Sleep Apnea...Proceeding after diagnosis

Do you also believe that diabetes and high blood pressure is a scam?
No. Those are real...because you don't just have to be TOLD you have them, there are ways for you to check them and PROOVE to yourself they exists in your body.

I have sleep apnea, use a CPAP, and no one in the trucking industry has made a penny off of me because of it.
You have been TOLD you have Sleep Apnea. How do you know? You were sleeping when they "diagnosed" it. And someone sold you a machine.
And how do you know the trucking industry didn't make a penny off you?

Can you explain to me why it is a scam?
Certainly. Because the medical industry is chock full of them...how do you think they came up with the term "Placebo"? There are plenty of people that will believe anything they are told when it comes to their health. Sleep Apnea is a hard one to diagnose on your own. Unless you have a loved one tell you that you snore all the time, and stop breathing once in a while---how do you know for yourself?
You know when you have a cold, or fever, high blood pressure, arthritis, and a freaking stubbed toe...because you feel it, and there are ways for you yourself to gauge it.

It is not a 'conspiracy theory' that I am talking about. And I know Sleep Apnea DOES exist (because I have witnessed it). But I can't sit back and tell myself that all of the sudden this is an epidemic, and ALL these people being diagnosed with it actually have it. Especially because (in THIS industry), people are being FORCED to take the study---never had a symptom---never had a problem---never felt tired after a good nights sleep---now all the sudden they are forced to buy an expensive machine & equipment?

I'm not buying it. You can if you'd like....but I don't.

 

Convictions... That's a pretty big word for someone that obviously can't read the other posts here.

Seriously, once you have actually done this job, then you can talk.

 

I was diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea. I never had a problem. I never felt tired after a good night's sleep. My only symptom was I would snore if I was on my back; no snoring on my side.

The big difference was how I felt at the end of the day.

Before diagnosis, I would get home, and all I would want to do is pop something in the microwave and park my butt in front of the computer (or TV).

Afterwards, I found that I still had energy at the end of the day. I'd come home and actually cook (gasp!) dinner. I'd go out shopping in the evening, rather than push it off to the weekend, leaving weekends available to do stuff I actually wanted to do.

The thing is, sleep apnea isn't something that comes on suddenly. It takes years to develop, and like heating a frog in a pot of cold water, you don't notice it. It's a real problem, but you are sure you're fine; you've never had a problem, no symptoms. Until you fall asleep at the wheel at 3 AM after driving 8-9 hours.

Sleep apnea is rampant in our country and, by extension, our industry. For most people, falling asleep at work means, at worst, they fall out of their chair. For us, it can well be deadly.

 

This is my position also. But there are a couple of guys that will dismiss you because they have driven a truck one year longer than you.

The life expectancy of a career truck driver is 61 years old. It is a hard lifestyle that contributes to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure. Truckers spend a lot of years being sedentary, some smoke while driving, eat a lot of processed foods, never exercise which brings in more oxygen and expands their lung capacity while breathing. So what these guys say is that an industry that is rampant with major health problems which requires them to have actual health cards issued to them in order to work is not a breeding ground for sleep disorders is just foolishness. Drivers have crazy schedules which doesn't help either. When I was in my twenties I could fight through the symptoms easier because of youth. N my forties, I need the CPAP. A privately owned company like Crete is going to protect their business. No one is forced to work there.

 

Beware of the Industrial Medical Complex

 

I am constantly amazed at the false information given on this site about sleep apnea and sleep studies.

if you have absolutely no knowledge of issue then you should keep your uninformed opinions to yourself before causing harm to someones health,life and driving status...

The facts....

there are many factors that indicate sleep apnea...
* weight gain and neck size can be an indication but not always definite but testing should be done.
*snoring while sleeping
*stop breathing while sleeping
*restless legs
*constantly waking up

this is a serious health issue and should not be taken lightly....

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED TO HAVE SLEEP APNEA

* You will be prescribed a cpap machine to treat your sleep apnea.
* The facility that did your sleep study also will prescribe the correct cpap settings to treat your sleep apnea.
* Depending on the company you work for you may be able to return to work as soon as you receive your cpap
and your usage will be monitored for 30 to 90 days to determine your compliance.
* You must use the cpap no less than 4 hours a day to be compliant.
* The only time you will need to report your usage to the DOT is when you have your annual physical done and
you will need a printout of your previous 30 days..any facility providing supplies can read your chip and mine
does it for free.
* Your company may want extra reports for internal use.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea 4 years ago and have no further problems..passing my dot physical has never been a problem. I just provide a copy of my usage and the doctor puts it in his file and marks compliant on my form and that is all.

i feel much better after getting my cpap and would never consider sleeping without it....

 

I haven't looked into the dot requirements as much as I should have... Are you saying you only need 1 month of readings before you're dot test, and the rest is on the company?

 

Yes.......

 

I just went home planning to do a sleep study... The company insurance doesn't cover squat, it would cost me at least 2000. Why don't you spend one ******* night with that god ###### mask on before talking **** You're the little baby that left Crete because they wanted to strap you with one, and then you were dumb enough to get it put on your medical history anyway. You're opinion isn't valid.