DOT physical card and CPAP compliance

No they won't know (I don't think) unless you tell them. I think for the most part it is a scam. I imagine 99% of the drivers who go in and get their own DOT physical at what ever occupational med clinic the prefer will never be questioned or hassled about potential for "sleep apnea". It's structly a "company thing" from what I can gather. It seems to only be the larger carriers who do request their doctor look into "sleep apnea" potential, and only for new hires at that.

A week ago and went and renewed my DOT medical on my own dime ($65) and the questionnaire form didn't ask anything about previous issues with anything related to sleep apnea. In fact it seemed to be less inquisitive then past forms. You should maybe go ahead and get one soon when it's convenient and make sure you send a copy of the new card to your state CDL license division so they'll put 2 more years onto your "account" before they threaten to turn off your CDL status due to no current medical.

 

They will not issue you a new DOT card if they know you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea and you stop using the machine. The minimum for compliance is 4 hours a night. I wear mine before going to bed and nothing has ever been said to me. My advice is to keep using it. It doesn't have to be 4 straight hours, just 4 hours in a 24 hour period.

I wouldn't try to hide the fact that you've been diagnosed with it either because most companies will find out if you have.

I've been wondering if I can pay for another sleep study if I believe I don't have it or if I drop below the 35% BMI and my neck is less than 17" do I still have to stay compliant.

I can see the good side of using the machine if you have it but I'm like you, I got worse sleep with it at night so now I wear it during my 1 hour break and before I go to bed.

 

Yea, maybe. It's just the way things are changing fast lately regarding medical related things, no telling what new requirements may come into the play in 2014. If you change companies again, it's likely you won't be so lucky where they accept your old card.

 

if your having trouble sleeping with it maybe you can try a different mask, get different settings done on it for pressures etc. I know I sleep well with my machine but I also use a bpap not a cpap and I was diagnosed with severe apnea and I did the study on my own way before going into trucking.


cpap has come a long ways since a few years ago, quieter etc. There are numerous different mask to use which helps some, there is one where it just goes below your nose and then you have the full face mask which is what I use. I have thought about trying another mask but dont want to fork out the money then find I dont like it any better, some mask do get expensive unless you have insurance to pay for it.

 

When you go for your next physical you will fill out a form and it will ask about prior health conditions including sleep apnea. In general, dishonesty is the second best policy.

 

I also feel as if I have been duped by this sleep apnea craze. I start school tomorrow at a local college and poured over this site for a good month in hopes of entering the trucking industry with eyes wide open. Many advised to be completely honest about my history, including medical. I went fo a sleep study in June of 2012 because my wife said I snored like a freight train and I thought I should get checked. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. The doc told me it was mild and I might benefit from CPAP treatment. My AHI was 6 and the lowest qualifier for the diagnosis was 5. I opted not to get the CPAP. So I go to get my DOT physical before class starts and the form I filled out asked about history of sleep disorders, that included snoring. So I include my diagnosis of "mild sleep apnea". Big mistake. I thought the DOT doc was just trying to cya and and was misinformed about the AHI level that required a CPAP. I found the guidelines to be anywhere from 5 to 20 AHI depending on which government site I found when googling sleep apnea diagnosis guidelines.

So I was told to get another sleep study,which I didnt have time for,or bring in a report showing 3 months of sucessful treatment and usage compliance with a CPAP. No time for that either. I had 2 weeks before school started and negotiated a 2 week report for a 90 day medical card.
Now I have to bring back a 3 month report to get a one year medical card. It looks like I will have to prove compliance yearly.

Now, do I feel better...nope. Do I feel worse...yep. I wake up two or three times a night now and it takes longer to fall asleep with that contraption on my head. Not sure how to respond if I am asked about it. Hoping I can get used to this thing.

Chi Town, you will have to decide what you disclose on your DOT long form but I know that if I dont use this machine I can kiss my medical card goodbye in a couple more months. My only other option is to get another sleep study and hope for better results.

 

you do get used to it after awhile, it took me some time to adjust to wearing it, now its kinda 2nd nature.