New Sleep Apnea Regulation???

Renewed my med cert for another 2 years in mid December. Was given that laundry list of sleep related questions form. I used similar approach. The here and now method. I don't think I wake frequently during my rest, at least not from breathing issues. If I do, it is from someone starting a truck next to me, or one of many other noise related stuff. I am not tired thru the day. And I haven't placed a noise monitor near me to record sound, and the paint isn't falling off the truck, so I have no basis to believe I am snoring all night long. At the point where I told the doc that I was celebrating 3 full years being smoke free, the doc never even concerned himself with any other issue related to sleep. I have a little weight I need to lose, but BP is fine and I have no other medical issues. Quick in and out of the doc office with a new 2 year med cert. I would never tell them about a past medical issue if it has no bearing on my present situation. Doc did ask about the 10" major scar across my abdomen. I just told him it was left over from my time in the military in the 70's, and there is a big patch of Gortex material under the skin holding my abdomen wall together, which is true.

 

If I had known about this way back when I would have NEVER picked up a set of weights. When I was a cop I was training for the dead lift contest in the Police Olympics. I worked out on a 2 on and 1 off schedule, I got big and strong. Now its coming back to bite me in the butt...

 

I have used a cpap for sleep apnea since July of 1999. It was desperately needed, and I use it all night every night. I have to have a physical every year because I am on blood pressure medication as well as cpap. I just have my machine card read and take the report when I go for my physical. I have had no problems being re-certified. I have only had two sleep studies sense 1999, and as long as the print out shows all is well one shouldn't have any trouble with physical. cpap gave me a new lease on life. I can't live with out it. I know a sleep study is expensive but the over all benefits to your health as a result of using a cpap is worth it.

 

I just renewed my medical card last week, for 1 year. I have a 6 year ago diagnosis of sleep apnea. I had a follow up study last Dec, apparently, I still have it. Long story short, I got a new machine. The medical supply I got it from can do EVERYTHING wirelessly, including pressure adjustments, without the machine even being plugged in. It updates when I turn it on. She pulled a compliance report from it for me to take to the Dr., while it was unplugged and in the bag. I couldn't do the here and now route this time, since the same clinic did my study and the nurse was asking questions while looking at my file on her laptop.

To answer your last question, the Dr. said 1 year because of the apnea. He told me to sit tight while he entered my info into the database and would be right back with my card. I can only assume it was a DOT type database, since he also had his laptop with my medical file pulled up while he did my physical. He didn't take that laptop when he went to do it.

 

LOL..We were fit enough to protect and serve but not drive a truck due to our neck size? Seems they want a bunch of pencil necks that lack the muscle to pull the king pin lock.

 

Same can be said back in the 70's when the Army started it's weight / height nonsense. A Corporal under me, he was definitely outside of the Army guidelines. He was an exceptional troop and this guy could take two full M2 Machine guns, one on each shoulder, and hump them for over a mile. One day when I had the platoon over at the post gym working out one morning, he set the leg extension machine on max weight and broke the machine! He was an absolute ox! And he could run with anyone else in the unit. But he did not fit in the parameters that the dweebs in the Pentagon set. I got discharged while he was still there. I sure hope they didn't let him go.

 

When one stops to think about it, it is a sad situation to be "unqualified" to drive a truck due to one's neck size, especially if that individual has contributed a lot to the country or society in general.

 

You are probably the healthiest one of the whole bunch.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!