Sleep study ? at Roehl

Also if you do get hired at Roehl they expect you to supply a power pack to run your Cpap through the night, then recharge it during the day. They do not want you to plug it into the inverter.....so i hear lol

 

Ok Guys, I'm new to this and have a few insights and questions regarding sleep apnea and the sleep study.

Some things I DO know, First I will tell you from working for over 20 years with an oxygen company out of Ma. that EVERYONE has some form of sleep apnea. YES EVERYONE!!!
most of the sleep/oxygen facilities get these machines for less than $300.00 each. and turn around to sell them for well over 2K in most cases. IT IS A MONEY MAKER!!!

If you are so blessed with the responsibility of having to undergo a sleep study be sure it is done in your current work schedule. Many drivers drive at night. The biggest problem I have recently learned is that many of the sleep studies are invalid due to the timing of the study. Done while the driver is home trying to readjust to a wake during the day and sleep at night.( It's term is called shift workers disease.) Often confused with apnea.
If the driver normally drives at night, and is home a couple days and performs this test he/she will likely fail. I have personally experienced this recently with my truck driver.

His company threshold is 15 episodes per hour he came in at 20. I watched him sleep during his in home study that evaluation is totally wrong, and unfair since he drives all night 5-6 days a week (at home 2-3 days) 20 episodes an hour for over 8+ hours (what they said) is bogus! At best it happened for less than 2 hours of his 8+ hours of sleep. In short they took the highest number and equated that for the WHOLE sleep time.

Now since he has been forced to wear this crazy contraption! He is experiencing, (all of which are negative side effects) greater depression, stomach bloating (due to air being forced into his lung & stomach and is quite painful) nose bleeds, sore throat. Never mind the effect on our relationship. Me not being able to sleep with the constant sound of running water from the air going through the mask, or either nose masks.

I will put it into his words... "It is like sleeping with a bag over your head while someone is blowing in your face!" Yes! as figured his sleep is WORSE!

What the Dr. that did this sleep study told him... he is barely over the threshold. (currently his company has a limit of 15 episodes an hour, we believe is too low) the equivalent of failing a test with a score of 99% when you need a 100% to pass.

Ok so what I need to know is does anyone know of any medical exemptions for this. Driving while in psychical pain,/ increased depression a disrupted sleep pattern. That being on this thing is creating more issues than not.

So any information will be greatly appreciated!


Thanks!!

 

Not sure about any exemption, but don't come to roehl. The threshold is 5 here. A girl I went to school with took the test and got a 4.5 yet they still made her buy the machine.

 

No idea about exemptions.
ROEHL was ahead of the DOT curve and tested me last year. The home study had me a couple episodes over threshold.
I paid out of pocket for a clinic/hospital test.
I wad disappointed. I do sleep worse in my opinion. It took 9 months to get to point of toleration.

There are options outside of the infernal machine. A specialist may be able to fit him with an orthotic device. The kink though is a retest after the fitting. A clean test afterwards would exempt him from machine.

 

I have been having problems with the batteries in my assigned truck, where they shut off in the night. I have fallen below the accepted level of compliance because of that. Now have to get my compliance level back to the accepted level. My FM is getting me a different truck, one with auto start so the problem will be eliminated. Like Dark Squall, I too am having difficulty adjusting to the nose piece and it does cost me hours of sleep. In my opinion, this whole sleep apnea fiasco is over exaggerated by the DOT!

 

Well it is obvious there is no set threshold for this. In the end what it will come to that every driver (regardless of weight, size) will have to undergo the sleep study and every driver will be wearing the infernal machine. Because as I have stated before everyone has sleep apnea of some form/degree.
I also must say that some really do have a serious problem with elevated episodes during sleep, and for those individuals sleep devices are a good thing. However for the majority it can be a bigger hazard because it creates a greater issue trying to sleep than with out it.
The best any of you drivers can do is unite and put the pressure back on those who sit behind a desk and give them all cause to reconsider this enforcement. After all if the truck driver stops driving it will only take 3 days for this country to feel the consequences.

 

[Rant]One of the problems I have with the test is the discrimination. Not only fat people have it. I'm tall and moderately lean with a bmi well below the testing threshold, however, I know I've had issues with apnea when I was very very young and even now if I sleep the wrong way (which I stopped sleeping that way and have no issues), but I don't have to take the test because I'm skinny enough. The testers themselves will tell you that skinny people have it more often then larger people. Couple that with the absurdly low thresholds they hold, roehl and companies like them are using it solely as a money making device, not a safety issue. I'm sure it has ended up helping someone as they wouldn't have gone through a study otherwise, but that clearly isn't the goal. Roehl now seems just like one of my old companies. (Commercial security) Preach safety in the meetings and messages, but they don't really mean it. It's one of the reasons I am beginning to despise it here. It's filled with drivers who actually care about doing things right and safe and to the highest standard and are generally great people, working for a company that really doesn't care deep down beneath the ########.

Sorry [/rant]

 

I fully agree with that last post...and it's not ranting when a valid point is being made.

I used to work with an oxygen co. and also spend several years in a sub acute nursing facility. I have seen how C PAP can be a detriment and an asset.

I'm up in arms over how the truck driver is being singled out. For the facts I know every single commercial driver from cab to boat add to that every single member of our military. In fact while we're at it ANYONE who gets behind the wheel of any vehicle should.

When it trickles down to the guys in the suits who set this in place,
(who think they are immune to this regulation) When they are forced to be in compliance with this infernal machine or loose their job, or ability to drive.
Things will change.

 

I am new to all of this trucking stuff. But, who are the elected officials making the laws? What organization has the ultimate authority? I am sure it would not hurt for every truck driver, truck drivers spouse, and extended family to start calling and emailing their senators. In fact, I think it would be much more impactful than just talking amongst ourselves. But, in addition knowing the organization and elected officials who are in charge of these laws, and contacting them at least once a week with something pertinent to say would be very helpful.

My grandma always said the squeaky wheel gets the grease. So, I think we all need to do more squeaking, but to the right people. Somebody, somewhere, is listening to these DME companies and their fat pockets. But, there is a lot of power in noisy voters. We need to make ourselves heard. Sitting by and taking it is really just a victim mentality and it will never change anything.

I think truck drivers who feel fatigued and have trouble staying awake after resting should do the responsible thing and go to their doctor to find out what is causing this. It could be ANYTHING. BP, heart arrhythmia, glucose too high or too low, hormonal imbalances, anemia, stress, depression, poor nutrition, dehydration, or maybe sleep apnea.

I think it is criminal that an employer gets to have this much control over the diagnosing and treatment of their employees health conditions. And, on top of them medically treating people against their will these companies are making a profit off of it. That is truly disgusting.

Instead, these employers need to be encouraging their staff to get healthy, and see their doctor. No truck driver wants to die on the road, or kill anyone else. It is just stupid for the government, or the trucking companies, to assume that a rational human being has no value for their own life. If they educate their employees properly they would not have to be forcing their own medical malpractice on people who feel like they have no choice.

In addition to contacting senators and any other politicians that need to be educated on what truck drivers have to say on the issue, there needs to be a list of companies that are overstepping their boundaries. And, these companies need to be blackballed. But, that is just my opinion. I guess I was well trained in being squeaky. Not always a good thing....

 

Be squeaky!!!

I agree with contacting our political officials, however the issue goes beyond even that. We at this point will be the equivalent to stopping the snowball (enormous as it is) half way down the hill.

The medical field equally as much their hands in this. The medical/DME (sleep) professionals out there who are willing to speak up are few and far. In the most part they get a financial kick back for every machine they sell.

Can this be done? I say yes. If we have enough education/statistics to back our cause.
In the meantime my driver (and yours) will all have to comply in order to keep their livelihood. I just hope the negative (side effects) do no harm others while this process takes place. Unfortunately I am sure the statistics on that will be even harder to uncover. It will likely be contributed to driver fatigue.