DOT Physical?

I have epilepsy. I can't even hold a non-CDL drivers license now. It is my understanding these drugs are only disqualifying based on the reason they are took. I suggest before you take any action to get a statement from your physician about the drug and why you are taking it and just go see if a Medical Examiner will give you a card. Your only going to be out the cost of the exam.

 

don't tell them, gg

 

Yes that would be the responsible way to handle it. SMH!!

 

They can. A lot of it is going to depend on dr. And Fed Ex. I was on Neurotin for over a year before my back surgery. The DOT dr. told me it was fine. The best advise I can give you is go and try get the physical done on your own and see what they say. And be honest about everything.

 

I doubt that you are using a narcotic for this medical condition. A narcotic is chemically similar to heroin, an excellent pain reliever by the way. However, even most narcotics will not show up on the DOT 5 panel drug screening--Yay!! Hooray! . Only codeine, or heroin, will cause a positive result. Codeine, if prescribed, will be okay so long as you're not taking it while driving.

What I suspect, is that you're taking a benzodiazepine for anxiety. The mood stabilizer won't show up on a DOT 5 panel drug test either, unless it's a barbiturate (valium)or a benzodiazepine (xanax) ... So talk to your doctor and ask what class of drug it is. If it's not a benzodiazepine, or a barbiturate, it shouldn't even show up on a DOT 5-panel. The DOT test is very, very specific. On that note, it is quite limited in what it actually detects. Marijuana is the worst culprit to fail the DOT 5-panel.

If you're really that worried, benzos, barbiturates, and "narcotics" as you said, will get out of your system in like 72 hours. Can you go 72 hours cold turkey without the meds? If so, that might be your best bet. Give it 1 week to be sure. At that juncture, you could say you're not currently taking those medications anyways.

Having bipolar disorder in itself is not a disqualifying medical condition. As someone who probably has bipolar disorder as well, I can tell you I've had my most brilliant moments in a bolt of mania. There are days, and there are days.. but I'm still employable and not completely insane yet. Look man, I'm not the guy pushing the shopping cart through Golden Gate Park mumbling about invisible enemies attacking me.... haha

You want to know my take on this situation? I think you should go to that interview. Say nothing to anybody about medical conditions at FedEx--they don't need to know, and they have no right to ask you anything. Go take the DOT physical and see what happens. If you won't fail a 5-panel drug screening from the meds you're currently on, I wouldn't even list them. But that's just me.

 

The fact that you take it only as needed will be of immense help in this situation. It destroys the argument that you would take it while driving. How much valium do you take? If it is only "as needed," and not an every day thing, you probably don't even have any valium in your system. If you want to be sure, you can buy a cheap 5-panel drug test at walmart and see if you're pissing hot for barbiturates.

Whatever you do, do not take that letter showing medical history to your interview at FedEx. It is none of their business. The doctor is the only one to make fitness for duty determinations. If the guys working at FedEx were capable of forming objective and legitimate medical opinions, they wouldn't be working for a trucking company--they'd be making fat dollars as a practicing doctor.

You asked if FedEx would still hire you when they find out about your condition from the DOT doctor. You need to understand medical privacy in this country. It is highly unlikely that the doctor would ever inform FedEx directly of your medical condition, because it is not material to the way you do your job. Rather, the doctor will issue a "yes or no" opinion concerning your fitness for duty, to FedEx. If your bipolar disorder ever starts acting up on you to the point where you think it's affecting your work, your employer is required by law to engage you in a good faith interactive process to determine a reasonable accommodation.

On that note, it would be completely and totally illegal for FedEx to not hire you, or to fire you down the road, simply because you have this medical condition. It's something called disability discrimination, and the employer can be held liable even if they perceive you as disabled. As long as you can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation, and without an undue burden to the employer, your medical condition should have no weight at all in the workplace. And if you are ever questioned by FedEx or your supervisors, kindly tell them your medical information is private. Medical information is confidential under HIPPA.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you have other questions.

 

I would really love to know where you got your law degree? Your post is 75% bull and 25% wishful thinking. The HIPPA law is NOT an absolute situation and there are several exceptions. The FMCSA drug testing is one. I could go on but refuse to waste my time with your asinine postings.