The Ugly Truth about Roehls cpap testing.

I am here to post my most recent experience with Roehl and testing procedures for sleep apnea. As a new hire your required to go to one of their doctors for your medical card regardless if you already have obtained one. I thought no big deal I just received a medical card two weeks ago that's good for two years so I shouldn't have any issues now. Sadly I was mistaken, the physical portion went well blood pressure in check due to meds everything was fine. Then the doctor told me she had to measure my neck that this wasn't practice she was used to but one of comp care regulations. She measured my neck and informed me that I fell into the size where she was onlyto issue me a 6 month card and I would have to get a sleep apnea test done.Again stating something she was unfamiliar with when doing Dot physicals. I left with my 6 month card in hard and 2 days later was off to Gary IN for new hire orientation. Six days later I am called into the orientation office tospeak with Pam in regards to getting a sleep study done. Pam expressed it wasin my best interest to go through their sleep study center and that the test would be paid for by Roehl. I knew I didn't have sleep apnea and my only issue was being overweight so agreed to this. I contacted the sleep study center told them when I was to be home so they could send the magic glove.

The second night home I decided to get the test out of the way. Put on the glove and finger monitor and actually had a really good night's sleep. I was confident the test went well and sent the glove back out thinking everything was fine. Three days later I get a call from sleep center with results. To sum it up they stated my oxygen levels got kind of low and that I don't get very much stage 2 sleep and doctor recommended a cpap machine and to lose weight. I instantly went into defense mode. I explained this test is bogus and that Iwill not be purchasing a machine for $1300.00, because a test stated I barely had something, and that I don't get much stage 2 sleep. I told the lady this was a ploy set up by Roehl and this sleep center to make money off of overweight people and I wasn't buying into it and that I will be getting a second opinion.The lady stated she would inform Pam my results and it was up to Roehl on which action to take. Two months go by I have now passed phase 3 driving and I get a call from my fleet manager to call safety. I call in finding that I am now speaking again to Pam asking why I never purchased my cpap machine. I again explain I will not purchase this machine because a doctor said " I barely have something and my I don't get enough stage 2 sleep" Barely isn'tenough to make a 1300 dollar investment. I told Pam I felt discriminated against due to me being overweight and Roehl and this sleep center was exploiting overweight people by forcing them to purchase these machines in order to stay on with the company. I informed her that Dot regulations doesn'tstate that I was ever to have this test administered due to neck circumference size and only that I was only to be disqualified if I had a pre existing condition and wasn't using my machine. I stated that I told the sleep center I planned to get a second opinion. Her response was have you? I stated no I haven't due to not knowing when I am supposed to be home and to schedule a test likethis at a sleep center not knowing when I am to be home was impossible. I told her I am only supposed to be out 11 days home 3 but that has never been the case in 3 months due to lack of freight going to my home city. She ended conversation stating she would be informing her supervisor my decision to not purchase the machine and in December when I am to renew my card it will not be renewed if I don't purchase the cpap machine. I told her in December most likely my employment with Roehl will terminate then because I am not going tobuy this machine.

I had my primary doctor refer me to a neurology sleep center to get my second opinion. I was able to squeeze in a last second consultation appointment explained to my doctor the test given and that I felt I was being taken advantage of. He measured my neck checked my weight and informed me most likely a man of my size probably does have sleep apnea. He also stated the test administered by Roehl is only a preliminary test and by no means sufficient enough to diagnose somebody. The next night I was to go to the sleep center hook up to wires like a robot and have everything measured. This time I had wires that ran on by my sides, two different abdomen straps to measure chest movement while breathing. A breathing tube that went from nose to mouth that measured air coming out. Another wire in my nose that also monitored air coming in.Wires to my legs to measure leg movement for restless leg syndrome. More wires to my face to measure teeth grinding and eye movements. And at least 10 wires to head to monitor brain activity "ekg". I also had a camera and mic that was watching and listening to everything I did. Needless to say this test sucked and I hated it.My movement was restricted by wires I couldn't sleep on my sides due to the breathing tubes pulling at my nose and was forced to eventually sleep on myback which I never do. I kept getting waken up by the technician cause I knocked sensors off and they would have to replace them. It was a two part test stating if in fact I did have it, they would wake me up and then put a cpap onme to measure how much pressure I would need in order to fix my problem. Everytime the tech came in I would get nervous thinking I had it, only to find a sensor was knocked off. Finally the morning came and I was unhooked. I waitedabout 40 minutes for doctor to go over the nights results. He informed me I didn't have it. He apologized to me for assuming because I was large I did and was actually mad that Roehl was trying to force me into buying this machine. He stated sleep apnea is measured and anything 5 and below isn't diagnosed. My measurements were 1.2. My oxygen levels were fine and got plenty of stage 2 sleep for the amount of time I was actually sleeping. He stated that it was impossible for them to measure my sleep stages without the ekg test and was angry they lied to me about this. He informed me to let any of my fellow employee'swas being forced into purchasing this cpap by Roehl to get a second opinion and that he questions the validity of their tests.

So there you have it my crappy experience with Roehl and sleep studies. Bottom line get another opinion if they state you do have it by their doctor and don't trust the home time policy. I could go on about other issues I have seen with this company as a new driver but this thread is only to inform others Roehl's test results are not valid and you should question your purchase if you feel you don't have this problem.

 

I do have the findings nyroadie 3 pages worth with all the data they collected. The findings are also being sent over to my primary care physician due to her requesting test. This was done for me for insurance outside of Roehl. Far as the test skyviper73 regardless of policy with their insurance company the fact that they used insufficent data and tried to sell me a machine I didn't need is what angers me. And I know I'm not the only person they have done this to because my trainer was going through the same thing. Biglee500 is more proof whats going on he went along with what their doctors said and is now the proud owner of a 1300 dollar cpap machine. I realise they give you a option to purchase for 30 dollars a week but what happens if you leave Roehl before the 10 months needed to cover payments for this machine. A question they wouldnt answer I was worried they would withhold my last check to cover any remainder costs. The bigger question is what if they tried to sell you the machine when you actually didnt need it? Biglee500 its never too late to get another opinion unless you have already paid for the machine then getting them to refund any money without proving nothing had changed when first diagnosed.