Question: bipolar/manic-depression

runaway · Dec 31, 2006

It's pretty straight forward , IF YOU'VE BEEN CLEARED AND HAVE SCRIPTS FOR WHAT YOUR TAKING YOU CANT BE DENIED !!!

rdubill · Dec 31, 2006

TurboTrucker said: ↑

I've been watching this thread, and wanted to see if anyone would nail the issues down. Here's what all this boils down to, and I am using my personal experience as a guide.

A "waiver", in it's pure form, can only be issued by the FMCSA. They are the only one that can say, "the rules are bypassed for you". But, the condition that at least two describe that they have does not warrant a waiver. There is no waiver, because a Physician can make the determination without one.

A clinical diagnosis or bi-polar disorder does not prevent you from driving a commercial vehicle, in and of itself. Certain medications WILL prevent you from being medically cleared, if they are used to treat disorders.

The best chance of this NOT being an issue or a problem, is only going to be in a case where the person is and has been under the care of a personal physician, who has had consistent and regular oversight of the person's condition and medications.

To understand what I will be referring to below, here's a view of the currently used DOT Physical Examination form:

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/safetyprograms/Medical-Report.pdf

The basic medical criteria is right there on the form. Print it out and discuss this with your personal Physician as soon as possible.

You must report the condition on the patients area of the DOT Physical Examination form on the "nervous or psychiatric disorders, e.g. severe depression" line. This will not disqualify you. Below that line, you will be asked to report all medications you are taking in response to treat the disorder.

Now what will happen FIRST when the Physician steps into the room to do his part of the examination, will be to go over any and all items checked "yes" in that section. He may ask about specific doses of medications that you are on, how long you have been on them, and other questions about those items checked "yes".

If everything else goes well on the rest of the examination, the Physician will likely offer you a form to have your personal physician fill out in regard to your condition, the medications, and will want him/her to sign that he understands the medical criteria for Commercial drivers, and to certify that you are qualified to drive and perform safety sensitive duties of the job as a commercial vehicle driver.

If you are seeing a personal Physician that is already familiar with the criteria, and who has been treating you for at least a year for the disorder, he or she may have one of the forms on hand to fill out, if they are okay with offering their endorsement that you are fine as far as they are concerned, PRIOR to you reporting to the company's Physician. Doing so will probably net instant approval. They may want to verify the form to make sure it has not been forged or manufactured, and will most certainly ask you for all contact information of your personal Physician, so be ready to provide immediately upon request;

The nature of your disorder;

The EXACT medications, dose quantities, and the number of times per day you take them;

Your personal Physician's name, complete address, phone number, and phone number.

I personally keep copies of all my medical records and submit them to any new Physician that I see in the course of taking a DOT Examination. It saves time, and it allows them to be more comfortable in understanding what they are dealing with. I have slightly elevated blood pressue, and I am diabetic, and on anti-depressants. So I keep the company Physician updated each time I see my personal Physician, and fax him a copy of everything they write up on me, and copies of all my labs as well.

And because I have changed Physicians a few times over the past few years, due to the death of one, another closing his practice, and another that I despised, I make them give me copies of my medical records EVERY time I see them. I keep them in a filing cabinet, and copy for myself as needed. It's saved me a great deal of trouble over the last few years, because it's all there in black and white.

Just like my advice regarding many other aspects of the job, honesty and being up-front, and supporting potential negative issues with documentation in the same manner, allows people in charge with approving or not approving your qualifications to do the job, will work in your favor every time. The one and only time I failed to qualify, was when I failed to do the above.

No Doctor, who sees you for the first time and for only a few minutes, can make a reasonable determination that you are qualified, and not many that I have ever encountered will pass someone with questionable issues, that are not clarified. It's getting tougher by the day to be passed, without the driver providing documentable proof that your questionable issues are completely under control.

When you have a medical issue, you must have see a Physician on a regular basis, who can document your condition and treatment, and who can certify that your condition is under control. Without that, expect to be disqualified.
Click to expand...

Turbotrucker - the information you posted regarding this subject really hit home....

I am seriously considering a career change to trucking from the computer field - I am 53 years old and have been on anti-depressants for 15 years - fluoxetine - a generic form of Prozac - only for depression - no manic diagnosis...

I never thought this might be a problem since it has been under control for these 15 years and I have used the same physician/psychiatrist...

A couple of questions and your recommendations are most appreciated:

1 - I agree - honesty is the best policy - I had no intention of not bringing this up on the DOT physical form..
2 - My general practitioner can perform DOT physicals - should I do this BEFORE signing up and paying for school? Will
3 - Is there a list of medications for this illness that are OK and those that are not?
4 - Will a letter from my physician suffice for the DOT and the company physician?
5 - What companies will automatically eliminate me from consideration for employment?
6 - I do also have high blood pressure but this has been under control for years with the proper medication - will this be a significant issue?

rdubill · Dec 31, 2006

Turbotrucker - your comments are very encouraging to me - was sitting here panicking this morning thinking the past 2 weeks I've spent looking into this business has been a waste...

I have an excellent 31 year work history with no missed time - 15 years ago depression hit with some major personal problems and my family has a history of it - been on this medication for 15 years with NO

rdubill · Dec 31, 2006

Turbotrucker - your comments are very encouraging to me - was sitting here panicking this morning thinking the past 2 weeks I've spent looking into this business has been a waste...

I have an excellent 31 year work history with no missed time - 15 years ago depression hit with some major personal problems and my family has a history of it - been on this medication for 15 years with NO side effects...

Been on medication management with my psychiatrist for these 15 years - visits every 6 months - would I need a letter from him?

Can my personal physician perform the DOT physical?

thanks so much!

new_york_1 · Jan 2, 2007

if you are not mentally ill now.dont worry.after you been on the road for a while you will devope mental issues due to the racket of trucking and its lifestyle.your fine,most drivers are wacked out any how.just hang out at the truck stops across america and see all the freak shows.lol dont worry,most all truck drivers are mentally ill or they wouldn't survive this life style.dont tell anyone your nuts,they all ready no.

munrkr · Jan 2, 2007

I appreciate your take on this. Levity's important. After all, it's said that life is ten percent what happens to us, and nintety percent how we react to it. So if we can laugh, we can win.

Welcome aboard!

munrkr · Jan 7, 2007

TurboTrucker said: ↑

Folks, you can't hide the taking of medication like that. It is patently illegal to do so. Insurance companies can pull your medical records in a minute and discover the fact that you are not being honest, and will kick your hiney out of that truck so fast it will make your head spin.

If your personal Physician will clear you to drive a commercial vehicle, and the examining DOT Physician approves, then what is the problem? If and when there is an issue of a questionable drug, you should always seek an alternative through your personal Physician.

I have been on anti-depressants for years, and have never had any problem clearing the physical.
Click to expand...

So it seems we have to be approved by (2) doctors, one for the license, and another for the employer. Is this correct? I read a lengthy thread on another site, and opinions/advice varied. If and when the time comes when I have the good fortune to see the company/DOT examining physician, and the subject of mental health/anti-depressants comes up. Could I simply ask, "what's your policy?" then match my response. Seriously, I'm fed up/ready to deal. Let the doctors and the insurance companies hash out what's best regarding safety, then let me know! As I see it I have 2 options, both of which could cost keep me off the road. 1.) volunteer I had some mental issues, and now feel I'm healed, and no longer require meds. (company doc may take a dim view of that)
2.) Admit to no prior mental illness, and hope I'll never need to take them again, but if I did, decide if I tell company doc (see #1).

OKAY.... Just two questions I ask you folks. What is meant by the "Examining DOT Physician? And is the information appearing on the "DOT" physical that my personal physician approved to certify my license available to this company physician of my perspective employer? Because if not, I'll admit, I think admitting nothing (lying) is what I might do. As always, I appreciate your input.

rdubill · Jan 7, 2007

munrkr - I think the question is not if you ever once were prescribed an anti-depressant and now do not take them...

The question would be for someone like myself who has been on them for 15 years and still takes them....

Question for the group - can your personal physician perform the DOT physical or does the company/DOT perform it?

Many thanks to all for contributing!

hlaird · Mar 5, 2008

TurboTrucker said: ↑

Folks, you can't hide the taking of medication like that. It is patently illegal to do so. Insurance companies can pull your medical records in a minute and discover the fact that you are not being honest, and will kick your hiney out of that truck so fast it will make your head spin.

If your personal Physician will clear you to drive a commercial vehicle, and the examining DOT Physician approves, then what is the problem? If and when there is an issue of a questionable drug, you should always seek an alternative through your personal Physician.

I have been on anti-depressants for years, and have never had any problem clearing the physical.
Click to expand...

You can always go off the medications through your doctor if it is true that insurance companies can breech confidentiality, but then you just reorder meds through off shore online pharmacies.

hlaird · Mar 5, 2008

rdubill said: ↑

munrkr - I think the question is not if you ever once were prescribed an anti-depressant and now do not take them...

The question would be for someone like myself who has been on them for 15 years and still takes them....

Question for the group - can your personal physician perform the DOT physical or does the company/DOT perform it?

Many thanks to all for contributing!
Click to expand...

Any physician, nurse practitioner, or physicians assistant can preform a DOT physical, but often times companies have their own chosen physicians preform physicals at orientation, or they find one in your area to do it before orientation.

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