DOT Physical Blood Pressure

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by rowekmr, Nov 3, 2020.

  1. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    NO company HAS TO ACCEPT ANY current DOT physical.

    your best bet, would have been to get your BP checked, as in a REGULAR check of it, and to NOT HAVE paid for a DOT exam.

    so, on the one hand, you blew money for nuffin.....

    now, YOU CAN go around looking for work at other places. maybe you'll get lucky, and a company "might" accept your new DOT, just DO NOT plan on it.

    good luck.

    in the future though..??

    DO NOT SPEND your money and think you're a "shoe-in"
     
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  3. roundhouse

    roundhouse Road Train Member

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    I get my DOT physicals done at a CVS pharmacy minute clinic.

    also, with me , (56, 5’9” 205)I figured out that drinking water causes my BP to go up about ten points.
    I used to drink water before the physical so I’d have plenty to fill the pee test bottle.
    But discovered that it raised my BP.
    So I schedule the physical first thing in the morning,use the restroom at home and I don’t drink Anything before the visit.
     
  4. rowekmr

    rowekmr Light Load Member

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    Moose1958 Thanks so much for the info. You brought up some really important points so it wasn't a thread hijack it was a thread "enhancement". I made this thread to hear what experienced members thought since I couldn't find info about it elsewhere and hopefully it will help another person through my own issues/mistakes and journey.

    Update: I took meds, drank Beet juice, took a nap, drank cranberry juice, ate a banana on the way and drank a bottle of water and passed it this time. The nurse didn't use a digital machine so I couldn't see the results but on my paperwork it said 139/88. I was completely nervous I bought a Apple watch to track my heart beats per minute and it it normally 70-80 bpm it was 102 during the test. I think part of the extreme white coat syndrome is knowing that I am borderline. Hopefully I will get the numbers under control and feel confident when going to the doctor. FYI I took my BP before I left home and it was 121/80 with 67 heart rate. One of the lowest it has been so I shot out to the facility. The night before the numbers were 130's/high 80's hence I took a nap instead of going in, they are a 24 hour facility.

    What I have learned is more regular check ups with my brand new doctor (old one was horrible) and get annual blood work. I am also going to eat/sleep better, I just started exercising but will exercise more (nonexistent before), lose weight, take meds as long as I need them (hopefully I can get off of them) and enjoy the new career you all have helped guided me into. Since I will be doing 50% dock work, hopefully that activity will help. That is one benefit of the companies that train they want you to work the dock and in my situation that is a bonus.
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2020
  5. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    it is true, that holding in one's "pee" can raise BP. but more importantly, so does caffeine, salts, and some other food/drink products..

    when ever i had to go for my DOT, of course, many times, they took me right on in. well, the walk to the office, maybe climbing stairs, or a wheelchair ramp, is exercise, and that of course leads to an elevated BP. they always let me sit for a "few minutes" to be tested again.


    also, there is that "white coat syndrome" when we are in a doctors office, and that alone raises our BP, but not off the charts.

    it is easy for anyone to say...RELAX......

    truth of the matter, that makes it worse.

    just in the future, do not spend your money for a DOT, unless you become an o/o.

    and "watch out" for all those wives tales, or rumor mill products on what to eat, drink before a DOT...

    so much of it is more BS than truth..


    drink WATER, and have a lite salt, caffeine free, meal
     
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  6. rowekmr

    rowekmr Light Load Member

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    Thanks BuddyD157 Good info...I thought once you were certified you were good for any company. But the biggest reason I paid is I have been out of the business for decades so I wanted to see what a current DOT exam entails besides the BP. The plus is it showed my that my BP was high/borderline and I used that data to work on it since. In the 3 weeks since I took it on my own dime I have worked out, cut off pop and energy drinks, eat more fresh and steamed vegetables, cut out burger joints, etc. I believe it had an effect. The first reading at the first DOT was 160/100 I had to wait 15 minutes to get it down on retake. This time the first reading passed so I made progress. The other discovery is my horrible white coat syndrome. I will really have to work on that. In the end I want to live healthy so now I know I have some things to buckle down on for quality of life plus the job.

     
  7. tommymonza

    tommymonza Road Train Member

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    Will blood pressure pill use show up in a pee test?
     
  8. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    no
     
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  9. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    No, but why risk it. Take the bp pill and just do a one year card.
     
  10. agitator

    agitator Light Load Member

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    Don’t eat anything before the test and drink lots of water...I take an extra BP pill before I go..
     
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