I had a similar problem.
For the FAA you can do a medical flight test, if u pass this, you get an unrestricted medical.
I passed it and they gave me a state of demonstrated ability, if i rock up fo a new medical, i just show this soda, and they give me my new medical (ClassI) without trouble. (And i'm flying rotorwing, not fixedwing)
For the JAA it is a different story, that really depends on the situation....