DOT Physical on hold

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by banana1989, Jun 25, 2019.

  1. banana1989

    banana1989 Bobtail Member

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    So in January of this year, I was finally able to get a CPAP machine. Love it, use it all the time. Took me over a year of dealing the the VA (Veteran's Administration) to get one finally. I was originally driving dump trucks, but lost my health card due to being over the BMIR. So now that after a year (living paycheck to paycheck working crap jobs) I finally got a machine, went to crane school, got a bunch of certifications, and just got back and I went to get my health card.
    Blood pressure was fine, passed everything with flying colors. Only thing was the Dr. wanted to see my previous Dr notes from my primary care provider (Looking back on it, I should have just walked away then).
    So I sign the form to release information, and a week later the VA sends their notes from the last doctor's visit. It had info of me saying that I had said I was a depressed, have had suicidal thoughts (not constant, but just had crossed my mind), and the VA Dr. said I should chat with the psychiatrist for a few minutes, which I politely declined and left after we were all done. That was almost a year ago (July). A lot of info also had black marker through it due to being more sensitive (drinking alcohol) and it was an option on the form to have things like that omitted. I've never had a DUI or anything alcohol related on my record, just mentioned to the doctor (mistake of being honest) that yes I was depressed and was drinking often at the time.

    Now the Dr. I went to get the physical from wants me to A) Go see a psychiatrist B)Resend the documents without the VA omitting sensitive subjects, which will reveal *GASP* that sometimes I drink heavily when I was sad, which would probably result in me having to go to some substance abuse program, when I only drink once a week at most.
    I don't really have a problem doing this except for the fact the VA is terribly slow with everything and I'm unemployed, barely making it at this point.

    I really would like to have a 2nd opinion and I have a another appointment coming up to get a medical card with a different doctor who does not require previous medical history, only the CPAP machine history.

    My question is, is this a problem to go to a 2nd doctor? Will this come back to bite me?
     
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  3. TROOPER to TRUCKER

    TROOPER to TRUCKER Anything Is Possible

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    Go to a chiropractor for your physical but you may have issues with a company physical
     
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  4. banana1989

    banana1989 Bobtail Member

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    The 1st Dr is a chiropractor unfortunately.
     
  5. TROOPER to TRUCKER

    TROOPER to TRUCKER Anything Is Possible

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    Then try a cvs minute clinic they aren’t cheap though
     
  6. nikmirbre

    nikmirbre Road Train Member

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    Cvs is $109 everywhere I believe.
     
  7. TROOPER to TRUCKER

    TROOPER to TRUCKER Anything Is Possible

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    I don’t remember. I’m due for my yearly card but with my sitting now the dr isn’t wanting to do surgery until a year to after other treatments that are tried.
     
  8. banana1989

    banana1989 Bobtail Member

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    I'm not worried about the clinic I already have an appointment with as they don't ask for previous medical records, only that the first attempt might screw over my 2nd attempt or bite me in the future some how.
    If I'm not mistaken, don't they report all this info the the FMCSA in a data base?
    I'd just hate to get screwed over because one time I told a Dr. I was sad (for those who have never been to the VA, before any regular Dr visit you go through like an 8 min interrogation of "are you depressed, how often do you drink? are you suicidal?" etc etc My mistake was stating, yes, I've felt sad and depressed before, I've had suicidal thoughts (who hasn't?) and admitted I drink on the weekends.
     
  9. TROOPER to TRUCKER

    TROOPER to TRUCKER Anything Is Possible

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    If they don’t ask then don’t tell. I had some meds on my first physical that kept me from getting hired. So I got another and didn’t list them and was fine and even no issue on the company physical.
     
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  10. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Nothing to lose by going to another doctor. Even if it comes back to bite you some day, so what. Then you will have positive experience to back up any further inquiries.
    Many drivers have posted on here they talked to much and revealed things they didn't really have to.
    Years ago I was concerned about something, so I accidently changed one number of my social security number and everything came out squeaky clean. After I felt safe, in a few months, I went to payroll, not the dispatch office, and complained about my social security number being wrong on my pay account. Showed the lady my social security card and the lady corrected it.
    Take care of yourself because you're the one needing a job, not the chiropractor.
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2019
  11. TROOPER to TRUCKER

    TROOPER to TRUCKER Anything Is Possible

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    I don’t know if I will be able to hold on to my cdl myself at this point
     
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