Sleep Apnea Question
Topic 13631 | Page 4
Thanks for the links Brett.
One other thing that was positive yesterday was that she filled out and signed a doctor's release form regarding my apnea, so at least I got that. She offered to notate the BP readings she got as well, but I told her it probably wouldn't make a difference. They're going to go by what results they get.
So what is your gameplan for your next DOT physical to prevent the "White Coat Syndrome"?
I've been drinking a lot of water to keep myself hydrated and doing more cardio. I've also been practicing deep breathing techniques. All I can do is hope it's enough when I go in for the physical.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Something else I'm wondering...if (when) I pass the DOT physical, do you take another physical when you go to a company orientation? I know they do urinalysis testing, but do they also check all the things covered by the DOT physical? Kinda seems redundant if they do.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Something else I'm wondering...if (when) I pass the DOT physical, do you take another physical when you go to a company orientation? I know they do urinalysis testing, but do they also check all the things covered by the DOT physical? Kinda seems redundant if they do.
Yes, you will be sent for a new DOT physical during company orientation.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Something else I'm wondering...if (when) I pass the DOT physical, do you take another physical when you go to a company orientation? I know they do urinalysis testing, but do they also check all the things covered by the DOT physical? Kinda seems redundant if they do.
Yes, you will be sent for a new DOT physical during company orientation.
Really? Seems kind of strange to take the physical then have to go through the whole thing again.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Forgot to mention...I passed my DOT physical! Took 2 tries but I passed it. The second time they used a large cuff. I guess lifting weights is working. Lol
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Yeah they started that sleep apnea garbage with me, make sure you have your own doctor review the results that you can trust. The trucking company's doctor will say you need a machine when you don't. it is based on percentages from mild to severe. The trucking company said I needed a machine and my doctor said I didn't, I had to get a letter from my doctor telling them a didn't and to get recertified without one. The problem is a had a two year certificate but because of that study now I can only have a one year.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
I have a machine I got from my insurance company that does the data however I have seen cpap machines on sale just like mine on craigslist or ebay for like 200 bucks with the technology for data on it you can take the sd card out of it which has all the information on it
If you have been previously diagnosed with OSA, then you aren't going to want to lie about it.
Even with some weight loss - if you fall under the guidelines that most companies use for OSA (BMI and/or neck greater than 17"), they are going to require another sleep study, and if found to still have OSA - a CPAP with monitoring for at least 30 days (most companies) or more.
So I wouldn't risk lying and trying to fly "under the radar" with this, unless you have lost so much weight and are so far under the guidelines, that the risk of being flagged for a test is negligible. And if you've recently taken a DOT physical and been failed - it will be a matter of record with DOT.
Some see the way trucking companies use sleep studies as a "scam" - but OSA IS a real issue in the industry, as far as driver fatigue related accidents go.
I understand that you can't afford to go get a sleep study and an industry compliant CPAP machine at the moment - but the fact is, there may be some delay in your ability to start driving.
Now - companies like Prime, will pay for the sleep study and CPAP and let you "work it off" - but I'm not sure if this applies to folks that have been previously diagnosed.
Best bet is to figure out a way to get the sleep study done - if negative - bring the report with you. If you still suffer from it - you're going to want to get into compliance with a CPAP that logs this.
I know this really isn't what you wanted to hear - but these are the facts.
Rick
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
One thing to keep in mind:
NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and others all have the capacity to increase blood pressure. The average increase is small, but the actual amount of increase can vary widely from individual to individual. This effect occurs at doses that are typically used for pain relief and reduction of inflammation
i took a dot physical 3 wks ago. Dr said - i have high bp , need eyes checked , and He took my neck measurement and said oh ya you need a sleep study for sleep apena cause my neck is big. I've gotten eyes checked , and glass's now .. Just seen my dr last fri for bp issue .. he gave me a script for that plus he took blood work ( rule of thumb for new patient cause drs are nosy ) . monday past they called and said dr wants to know if you want to try a new script for cholesterol i said ok. So now i have script for bp and cholesterol and a vitamin d12 ... i took my sleep study - 1st time they got details .. then said i needed to come in to do another based on the results... The second test i did last thursday eve. that is to see what my machine will need to be set at for me. today i called them and asked what is up with the machine and all . its in the insurance programs hands now to say yay or nay on giving me the machine.. I think that i'll get it tho.. so as it stands today i have a 3month dot card (errr paper) now .. i guess i have to get a physical everytime it expires or ready to expire to get a new card ... IDK.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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This topic has the following tags:
Blood Pressure DOT Physical Health Concerns Hypertension Medical Certification Sleep Apnea
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You could do some meditation and breathing techniques to help calm your self.