DOT physical and BMI...

My insurance paid for the study and all of my supplies. I get new stuff in the mail every 4 months whether I need it or not.

A home sleep study is like $200, just do it. If you pass you can wave your results in the face of your DOT doc.

If undiagnosed sleep apnea hadn't been used as a defense in trials we probably wouldn't be where we are now.

 

Don't mention anything about any past physicals. They get paid to look for problems; don't help them.
I was on a 2 year card, then made the mistake of letting it slip that I was on BP meds. After that it was a one year card.
Friend of mine on insulin for maybe 15 years and always had a 2 year card because he didn't tell anyone except me. Made it to retirement and now living the good life.

 

While sleep disorders can be problematic, it is not a test required by DOT. Currently, the only thing that exists are recommendations and guide lines for a combination of conditions that recommend to testing.

If during the exam, all of the criteria was within normal range, no apparent problems presented, then a full term card should have been issued. If the only thing used to issue a short term med card was the examiner wants a sleep test, then that examiner is not following guide lines.

The company may have a policy that states they can require testing at the examiners discretion. That is questionable at best.

If you do have symptoms of sleep apnea, and some of the conditions exist that meet the guidelines to recommend a test, it might be a good idea. Know a few people that do have the conditions and now on cpap. They say they sleep and feel better.

 

For years, when they asked me if I snored, I always answered NO and got away with it. I think it was 3-4 years ago when they started getting over-zealous about the sleep apnea thing was when I had to finally do the sleep test for all the same reasons as the OP. Fortunately, my insurance is good enough that it hasn't cost me anything except being a big PITA. The ME was gracious enough to admit she wasn't trying to keep me from working. She gave me a temporary card and was even willing to extend it if I couldn't get everything squared away in time. Like @Espressolane pointed out, I think they have backed off on the "enforcement". Last year, I went to a different ME, and forgot the printout from my CPAP, he could care less and gave me a card anyway...

 

www.rpmhst.com is a website for people with sleep apnea and need supplies.
Maybe some better deals out there, I don't know.

 

I absolutely love my CPAP! When they first showed me how to use it, the guy says "it even has a carrying case so you can take it when you travel"
"Yeah right", I thought, I'm only gonna use that thing for the bare minimum requirements. Well once I got used to it, I can't sleep without it! When I travel, it goes where I go. In the (maybe) 3 years I've had it, I've maybe missed using it 5 nights(unexpected layovers or power outages)
I get a much deeper more well rested sleep and the deep sleep produces AMAZING dreams!

 

I get the same dreams from booze. And THAT is cheaper.

Course, YOU don't get the hangover in the morning.

 

Here's my CPAP machine: this stuff is delicious.

 

I still enjoy the booze, but besides snoring, according to my wife, I would have intervals of not breathing at all. Then in her words, I would "try to inhale the whole room"
So, I'm guessing besides the dreams, the CPAP is doing a whole lot of good for my heart as well...