DOT Physical Issues

Has not happened to me, but maybe you should seek another place?

It may not matter to the DMV when you file it with them, who the doctor is, just that you are qualified.

 

Will your company let you go to another clinic ?

 

Not trying to be a Dr. here , but your 1st A1-C was 9.0 which equates to an eAG ( estimated Average Glucose ) of 212....you said that she gave you a 90 day card to show you could get it under control , so you did just as you should have , ( your words now ) " So I was a good boy and watched what I ate and took all of my meds " As a result of doing what you should have been doing your A1-C came down to 7.4 that equates to an eAG of 165 < or > that shows great improvement......

Now she wants to confirm for her safety , your safety , my safety , every single member of this sites safety , AND their respective families , that you do have good control of your type 2 , and that your not just being a "good boy " to get a good report for your physical......

Diabetes is a serious affliction , and left uncontrolled can cause some nasty problems.....As a professional you are charged with maintaining your A1-C at an acceptable level on a daily / monthly / yearly basis.....This PA deserves a medal , she is actually doing you and your loved ones a HUGE favor , by holding your feet to the fire.

Answer me this is being a "good boy " that difficult , is being a " good boy " not very easy to ensure that your health stays decent , without all of the terrible complications that UN-controlled diabetics experience , loss of eyesight , loss of feeling in extremities , loss of kidney function , heart problems , the list is long and terrible.....it's possible for a diabetic to live a normal , a long , and a happy life , the only cost to you will be to " be a good boy "....Sorry for the lecture , but you know what to do , and how to do it......please .....do it for your self , and don't try to circumvent the process that may some day save your life.

 

This is why the Medical Card has been overhauled. Only certain doctors who are qualified can now do your DOT physicals. These doctors report to a national data base so you cannot go doctor hopping.

I know it is a pain but you better give her what she wants if you want to continue to drive truck!

 

FInd someone else to do your physical and don't tell about any previous medical condition unless it is now present,, Even a EMT can do your physical,,

 

Might need to re-think that , here's why.....

Who can do DOT Physicals?
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), a DOT physical examination may be conducted by a licensed “medical examiner.” The term includes doctors of medicine (MD), doctors of osteopathy (DO), physician assistants (PA), advanced practice nurses (APN), and doctors of chiropractic (DC).

EMT doesn't seem to appear on that list.

 

Scary! So when he has an issue and wrecks your post reply would be "Sue the guy who passed your DOT physical."
Keep your closet closed, my friend. Pisspoor advice.

 

I'd tell her to take a long walk off a short peer. You did as she asked, she then asked for more? Unacceptable!

 

It just happened to me two week ago, the PA I had to deal with wanted to see my medical records and to talk to my doc, so I told my doc's intake nurse to call the PA and my doc told me to tell him to go to hell. I think after five minutes, he made some comments about my lack of controlling my blood sugar (it is naturally high - yes some people have this problem) and he went on how he can judge for himself what I was going to end up having problems with and how it can be solved. She was mad about questioning her treatment plan for me beside having the idea he can only judge my fitness.

I see her every 3 months and every three months I go through a bloodtest, pee test and a bunch of other things, as a result, I don't have the issues that other have. but I also have had to change some medications in order to stop the interactions. Because of the PA, she wrote one nasty letter to him and the clinic explaining that the entire dot physical is there to ensure I am able to drive, not to make sure I follow her instructions or to modify treatment plans that are set up for my benefit. She also said that a DOT physical is an average 20 minute interview and 5 minute exam, the examiner can not make an accurate determination of how fit a person is other than a quick judgement to drive. She closed explaining that the flaws of the system is that the examiner is not a treating physician and can not make decisions based on that short and rather superficial exam. She followed up with the differences between the examiners and a physician who specialises in specific issues or disciplines (she's an internist with some years experience in treating my problems).

For me this is another bunch of BS I have to go through every #### year, the last four has been sleep apnea with the examiner telling me I need an annual sleep study where my doc and the insurance company telling me I'm on a two year sleep study cycle (and this year the PA wanted to see a whole years worth of data with the supplier telling me that the DOT only requires three months back, and that data is consistent) As for my type 2, I have improved with my A1c numbers a bit, but I have other issues which causes my A1c to be elevated, and it is not something that can be changed at this point with exercise or diet so the PA's comment that my A1c went from a 7.6 to a 7.4 was not something he would agree with as an improvement, the doctor said that was really good positive step.

I told my wife this is getting ridiculous and there is little excuse for it, I am not flying a 747 where I need an intense examine by some clown who suspects everyone is lying (including a doc), but I am driving a truck. I've decided that this may be my last year dealing with this DOT crap, I am fed up when a PA questioned my doctor about my care, it doesn't matter to me what the regulations are, what he wants, it just isn't worth the hassle.

With the number of accidents related to medical conditions on the decline long long before these new regulations came into play, there is no real reason for someone to go through this BS to be able to drive. On top of all of that, this isn't even about safety any more, I feel it is about forcing people to be healthy under a single version of a regulation without taking in account the situation of each individual and their health.