D.O.T. Medical, Sleep Apnea

I can see why people think its a farce with such a high diagnoses rate. The FMCSA says 1/3rd of drivers have it. Its kinda like the boom of ADD or ADHD in the 90's...every kid who disliked school or got in to trouble had to have had it. I guess for sleep apnea the treatment is definitely safer for those that do not actually have it than it is to go with out treatment. Then again who knows what 30 years of CPAP therapy could do to someone.

 

what is the numbers to b conpliancs for sleep apna any one know the numbers

 

another question if u were dignossed with one company n quit n have a medical card from previous u payed for on file with dmv who knows u have it y cant u just go some were elase to work or for that matter leave that company and there doctors n get a new medical card phicstal from some one elase i meen ur a truck driver u dont sllep normal any way and i believe they just solved sudden ifant deth syndrom cause they say its the way ur born

 

Sleep apnea isn't about "sleep" its about the lack of breathing during your sleep so the little bit you do get while you are in the sleeper may not be restful. Compliance is really dependent on who's asking. For most insurance compliance is 21 out of 30 days for a minimum of 4 hours per night. I think most CPAP users are either compliant 95% or better because it makes them feel more rested. If you are less compliant than that its probably because you tossed the machine in the closet and don't use it.

 

Well my husband doesn't have sleep apnea but he went for his DOT medical card and the doctor says he has to have a sleep study because of his BMI, age, and neck size. We do not have insurance and can't afford a study. So where do you find a doctor that won't force him to do that. He's been laid off for 5 months too and besides no insurance, we are so broke! This is ridiculous.

 

Unfortunately, this is becomming the norm. More and more companies are requiring sleep studies based upon such things as you mentioned.

Keep in mind...I've been on CPAP for 4 1/2 years. I've never felt better. It has been a Godsend for me. However, there is a typical over-reaction to getting an "early start", if you will, to beat any regs that may be headed our way, and there has been and will continue to be practitioners who err on the side of caution.

My first sleep study was with Schneider. They paid for the study, and my CPAP was paid for as long as I stayed in their employ for one year. I was never out of pocket one dime when I was with Schneider.

Good luck.

 

Are some states more lenient about not pushing the sleep study? How about Wisconsin? Anyone know of a doctor in Illinois or Wisconsin that isn't strict about that. Just need a doctor that will just give him his medical card and no test. I know there must be easier doctors to go to.

 

Its not a matter of State to State, its a matter of one doctor to another. Their is no law in effect right now that states a certain BMI needs a sleep study. Just find the next closest doctor.

 

Does anyone know of a doctor to go to in the Rockford Illinois area that won't make you get a sleep study?

 

show me a driver that NEVER gets sleepy sometime.......