After deciding not to use forums this year, I’ve changed my mind for 1 reason only. I had a mini stroke on Saturday morning and have been told NOT to drive as my blood pressure is through the roof. DVLA website says I must fill in form B1 or something. I am fine now, but will I be able to carry on driving in the future? I’m off to see a specialist at a clinic today and need to work. Advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Ade.
No advice beyond do as the doc says!
Take it easy and even though you need to work, try not to stress about it.
I used to work with a bloke who had a very minor stroke but unfortunately couldn’t drive a Hgv for a whole 12 months even though he was given the all clear within a couple of weeks. Maybe this might be a be a blessing BV and you might land yourself a nice little job locally doing “normal” hours.
Good luck.
Not the end of the world Big Vern many HGV drivers have been there and got the licence back,just takes time.Now you might want to try
Cherry Concentrate,it drops Blood pressure like a stone.Look up ‘Cherry Concentrate lowers blood pressure’ I take BP tablets, BP round about155
this Cherry stuff dropped it to 130 fast handy if you have to see a quack.I drank it undiluted, about an egg cup full,it works.Since you will
now be on tabs keep taking them…many don’t and good luck.
This might be a blessing in disguise.
I have a family member who has TIA’s occasionally, but the thankfully she recovers quickly and the symptoms manefest themselves like bells pausy, the TIA checks should include checking the blood pressure in you neck to ensure you have good flow to the brain and scans.
I’ve just been told I have early cerebral ischaemia which is the blocking / furring up of the small veins in the brain which can lead to strokes, TIA’s, and dementia… oh and death. Which isn’t bad to say I only went to the doctors for a referral to get my hearing checked for tinnitus 
and as part of the process of checking my hearing they sent me for an MRI to scan the bones in my ears. Now I’m on statins for life.
Sorry to hear that Vern I’m 99% sure vocational licences are suspended for a minimum of 12 months after a stroke.
Get well soon mate
Take it easy mate, the small stroke is sometimes a warning sign, your body’s way of saying “I cant take any more of this crap” It doesn’t mean you have to give up work, just moderate yourself workload, also try to avoid stress (not easy to do by today’s standards) but don’t over do things or you could make matters worse.
I wish you all the best mate…
Big Dave
Armagedon:
Now you might want to try
Cherry Concentrate,it drops Blood pressure like a stone.Look up ‘Cherry Concentrate lowers blood pressure’
Although it’s worth noting that the study where this link was made was funded by the american Cherry Marketing Institute, and involved a sample size of … fifteen healthy young men, none of whom had elevated BP in the first place!
Armagedon:
I take BP tablets, BP round about155
this Cherry stuff dropped it to 130 fast handy if you have to see a quack.I drank it undiluted, about an egg cup full,it works.Since you will
now be on tabs keep taking them…many don’t and good luck.
But why wouold you want your doc to get a lower reading than it actually is. they can only treat you based on what they see and 130 is telling them there isn’t a problem, whereas 155 is a different matter.
Had a similar problem with high BP a bit a go filled in BP1 (you can get a copy on line) sent to DVLA got a letter asking me to go for a further three readings (paid for by DVLA) readings were just bellow the the thresh hold and Doctor said she was not worried, so carried on driving three to four weeks later got letter back from DVLA said all OK to continue driving.
BUT you must follow doctors/specialists instructions as it will depend on severity of stroke, had a friend who had a severe stroke and toke over two years and many driving assessments just to get car licence back never got HGV back.
Any way get well soon 
peirre:
I have a family member who has TIA’s occasionally, but the thankfully she recovers quickly and the symptoms manefest themselves like bells pausy, the TIA checks should include checking the blood pressure in you neck to ensure you have good flow to the brain and scans.
I’ve just been told I have early cerebral ischaemia which is the blocking / furring up of the small veins in the brain which can lead to strokes, TIA’s, and dementia… oh and death. Which isn’t bad to say I only went to the doctors for a referral to get my hearing checked for tinnitus
Bloody hell I have bad tinnitus in me right ear so sod going to the docs although it hasn’t got any worse in the last 12 yrs.
Sorry to hear this. I guess any of us are only a moment away from having something similar happen. I fear there might be problems with your vocational licence, DVLA seem to be getting ever stricter about health matters, the Glasgow bin lorry crash didn’t help.
I take Nattokinaise to keep my blood pressure down, but it’s anybody’s guess as to whether it actually does anything. I do notice my blood pressure (I monitor it myself) is considerably lower when I am away cruising on the boat as compared to being at work. Fingers crossed.
Many thanks for the response folks, it turns out it wasn’t a TIA (mini stroke) after all. But I DO have high BP. So am on tabs for that so that should be that. I had already started the diet plan and have lost half a stone in the first week. So to coin a phrase…ONWARDS!
I believe losing weight is the most effective way of reducing blood pressure, along with exercise. If your blood pressure can be controlled with meds then your licence should be ok.
Happy days then half a stone down how much more to go ?
bald bloke:
Happy days then half a stone down how much more to go ?
About 4 st more. I lost 3.5 last year but put it on doing Euro van crap last Summer!
If I may explain, the study was reported in the press and she who must be obeyed bought a bottle of this cherry juice from a health food store
and it wasn’t cheap and insisted I try it. For those who might not be aware your BP for your HGV has to be 180/100 and they prefer lower mine
sits about 155/85 so the effect of drinking this stuff brought my BP down to 130/60.It is stated that constant use of this drink can replace the
taking of tablets, it would seem to be true but taking the tabs on prescription is a cheaper option since a small bottle of juice concentrate was
about £16.But the most useful item which we have at home is a BP monitor which every driver over 50 should certainly have and use regularly
I have, more so since I now have a medical every year and BP is what they seem to be most concerned about unless your blind as a bat.
Boots sell monitors, not expensive get one.Keep taking the Tabs BG.
bald bloke:
Bloody hell I have bad tinnitus in me right ear so sod going to the docs although it hasn’t got any worse in the last 12 yrs.
They fitted me with an hearing aid (the type that has a fine tube) that’s tuned to work as a noise cancelling earphone, the result is that when wearing it I hear no tinnitus
bald bloke:
peirre:
I have a family member who has TIA’s occasionally, but the thankfully she recovers quickly and the symptoms manefest themselves like bells pausy, the TIA checks should include checking the blood pressure in you neck to ensure you have good flow to the brain and scans.
I’ve just been told I have early cerebral ischaemia which is the blocking / furring up of the small veins in the brain which can lead to strokes, TIA’s, and dementia… oh and death. Which isn’t bad to say I only went to the doctors for a referral to get my hearing checked for tinnitusBloody hell I have bad tinnitus in me right ear so sod going to the docs although it hasn’t got any worse in the last 12 yrs.
What a strange attitude! Surely it’s best to find out you have such a condition as early as possible so that something can be done about it (in this case statins) rather than finding out when it’s too late?