close though.
if anyone would like to see pictures of the machine and setup just shout and I will post some.
i will also be happy to answer as many questions as I can even though I'm new to this.

[jimmy mumu]

not had any test as yet, it was noticed whilst under sedation at the hospital. just gotta get my chest to settle first.
hope you don't mind me asking, how do they do these test and how long till results are through? cheerz

[Teajunkie]

Mine is a little more awkward as they are looking into side affects of my chemotherapy and I was referred by a specialist professor looking into my issues.
it wasn't until I completed the sleep study that they discovered I had it.

I had a sleep study which was just a box strapped around my chest with sensors for sats levels on my finger and a nasal tube like you get with oxygen after an op to test breathing.
the box had straps on to measure chest movement etc and I just wore that overnight at home.

i had to go to sleep clinic to have it fitted then return next day after a nights sleep, and fill in a questionnaire then the rest took a few weeks for the results which came through my gp.

I then returned to sleep clinic where they gave me a cpap machine which monitored my breathing and adjusted itself automatically for my breathing requirements.
This gave them a pressure level to set my permanent machine to which in my case was 19.

they don't just throw you in at the deep end I was in a meeting for an hour while I became comfortable using the machine and understanding it.

[jimmy mumu]

cheers mate, don't think i'm looking forward to that then, can't stand anything near my face and i already wake up 6 or more times a night.

[Rhinoz]

If the worst happens and you are restricted from driving your no-claims bonus will be valid for up to 3 years after you stop driving (depending on insurance company).

Your quite right it does depend on the insurance company as very few 3 years, most 2 years and it seems to be budget insurers just 1 year.

As we all know insurers seem to have their own rules especially in the small print.

@teajunkie
Hopefully like others have said dvla just need to be notified and not necessary be banning you as that would seem very harsh tbh.

[jaguar982]

Sorry to jump in late but my missus has a cpap machine we have reported it to insurance and as long as its under control ie you are using the machine then the insurance are ok with it no increase

jag