DOT Physical and Sleep Apnea

I think heavy people are more prone to having sleep apnea but according to my sleep apnea technician it's not a given. But because they are more prone I guess that's why they insist on the study.

I'm glad I was checked. It has made me more aware of things I took for granted. For instance I had a decent sleep Saturday night. My family and I went to church Sunday morning and I took a short nap after lunch. Nothing unusual about that. I always take a Sunday afternoon nap for about an hour. But during 60 minutes Sunday evening I fell asleep again. That's not right.

And the last two movies my family went to I fell asleep. In fact I fall asleep when we watch movies at home. At my Dad's family Christmas this year he had family and kids running all over the place. Everyone was amazed how I could fall asleep. I fell asleep at a safety meeting at the bus barn this year. During training I about fell asleep twice only to be warned not to. I was given permission to stand.

I'm wondering now how long I have had this. My doctor called today and told me my oxygen count dropped dangerously low during the test. He wanted me to go back right away and get "fitted" for the cpap. I had 162 disturbances during a 2 hour span. I asked what normal was. "None" he said.

If my life changes like many others claim then the money I spent will be well worth it.

 

I hope that it helps you, I know that CPAP machines help alot of people. My dad swears by his. This is just another one of these intrussions into people's life, I understand the reasoning, bigger people are more prone to have apnea... But if a guy is out of work trying to goto work for ABC Trucking, and he is good to go execpt his neck is over some size, so now if he wants the job he has to go have a sleep study done. If he doesn't have insurance than, maybe he is out of luck, or ends up going into debt, so he can get a job. It just isn't right. If you want me to have a test before I come to work, pay for it, or at the very least pay for it upfront and then get it repaid after the person is working for you. I know alot of good drivers, that have just given up, because of all the new regulations. I also know that the first job that comes along that gets me away from it, I am going to take. The sad part is I love to drive, and I enjoy training new drivers, I just hate the government all up in my business all the time.

 

You sound exactly like my father in law. I can understand. I'm not used to new regs because I haven't been driving 18 wheels. So whatever I'm trained to do will feel normal to me.

My father in law has been an owner op for 33 years. He's on the verge of parking his truck because he feels like you. He feels like he's been doing his job well for this long why make him change? I have no answer for that. I do know that in every business regulations have increased. For instance in Kansas City after building over 500 houses in 25 years I had to pass a test before I could get a building permit. It was a test over things in the code book. Total waste of time and my money.

In my opinion this is why Obama or any politician should not be given a blank check to expand government. They hire people who create situations to justify their jobs.

Aside from all this I wouldn't lose heart. Roehl told the doctor to give me a 6 month card. My recruiter said it would give me time to get on their insurance so I could take the sleep test. They will probably do the same for you.

The bad part is they would make you take time off to get used to using the machine. The form they gave my doctor to fill out states they want 30 days data before I get a new diagnosis. I suppose that means they want the doc to check me out after I have been on the machine 30 days. So parking the truck for a month is a killer for most people.

If you have insurance with the people you currently drive for you might want to get the sleep study on your own. Just don't tell anybody. If you have it you can get used to the machine as you continue to drive for the other company. After 30 days then switch to Roehl.

If you don't have insurance and can't afford to take the time off then speak with the recruiter. I'm sure they have some kind of plan in place.

 

I currently work for Roehl, I am off on workmans comp. I hurt my back this past winter, and finally just had surgery. Anytime you are off for more than 30 days they make you go through a complete physical and prework screening all over again before they will let you drive. They pulled the plug on my insurance after I was off for 90 days, so I am kind of stuck. I am not worried, I have over one million safe miles under my belt, so I can work for anyone. I am just tired of government sticking its nose in where it does not belong... Its all good, I just didn't want to loose my vacation time and that kind of stuff.

 

My machine was a gift from God. I sleep so much better with it.

 

If I see still there you would be getting treated better. I had pull in the safety offices. Or at least i thought i did.

 

I was off for 90 days two years ago, when it was time to go back I had to have a physical and signed release from my family doctor. Then they sent me to thier doctor for DOT physical. Once I had got those done I had to ride with another driver to get me to Marshfield to get my truck and attend close quarters class and current saftey metting. Unless they have changed the procedure and the fact you were a trainer, it should be a breeze for ya!
good luck!

 

I was off last spring for 6 weeks for a hernia repair, wiz quiz, DOT Physical, full prework screening, and full driving test. They told me that was the new policy if you are off for more than 30 days. I am just looking forward to getting back in the saddle again, I mean seat, again. Even if it is in a 30MPH red truck...

 

Went back last night to sleep with cpap machine for the first time. It was distracting and I only slept 5 hours but I got to say I wasn't exhausted when I woke up. The tech said I made it to deep sleep which had been a problem for me.

Now I have to wait for my doc to call. He will go over the results and tell me where to go get the machine. Always when I wake I have to guzzle down water because I'm so dry. Not this morning. The tech said with me sleeping with my mouth shut and the humidity they had coming through the machine kept me from drying out. That alone was nice.

This might turn out to be a good thing. It's afternoon now and I still feel great. Normally I would be looking to take a nap. I was told the more I get used to using the machine the more I would sleep at night.

For you cpap veterans the tech said my air flow should be at 10. Maybe 10. something. I didn't pay much attention. He said it went up to 20.

Kinda strange but the tech came in before I got wired. He wanted to take a sample of blood to measure co2. The problem was he wanted to take it out of my artery in my wrist. I can't imagine sticking a needle in my wrist. I told him no way. He then said it was up to me if he did it or not. I was told it could be dangerous if I had too much co2 in my blood. I told him I would chance it.

 

They wanted to do an ABG or arterial blood gas test on you. It is a common test, labs do it all the time.