Drink Driving Medical

[liverpool-paul]

Can anyone give me any advice. I was caught drink driving and banned for 16 months. I know what i did was stupid and would never do anything like this again. I stupidly refused to give a specimen so was classed as a high risk driver and consequently had to have a dvla medical.

 

I gave up drinking for 2 weeks but failed my medical due to high liver function levels. My doctor was contacted and he confirmed I do not have any problems with alcohol. I was stunned when the dvla said I could not apply for another 6 months.

 

I am due to reapply in February 2009. I have not drunk any alcohol for over 3 months now and have had 3 blood tests through my doctor. Although my liver function tests have improved and my gamma gt came down to 87, (the NHS levels are 10-70), my alt came down to 45 (NHS levels 10-50) my GP says my liver function is normal and to reapply. The DVLA set upper limit of 50 for Gamma gt and 40 for ALT. I decided to wait a further month but my levels have increased slightly for no reason. I have tried talking to the DVLA re their levels but they say they set there own limits. Incidently I do take omeprazole every day for reflux and advisory leaflet says this can alter liver function.

 

Has anyone any advice?

[DCA-KING]

i would start taking milk thistle do a google on it he helps to clean and repair the liver my GP told me about it when i was ill

you can get it from health shops

Regards DK

[liverpool-paul]

thanks but i've been taking livercare tablets for 3 months now and these contain milk thistle

[crem]

Once again the DVLA prove to be a law unto themselves!

[DCA-KING]

no this is pure milk thistle in a bottle made out of 100% i felt the diffrence after 2 weeks and my gamma count droped my 50%

I took about 15ml a day of it

REgards DK

[loggy-z]

'Liverpool paul' I am going to have the DVLA medical in Feb 2009. Like you I refused to give a sample,stupid I know now. I have had a few heavy binges on the drink over the last year but nothing since August 08. Do you remember the questions they asked you when you had the original medical that you unfortunately failed. I have been told they are very subtle questions to try and catch you out on your drinking history. My doctor knows I have had a few bad episodes on the drink, but that's behind me now. Will they be contacting my GP if my bloods are OK. I can understand the frustration and worry you are going through. Please can you give me some advise

[liverpool-paul]

hi loggy-z...the dvla will send out a questionare to your doctor about any medical drinking habits..ie if you have undergone detox or anything like that...

you will have to fill out a questionare yourself when you go for a medical, and from what i can remember their is no trick questions at all, just simple yes or no's, and when was your last drink, and maybe what did your drinking habbits used to be like... if you haven't been drinking since august then you should pass with flying colours..

hope this helps

regards paul.

[loggy-z]

liverpool paul hope you passed the DVLA medical. I believe the omerprozale can send your GT levels right up. I have my medical on the 27th Feb and have spoke to my GP. He said he knows of no questionnaire that the DVLA will send him and was not aware of one??? are you sure they do this. I know someone who took the medical 6 months ago and he was a regular weekend heavy drinker gave up for ten days and passed. His view was the medical was just another money maker after paying nearly £110 cash as the doctor would not accept a cheque. If I was to fail would I be able to appeal

loggy-z

[liverpool-paul]

hi mate..if your levels are over what they should be after your medical, then a letter will be sent to your doctor, if not then they will pass your medical straight away..i am still awaiting to see if i have to go for a medical or not( which i probably will have) after my doctor has filled out a questionaire for me from the dvla..if you have stopped drinking for a substantial amount of time then i can see no problems of you passing it..

regards paul

 

once again the dvla are absolute ******S, after finding out today that i have to go for another medical !!!!!!!

Edited February 20, 2009 by liverpool-paul

[loggy-z]

Paul don't tell me you have to pay again. If your gamma gt are still high even if your not drinking you must be in a catch 22. When's the medical and is it the same doctor. Mine is this Friday I'll give you an update and will ask the doctor about things that could make you fail apart from alcohol. If your not drinking and your doctor says you have no drinking problem then surely your going through the same procees again to be knocked back. How long after the test do you find out your results.

[liverpool-paul]

hi loggy z..my medical is on the 18th of march..i think it takes 2 to 3 weeks if i remembering correctly to when you will find out, if you have passed it or not..yes i do have to pay again unfortuneatly..hope all goes well with yours mate, fingers crossed for both of us..keep in touch mate..

paul

[Yogster]

Hi Liverpool-Paul

 

I have my medical soon also in two weeks. After reading the threads can you confirm that if your blood results are ok they will not contact your doctor.

 

Also is there any mention of drugs on the questionaire, if so what do they ask?

Thanks

 

Yogster

[liverpool-paul]

hi yogster..

to be honest mate, i'm not sure if they contact your doctor or not, if blood results are ok..

i think that they have contacted mine before my next medical because i failed my original medical 6 months ago by quite a high margin..

[Yogster]

Hi Mate,

Thanks for your reply. Have you any idea of the pass rate figures for ALT, Gamma GT etc as i have had a Liver function test a week ago with my GP and i have a print out of the results so i can check if OK.

 

Thanks Mate

 

Yogster

[liverpool-paul]

hi yogster..

these are the figures and what they test for as when i had my medical 6 months ago..hope yours are ok..you are allowed to be out of range with only 1 of the certain ranges that they test ..

 

gamma gt upper reference range 50

mcv upper reference range 98

ast upper reference range 40

alt upper reference range 40

 

although my doctor says that their is no such tect result as an ast anymore, and after looking on the internet i cannot find out anything about it either..

let me know where you are at out of interest please mate..

[Yogster]

Mate,

I am going to check my results against what you have given me with my GP as my results are difficult to understand, my results show as a measurement "iu/L" am i looking at the correct column as there are two results? I will get back to you this week after i have seen GP and i will let you know my results.

Also mate if you pass the blood and urine test, how long before you are told if you can drive or not?

 

Yogster

[Yogster]

Loggy-z,

Mate did you pass your medical?

 

Yogster

[liverpool-paul]

not sure how long it takes for dvla to sort out results...Mr loggy-z will be the first 1 out of the 3 of us to find out..i/ul just means the figures in which your blood results should be within..u/l stands for upper level...

also if you are past your date that your ban ended on, then you can drive while your application is being processed, as long as it hasen't been revoked by failing a previous dvla medical like i did..

Edited March 8, 2009 by liverpool-paul

[poppynurse]

Bear in mind that different labs use different reference values.

 

AST can still be done, but will only be done by the lab if the GGT is abnormal.

[liverpool-paul]

thanks poppy nurse..i had aready been told about different results from labs, but did not Know anything about the ast test, as could not find any information...

Edited March 15, 2009 by liverpool-paul

[loggy-z]

hi all from loggy-z

Been for my medical on 27th FEB with the most jumped up doctor you could ever wished to meet. No hallo goodbye, just get the job done quick and get paid

1 Took my blood pressure said it was high

2 Ask me a series of questions about drink. How much do I drink when was my last drink has drink ever been a problem.

3 Asked about any drug taking. Most yes/no questions he was ticking no before I gave him the answers

4 Weighed me

5 Checked my height

6 Simple eye test

7 Took my blood

8 Asked for payment of £110 (cash only)before I left the room to fill a sample bottle with urine

9 Returned with urine he checked it with a dip strip.

10 Then told me all done I could escape now???

 

I asked him how long it would be before I would get the results and he told me to ring the DVLA.

I was in and out in within 10 minutes

 

I rang the DVLA 4th March they told me to ring back on the 12th and they should know something. They told me I am allowed to driver from the 27th midnight and if my my medical enquires were still not finalised they would issue me with a temporary driving license

loggy-z

[citizenkain]

£110 !! ,he was taking the p**s!!!!

[thefall]

thanks poppy nurse..i had aready been told about different results from labs, but did not Know anything about the ast test, as could not find any information...

to anyone reading threads on this forum DO NOT EVER EVER DRINK AND DRIVE, I HAVE WELL AND TRULY LEARNT MY LESSON, AND THANK GOD THAT NOBODY WAS INVOLVED WHEN I GOT CAUGHT..

Stop shouting you idiot, do you think we don't know?

[loggy-z]

Loggy-z is a relieved man today. I have got my license back and can drive from the 28th march. I had the medical as I previously mentioned. I rang the dvla the day they got my results and the medical department made the decision within 24hours. There was no contact made with my own doctor or any investigations into my previous medical history. My advice is don't drink for 14 days before the medical and do take pure milk thistle 3 times a day in that time. It seems to have worked for me. Next step is trying to get insurance. Good luck to all who still have to do the medical. I personally believe 90% of all driver have drank while over the limit, many the morning after without knowing. You will one day get caught, I for one have learned the hard way but learnt my lesson, I have!

[Yogster]

Hi Liverpool-Paul,

Hi mate, just dropping you this quick note to let you know i passed my medical.

 

Yogster