Haven't a clue.... Driving license revoked?

[Janet Woodward]

Good morning,
Have newly retired...moved house, new town etc...(having fun!!) Seen Medics for the first time this morning for a review. OK....was hoping for sensible fresh eyes on things....
They are pleased with steady readings.....dont test as often as I used to...and its been confirmed by their blood test. I am both Coeliac and diabetic. Have worked hard to get good control to cover both regimes Its taken a bit of time....and I seriously thought I had it sorted. Perhaps not. BP is also much improved. Would doubt it afterwards...
Asked for a repeat of the Prescription I have been on for some years....and was refused.
Brought in the big guns..the clinical Pharmacist...and the GP...as they refused to allow the Victoza, going to inform the DVLA etc...really threatening and treated like a two year old.
What they have said is that I shouldn't have been allowed the Victoza in the first place. Quoted the NICE guidelines etc. (Well aware of the processes involved in creating the NICE protocols as I used to be involved with them for another clinical area...)
I am now scared of just dropping the Victoza. I do still drive a bit...and the prospects of hypos etc. I am not silly enough to drive with any risk to anyone. 40 year clean licence and that is the way it is staying. I am really upset about the way I have been treated. Never been shown the door before....but I have today. I left in tears. What do I do now? Really don't think the manners this morning have been appropriate...they are still free as far as I know. Open to suggestions? Thank you for your assistance.

 

[trophywench]

Ring the Diabetes UK Helpline Janet - they are in a position to advise you, I am not.

I will ask though - have all your medical records from the previous surgery been received by the new one?

 

[Janet Woodward]

As far as I know..all the records have been transfered..its taken five months.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Sorry to hear that you had a bad appointment and it left you in tears and worried about the future. I need to change me surgery as I recently moved and this is what worries me as my docs are pretty good.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Hi Janet and welcome to the forum. Sorry, I'm struggling to understand this a bit. Are you saying you have been using Victoza and your new GP is refusing to prescribe it? Who said they would inform the DVLA and on what grounds? I don't use Victoza so I'm not sure of its function but if you didn't use it I would imagine there would be less likelihood of hypos. Has your new GP offered alternative medication?

 

[mikeyB]

Hi Janet. I suppose the concern is the possibility of hypos on this medication. Though not an insulin, if it is combined with other drugs the risk is there. That is of course surmountable if you test your BG. And because of that risk, you have to declare it to the DVLA if you use it.

If your Victoza was prescribed or suggested by a specialist, the GP has no real right to gainsay that opinion, and nether has the pharmacist. They’re only moaning because it isn’t cheap.

 

[Janet Woodward]

When I lived at (Northern town), was seen for diabetic care, sometimes by local Hospital (with specialist Diabetic Unit with excellent reputation) including both dieticians and Doctors , sometimes by DSN(2 different ones over 9 years) at GP's...4 different GPs. NONE of them questioned why/rational of being prescribed the Victoza. From what I was told this morning, the Victoza was putting me at more risk of a hypo,....and is unecessary. Strange to me that none of the teams at (Northern town) questioned it...and surely, they can't all be wrong.(?) Head of Practice GP here was really professionally critical of those at (Northern town).
Which is why I am thinking that its the £ involved. No other suggestions were made. I am aware of the risks of hypos...and provided I am sensible with eating...am usually fine. I do test before a long drive. Its sensible....(and I buy my own test strips..!!) Have spent a lot of time and effort getting my head around all this...and really thought I had it sorted.
Maybe not...
I was told to leave the premises . Walking back through the building, in public view, with mascara down my face, and obviously in distress wasn't pleasant.
I feel quite threatened by it all...and haven't done much else all day. I sat in my car for a good 20 minutes before driving home as again I thought it best. Why involve the DVLA? Other than to scare me?
Was I supposed to be impressed with them quoting the NICE guidelines...? If they had said the Guidelines have changed...OK....then perhaps they could have suggested an alternative strategy? Just feel bullied by them. Will be interesting to read their records from today....

 

[Janet Woodward]

Sorry to hear that you had a bad appointment and it left you in tears and worried about the future. I need to change me surgery as I recently moved and this is what worries me as my docs are pretty good.

There is no way you would be treated so shabbily as I was this morning...

 

[Brando77]

I informed the dvla because I'm on Gliclazide which can cause hypos but I haven't had any 'third party' hypos where I needed help which they need proof of two for your licence to be questioned, so if you haven't been helped after a hypo by medics etc then it was an empty threat by the GP.
This is what I received because I thought I needed to inform them from day1 of my diagnosis. Hope this helps for part of your problem.
I'm a newbie so somebody else will verify what I wrote. 🙂

 

[DaveB]

Hi. You were treated very badly but from another aspect it would be good to come off Victoza gradually if you can by lowering your carb intake if you have not already done so and you have excess weight. I'm not suggesting you change the Victoza, however, without discussion with the GP.

 

[Janet Woodward]

Really dont think its sensible to go cold turkey with the Victoza. I already struggle with food as the combination with the Coeliac creates its own grief. (The standing joke is its a rice cake (like a ceiling tile), a glass of water and half a lettuce leaf...). Dont do snacks at all. Do like my fruit...which I have cut down on. compared to what I used to eat. Dont remember last fizzy drink I had...and only 1 pack of crisps in 2015-7,yes three years...none in 2018 to date. Don't miss them at all.
I really can't see me being welcome at the practice, and my not being able to trust them.
What I have been thinking of...is using the Victoza as a 600mg (down from 1200mg) to make it last a bit longer....and using what I tried before I was prescribed the Victoza. Some where I had read about flaked almonds being used to reduce spikes....it was way back in 2012. Haven't got my diary from that year...so have no data to compare. I only stopped the experiment when work went but free.......and there were no exceptions. Work is now done with....so will try again...

 

[Drummer]

Do you need to alter your diet to be more like a type two not on medication?
Without the Victoza I assume that your ability to cope with foods such as rice will be much reduced and you'll need to completly rework your menus.

 

[Ljc]

I am Sorry to hear you were treated dreadfully.. it should not have happened and imo warrants an official complaint to the practice manager and higher if you get no joy.
I also suggest you look around for another gp practice .

I agree with @Brando77 ,if you haven’t had a bad hypo that you needed help from another person , then reporting you to the DVLA is an empty threat, I’m not sure about Victiza, but with other meds that can cause hypo’s, the DVLA must be informed of the medication, they issue a 3year licence and you have to test before driving and every two hrs, sorry I can’t remember the level you mustn’t go below or how long you have to wait befor driving after a hypo

Can you recall the person or clinic who first prescribed Victoza , I was thinking you might be able to contact them about this problem and maybe they can help you sort things out.

 

[C&E Guy]

If the new GP wasn't going to prescribe Victoza, they should have given a thorough explanation why.

If it was due to cost or availability, they should have been able to prescribe the next best thing instead. That has happened to me once or twice.

But, I am truly shocked by the way you were made to feel. That was horrific. I can't imagine anyone at my local surgery behaving like that.

 

[mikeyB]

Behaviour like that just about warrants a complaint to the GMC. It is a totally unacceptable way to treat a patient. It’s not as if you were asking for a three month supply of Fentanyl.

If you don’t feel up to doing that, change your doctor.

Then make your complaint.

 

[Janet Woodward]

This has now all turned nasty.

Have a letter from DVLA revoking my license from the 23rd....last Friday.
Problem is that I am due to house -sit in near future...and need car to drive there.... That is not possible on the train.

I have written to GP explaining everything...but no response. He will have received this today.

DVLA paperwork requires my applying to court to correct things....am in distress as it is.
Really dont need this at all.

Just because of an error in record keeping....just not worth it.

 

[mikeyB]

That must mean your GP wrote to the DVLA to initiate that, which amounts to nothing more than petty vindictiveness. You are not a danger to others on the road any more than any other diabetic driver. It’s obvious your relationship with your GP has completely broken down, so if you can, change your doctor. I still think his behaviour warrants a complaint to the GMC.

 

[Bubbsie]

This has now all turned nasty.

Have a letter from DVLA revoking my license from the 23rd....last Friday.
Problem is that I am due to house -sit in near future...and need car to drive there.... That is not possible on the train.

I have written to GP explaining everything...but no response. He will have received this today.

DVLA paperwork requires my applying to court to correct things....am in distress as it is.
Really dont need this at all.

Just because of an error in record keeping....just not worth it.

Janet you may benefit from calling PALS The Patient Liaison Service as a first step in this process...they will advise you on complaints procedure...likely recommend that you first complain to your GP practice...get some guidance from them...they will give you the options on which approach would be best as an initial step...then take some time to consider what you want to do...I've copied you the link to find the relevant branch for your area...good luck
https://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1082.aspx?categoryid=68&subcategoryid=153

 

[Ljc]

This can be sorted out but it will take a little time .
I am sure if you contacted our helpline they will be able to advise you.
+443451232399

I’d do as Mike says, change to another practice if you can, then put in an official complaint.

 

[Janet Woodward]

Am pleased to report that going cold turkey with the victoza has had no major problems. Levels are up to 7 and above....which is high for me. Shivering with cold a lot of the time (ok the downpour outside doesnt help).Tired to bones, but not sleeping well. Have kept food at roughly what I have had for months. Nothing out of the ordinary (except for a small rolo easter egg) . No changes in weight. I am undecided as to how to sort GP out....Will need more Metformin later in the week...
Not been out of the house since last week...and even a change of four walls in the rain would be good.... (Have shopped on line....dear Tesco sent me 3kg of carrots...so it will be carrot and corriander soup later...) Think I need an on line training on diabetic diet as a revision......is there anything that could be recommended? I want to try and lose a bit more weight... Have fun all...and stay safe....