Help Again Please

I have not dealt with this personally, but I have a close friend who has and we also live in Ohio. He had a bypass done 6 months after he got his CDL. My friend was able to go back to driving after he was certified healthy and fit by his cardiologist and passed a DOT physical. The medical examiner who performed his physical also contacted his cardiologist for follow up before issuing his new medical card. If I were in your shoes, I would make an appointment and go in to see my cardiologist and ask him if he will/can certify you to drive a commercial vehicle. If his answer is yes, then you shouldnt have any problems. DOT physicals generally are not very difficult to pass. As long as you are back to being healthy you shouldnt have any problems.

 

When I hired on to a 200 truck company, they sent me to a clinic for the usual poking and prodding and they also had me do some physical test consisting mostly of lifting. You had to move a weight up and down so many times,yada,yada. If you had heart surgery, you may be healthier now than before you had it. The previous members post was good advise. Get with your heart doctor beforehand and discuss what you'll say and do if it comes up. Some of the testing is not to disqualify you, but to find out where you're at in case of further injury so that they can limit their liability. I would go full speed ahead if I were you and if one company gives you a hard time, there are a thousand others looking for drivers. The main thing is whether you yourself feel it is safe for you to drive and maybe pick the right kind of driving job for your condition. Eg...don't get a flatbed job where you have to jump out and untarp in 0 degree weather or a delivery job where you're up and down a ramp all day.

 

check and see if your operation would stop you from getting medical insurance and thus a job.

 

Before I went to school I went to a doc who did DOT physicals. I had high blood pressure & high blood sugar. First time he only ok'd me for a few months. Roadmasters would'nt accept it. Got another physical & was ok'd for 2 years. After getting my license the blood pressure is good but the blood sugar went up. I may have to try another profession that can let me enter quickly. All the "entry level jobs seem to be connected with funneling you into a school - ripoffs.
My suggestion is get your own physical & see what the doc says. This way your not guessing. I had a job where a fellow had heart surgery. He said it would not stop him being a a CD. But he had 25 years of OTR & job offers.
50 bucks & you will know where you stand, Get the form from motor vehicle & bring it to his office. Ihe test is the same the employer gives.
Now if I can only get my blood sugar down!

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that any GP worth a #### is gonna rely on the opinion of that heart specialist.The form used at the clinic I went to for my 2 year asked for address and phone # of all doctors you listed. Thus, go see the heart dude first ...or optometrist or whatever. My company uses whatever occupational clinic is in the area. I had one physical for school and another when I started with the company. I can't imagine them not consulting your doctor on something questionable since you just walked in off the street and they don't know you. Also, if your company isn't in there swinging for you, what does that say about them?

 

My ol' man had bypass surgery back in 2005 and still has his CDL and is driving. Docs have given him a clean bill of health. As long as you continue your regimen as prescribed by your doc, I don't see a problem with you passing the DoT physical.

 

You can download a copy of the Medical Examination Report and print it out at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/safetyprograms/Medical-Report.pdf

This includes instructions to your examiner (doesn't actually have to be a Doctor) on how to conduct the exam, and what limitations must be met, etc. Well worth the reading.

Many states have slightly different but very similar versions on line. I didn't find one for Ohio, but it should be available at your driver's license office.

 

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Ask your Family Dr or a endocrinologist for Byetta. (this one I know all about because we dealt with this personally at my house) Some regular Dr's wont prescribe it because they dont know what it is, but an endo will.
Byetta is a twice daily injection for type 2 diabetes that is NOT an insulin product. It is allowed by DOT. It does not cause low blood sugar and can be used in conjuction with other oral diabetes medications. It does wonderful things such as cause weight loss, good blood sugar control, and actually restores beta cells in your pancreas. My family member that drives truck carries a note from his endo that states directly that Byetta is not a narcotic or an insulin product. He had a DOT officer check it out once already and the questioning was dropped after the officer called a pharmacy and confirmed it wasnt insulin. The needles are very very tiny and painless. You simply inject twice a day up to a half hour before meals. The exact time of your meals doesnt matter, so it allows more freedom and is convenient for trucking. The only downside to the Byetta is cost if you dont have insurance. It runs about 300.00 a month without. However, if you are in a pinch to get your cdl rolling again, alot of the endo's have samples and can give you enough to keep going until you get insurance again if you explain your situation. Hope this helps.

 

THANKS CassAnn! THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS NO INCOME,DIMINISHING FUNDS & NEVER HAD INSURANCE. I LOOKED IT UP, AT $300 IT IS MORE THAN JANUVIA WHICH HE WANTS ME TO TAKE($200). RIGHT NOW HE HAS GIVEN ME AVANDIA SAMPLES. THE NAME SOUNDED FAMILIAR. LOOKED IT UP. IT WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF A SIDE EFFECT. IT CAUSES A 50% INCREASE IN HEART FAILURE! HE IS AN INDOCRINOLOGIST. I TOOK ACTOS FOR AWHILE BUT THAT CAUSES LIVER PROBLEMS.
I AM GIVING UP UNTIL IT IF EVER COMES BACK DOWN. NO SENSE FAILING A COMPANY PHYSICAL & GETTING SENT HOME
AM TRYING TEMPORARY AGENCIES NOW BUT THEY SAY IT'S SLOW.
LOTS OF JOBS BUT MAINLY MEDICAL & NEED EXPERIENCE. IM IN FLORIDA.
I'M A OLD UNEMPLOYED GUY JUST TRING TO MAKE IT TO PAID RETIREMENT. I KNOW I'V GOT PLENTY OF COMPANY IN THIS SITUATION.