Able to get CDL with Sleep Apnea ????

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by jbiggs24, Jul 15, 2009.

  1. truckerdad57

    truckerdad57 Light Load Member

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    Mark 9

    Sorry to disagree with one of your posts......

    CPAP compliance data capabilties are "required" for FMCSA medical card certification.

    The newest guidelines require the medical examiner to use "objective data" in reviewing if a driver is under "current and effective treatment".

    Objective data can be either a CPAP data download or other testing such as a Maintanence of Wakefullness test (MWT) a real nasty form of daytime sleep study that measures if you can stay awake in a dark silent room. MWT's costs upwards of $ 1,000 and without a data compliant CPAP you would need one every year.

    With a good data compliant CPAP costing $ 876.00 it seems a smart thing to me to just get a data capable CPAP and avoid the MWT.

    while not officially required., it's sort of a good idea to have a card reader.

    PS the companies do not need to pay for a card reader cpap
     
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  3. truckerdad57

    truckerdad57 Light Load Member

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    Condo cruiser got some parts right...

    The new FMCSA sleep apnea guidelines do require compliance data checks and recertification after 90 days... but you will also need compliance data and recertification every year for recertification.

    The rules for medical certification are more complicated if you have had surgery.....

    Condo.. it was not clear Did you get surgery for sleep apnea? If yes.. do you also still use a CPAP?

    If you get surgery for sleep apnea (not something most doctors who know what they are talking about suggest) or use an oral appliance ( again not a REAL good idea for truck drivers).... you will need an annual in-lab sleep study to confirm the surgery or oral appliance is still effective.

    Surgery for sleep apnea HURTS LIKE HELL and in more than 50% of the cases is not effective 5 years after surgery..... even with surgery you may very well need to go back on a CPAP.... I have a good friend and RPGST (sleep apnea treatment specialist) who had surgery and will talk you out of it..

    On the prices... if you are having to pay out of pocket for your sleep apnea testing and treatment do some research.

    In-lab testing is expensive. There are ads in major trucking magazines from sleep labs and companies doing portable testing. There is another thread about portable testing on this forum.

    The other issue is to look for companies that know both sleep apnea and trucking, cpap.com advertises in many trucking magazines... but when you call them.. ask them if they know the difference between team and slip seating..... and why a CPAP without a GOOD moisture barrier will just short out if you try to use it in a team operation....

    there is a driver to driver support group for truck drivers with sleep apnea.

    Truckers for a Cause - A. W. A. K. E. if you listen to Dave Nemo on Sirius-XM you may have heard about us. google it......

    The American Sleep Apnea Association is a nationwide support group for anyone with sleep apnea. They have a message board also. If you have specific questions about sleep apnea try there. But.. be sure to put in your post you are a truck driver. Because of the DOT medical card issues .. answers may differ.

    Sleep apnea testing and treatment is complicated. Do lots of research.
     
  4. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

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    There is no rule requiring Cpap data, guidelines are not requirements.

    I drive and use a Cpap. I have my physical done by my personnel doctor get singed off every years no problems. I use a Cpap, and do not have one with card reader.

    Are some trucking companies pushing the new guidelines and even harder rules, yes.

    Mark
     
  5. wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    If your Doc will sign off on the card and your company accepts it then you should be good. They are coming out with new certifications for the Docs to be able to do DOT physicals. I would make sure your Doc is planning to jump through the hoops required to continue doing them. Many aren't.
     
  6. tramp116

    tramp116 Bobtail Member

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    jbiggs, I'm in the same boat as you. I drove 20 years ago & thinking about getting back into it. I've been on Cpap since 2005 (It changed my life for sure). But my sleep doctor retired and right now I'm unemployed. I use a Respironics C-Flex unit with the card reader. Does anyone know if this is good enough for the driving schools/companies? And what about that power supply/idling issue?
     
  7. wsyrob

    wsyrob Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I also use a Respironics machine. Mine has a DC cord that plugs into the cigarette type plugs in the truck. Check with your supplier.
     
  8. truckerdad57

    truckerdad57 Light Load Member

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    Power supply issues for CPAP are the number one cause of CPAP failure in trucks.

    1) Will the truck you will using have optimized idle?

    If yes plugging a 12-V CPAP will result in scrambled compliance data when the truck engine starts and stops. The voltage drop during the engine start messes up the C
    PAP.

    2) If you are using a 12-V power cord be sure to check with the CPAP maker if the 12-V power cord provided power to the humidification chamber.

    Many CPAP (Resmed S-8 for example) when run on 12-V do not provide any heat /humidification. You would need to run an S-8 on a pure sine wave inverter to avoid scrambling the compliance electronics and getting the heat-humidification to work right.

    The new ResMed S-9 that just came out last year will run on 12-V direct powering heat and humidification.

    No heat/humidification you face the dreaded bottle brush nose syndrome (it will feel like someone reamed your nose out with a baby bottle cleaning brush.. not real pleasant until you learn about proper huimidification)

    As you can see this stuff gets complicated and answers depend on a lot of specific things about your situation.

    Each company may have its own policies about invertors, idling, compliance card readers etc.. so you need to check things out.

    Some companies are sleep apnea friendly some are less so....

    Sleep apnea as a truck driver can be dealt with... it just takes a little extra work.
     
    jonboy29 Thanks this.
  9. tramp116

    tramp116 Bobtail Member

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    Sounds to me like a sine wave inverter might be a good idea across the board. Any idea what size is best? Would a 1500 watt do the job? And will most trucks handle a 1500 watt inverter? Also what about idling with that big an inverter?
     
  10. truckerdad57

    truckerdad57 Light Load Member

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    What specific CPAP are you planning to run? Check the information from the manufacturer. Most CPAP can be run on a 600 watt inverter.

    Idling is another whole topic. It depends on how much draw your CPAP has, what else you are running and how good your truck batteries are. Most CPAP with heat/humidification will make 7 hours on normal batteries without any other major hotel loads. You start running your TV and lights......

    You also can't use a CPAP in a REALLY cold or REALLY hot cab so idling for temperature control becomes more of a problem than battery draw.

    An APU is a good idea if you have sleep apnea.
     
  11. Jackson1604

    Jackson1604 Bobtail Member

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    They told me i have to renew my medical card every year.
     
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