D.O.T Physicals, what could i have done to help save him?? - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

laylow · **^ Top** #1 09.28.2007

I am a nurse at a family walk-in clinic where we do tons of D.O.T physicals every day. It is my job to check vital signs, color test, height, weight, vision, U/A, and do the D.O.T drug screens. I do these all day long and i hear all the excuses of why they have high blood pressure and so on. I try to stress how important it is to take care of themselves and to monitor their Blood Pressure. I recently had a guy come in he was 57yrs old and when he came in his B/P was stroke level (221/132)

yep thats high. I told him that i would have to give him some medication to bring his b/p down and he flat cussed me out. Told me he didnt have a blood pressure problem, he was only there to update his D.O.T. This man called me every name in the book when i told him that we would not be able to update it for him until his b/p was under control. I tried to explain to him that we could give him a script and get it down then he would not have any problem being updated. I was very nice and respectful of him but all the while still trying to let him know that death was not the worse thing that could come from having a B/P that high. I told him that having a stroke was the worst thing because a stroke dont always kill you. 84% of ppl that have strokes for a blood pressure this high will not die they will be in a veg. state for the remander of their lives. He cussed me again and said whats so bad about that. So i had to put it out on the table for him, i told him you will be able to think, and know whats going on but you will not be able to move you will have no control over body functions and would have to either have family take care of you or be in a nursing home. This man got up and walked out of our office, I recieved a call from the owner of the company that he drove for and he told me that this guy age 57 had a stroke late last nite and the Doctors do not know if he will come out of it or be in this VEG state for the rest of his life.

I told this because i want to ask the Truck Drivers what could i have done to get this man to understand how serious high B/P is, i do not ever want this to happen to one of my patients again.

TSTONE · **^ Top** #2 09.28.2007

probably nothing - he didnt want to hear you

sounds like you were being pretty kool

leannamarie · **^ Top** #3 09.28.2007

I feel badly for you. But there was nothing that you could have done. I had been after my ex for years to do something about his health, but he wanted nothing to do with it. It wasn't until he decided on switching careers to trucking that I got anywhere. I explained to him that he wouldn't be able to pass his physical unless he went on meds. Now that he is thinking of quiting, the meds will be the first to go and there goes that BP sky high again.

Attitude:) · **^ Top** #4 09.28.2007

You did all you could do. You're in a "helps" area in what you do for a living and believe me there's nothing you can tell people when they don't want to hear it. I worked as a counselor for a few years and got burned out by taking their problems home with me. Now I just "help" a group a few evenings a week that are addicts. Everything from shopping, sex, and drug addiction. The hardest ones to let go are the ones who end up in prison or a wreck and the devastation to them and their family. The difference is now I can let go. I did everything I could do and it was their actions that got them there.

Somehow you need to be able to let go and know you really did all you could do. People only hear what they want to hear and when they're "ready" to hear it.

Cybergal · **^ Top** #5 09.28.2007

My Blood pressure skyrockets when I get to the Doctors office anyway.

I have what's called "White Coat Syndrome"

Alot of people have this disorder and don't even know it.

I go thru a physical every year and this never goes away.

Iam always told about my blood pressure being high but when taken at home or any place else, it's normal...

shandera · **^ Top** #6 09.28.2007

Laylow there is nothing you could have done. He wasn't going ot hear you no matter what you said or did.

Just realize that although you couldn't save him, look how many you did save. If he hadn't had to be in your office he would have been on the road. If he would have been on the road and stroked out, just think of how many people could have been hurt or killed even.

Go easy on yourself hun, the blame and guilt is not yours to carry.

mybrotherthetrucker · **^ Top** #7 09.28.2007

Thank you for your post. The other memeber was right on their was nothing you could do he didnt want to be reached.

My brother has been trucking for years.. We all have told him the doctors have told him how important for him to drop weight exersise and take care of himself.

Last week friday he admitted himself in the hospital and all that we have been warning him of has happened.

He is now in ICU with breathing problems, he was over 550 lbs when admitted his weight caused restrictions of the medical staff helping him with test for clots cause the MRI and other test couldnt accompadate him.

He has dropped close to 100 lbs in fluid since last week and when I told him that he was 550 lbs he said no way did i look that big.

Guess my point with out telling you all the ugly details of all this is..........He still doesnt get it.

So rest assured you did what you knew was right... and that is all you could do until they are ready to listen.

My brothers resistance to all this had caused so much stress on my family... My parents are not well and this hasnt been easy cause he is in Ky and we are here in Florida.... Its a mess........and where does he look for help but to us.......

You are a blessed person for trying to help.......And all of the family members thank you for being caring.

GuysLady · **^ Top** #8 09.28.2007

There was nothing else you could have done. Let's just be real. Most men are stubborn and will not listen until something DRASTIC happens! You explained it, clearly and firmly. He CHOSE not to listen.

HUGS, sweetie, you did your best!

joellyroll · **^ Top** #9 09.28.2007

Laylow there is nothing else you could have done.

That said, I just completed my DOT physical and made it with flying colors. I was somewhat concerned though. Two years ago when I did the physical the b/p was near the edge of being high 138/89. This time when I was getting ready to get it done the first thing I did was quit smoking 4 days before. I haven't started again either. Also I didn't drink coffee that day. My b/p this time was 120/58. I kinda felt good about that.

AfterShock · **^ Top** #10 09.28.2007

Good for YOU Joel!!!

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