new: BMI Body mass regulation

The BMI/Sleep Apnea issue has nothing to do with CSA 2010... that's purely a way of assigning a scoring system to the present safety inspections that are conducted by DOT.

The BMI/Neck Size/Sleep Apnea is something that came out of the meetings of the FMCSAs Medical Advisory Board this year. A bunch of doctors with no clue about CMVs, driving and CDL drivers jawin' about what kind of hoops they can run us through next. None of this has been adopted into the medical exam for a CDL, but many of the larger carriers see this as a sign of the future and adopt it to protect themselves from potential lawsuits in CMV-related crashes.

In other words, its doctor-generated BS that is calculated to increase their profits at our expense.

 

I actually use a Bi-PAP... similar to a CPAP, except that I face positive pressure both on the inhale and exhale.

Problem I have is that NONE of the masks I've tried (something like 12 different sizes/styles) is comfortable. They all leak. If it were around the base of the nose, that would be fine. But they all leak near the BRIDGE of the nose, and blow on my eyes. This results in my taking the ^&#)(*$^)(* thing off in the middle of the night. I figure that crappy sleep is better than no sleep.

Enter NOMASK (easily found via google). nuff said about that! rah-yay!

As for the machine itself.. Insurance paid for it. And it's *portable* Even got a plugger-inner thing so it can be used on aircraft! ( I lost that bit, though. No worries to me - I don't fly anyway). I used it when I was OTR (with the masks.. bleagh) and if I go back OTR, it'll be in the truck with me again.

Oh - sleep study said I woke up on average of 3 times a minute!
And they just couldn't grasp that I don't (and never have) slept 8 hours. 6 hours is a long night for me.

If you do get a CPAP/BiPAP, make sure it's got a humidifier!

 

Not all parties agree on the relationship between sleep apnea and safety. The National Transportation Safety Board is one of the parties alleging a clear connection between driver sleep apnea and safety.

In response to such concerns, the American Sleep Apnea Association, the American Trucking Associations and the FMCSA will sponsor a national conference in May about sleep apnea’s effect on truckers.

Sleep apnea has become a contentious issue, and the FMCSA is expected to issue more explicit guidelines this year for the screening and treatment of OSA, but it may be a couple of years before they change the rules.

Currently the medical certification required for commercial driver license holders includes only brief questioning regarding sleep apnea. Examiners are not required to screen for the condition if drivers respond that they are symptom-free. However, fleet owners are at liberty to set their own guidelines to screen and disqualify drivers.

As a driver your concerns on this issue will be twofold - your livelihood and your life.

OSA does not necessarily disqualify you for a medical card. Treatment with a CPAP machine and some basic lifestyle changes can help you get a restful sleep and maintain your Commercial Drivers License.

You may be reading this post because you’re concerned about your livelihood – that your CDL is at risk. If that’s the case, then you should be concerned about your health too – that your life is at risk. People can suffer from obstructive sleep apnea for years and not know they have it. OSA is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, arrhythmias, diabetes, and sleep deprived driving accidents. The most serious complication is a severe form of congestive heart failure. Sleep apnea sufferers also have a 30% higher risk of heart attack or premature death than those unaffected.

You don’t have control over the forthcoming FMCSA rules and regulations. But you can manage your health so that those rules and regulations are not a problem for your CDL.

Hope this is helpful.

 

Try this
slim fast in the morning and at noon, eat only meat and steamed vegtables in the evening no later than 6pm . Walk briskly three miles a day 7 days a week. Drink about a gallon of water every day, i prefer to use propel at half strength (tastes better) Stay away from snacking , drink the water all day long , keep it up and you will be amazed at the weight you will loose and how much better you will feel. Eat bread or potatoes when your body gets hungry for them just dont eat much. It take about two to three weeks of this waking fast to get the endorphens working to where you look forward to the walk. Dont run ,its too hard on your joints, get some real good walking shoes. I lost 30 pounds in three months and felt great!!!! Now heres the kicker, i quite doing it and now i have gained back 40 pounds and i am about to start again. Try it , what have you got to loose???

 

NO its when you stop breathing while you are sleeping. Usual signs are loud snoring, wake up choking, feeling tired in the morning. They have c-pap machines that you can use to regulate it but there are surgucal procedures also to make it go away.

 

Loose weight and there's a good possibility that it'll go away.

 

yep losing weight will make it go away too i forgot too mention that.

 

not necesarly losing weight don't always cure sleep apnea. its also a hereditery disease. Right know its not hard to maintain a physical card with sleep apnea. just got mine renewed. I just needed a sleep study report less then 5 years old and a current reading from the machine. Just to a trip to the sleep doc's office and as cleared that day. Yes losing some weight might help me but i bet it wont as far as apnea is concerned. I don't understand the big deal if you use a machine ur getting the sleep you need. Yes its costly but thats what insurance is for.

 

Thats true i had surgery to get rid of mine i don't have it anymore but i have to maintain my weight so it will not come back .

 

So like, after I get my CDL, I need a law AND doctors degree ??????