TIA Aka Mini Stroke And My Cdl.

Ahmalia thoughts and prayer go out to you...good luck and I hope this is soon in your past.

Thanks for the update and I sure hope you get cleared soon and get back out there. I can only imagine what a long and frustrating experience all of this has been. We'll all be glad when you're back behind the wheel making money again.

At this time my medical card is on hold for one year. Swift stated they will be terminating me, which means I'll also lose my health insurance. I just called them and stated I was approved for 12 weeks of FMLA, and to please not terminate me yet. I called the DOT doctor and she stated the reason I was denied was because the test results don't specifically state that I did NOT have a TIA/stroke or a seizure. She said if the neurologist will put that on paper, she will life the hold on my medical card. Called the neurologist, and waiting to hear back, but since that office is the one that takes forever to answer, I don't expect a response today. In the meantime, I'm now 5 weeks without pay, and after subtracting all June bills, I have a whopping $42.67 to my name. I've filed for unemployment and am trying to find something locally in the meantime. I've applied for assistance through Swift Charities, and will hear back from them next week sometime. Family and friends are going off on me, telling me I never should have said anything to Swift, I should have just went to the doctor on my own, and waited for the outcome before saying anything. Not sure, but pretty sure that's against DOT regulations, and regardless, it's not like I can go back and change it. All I can do is move forward, try to keep my head above water, and hold out a very small amount of hope that the neurologist will be willing to write what I need to go back to work.

It's rare that I do not have the words...sorry but I really don't. I am sincerely sorry to hear it has come down to this. I believe you did the right thing because you followed your instincts and conscience. Try not to regret doing the right thing. Your health is the utmost importance.

And now all hope is lost. Neurologist can't or won't definitively state is was not a stroke or seizure. I've requested to be referred to a different neurologist for a second opinion, but probably won't do me any good.

I've been reading through your post, and I wish I had more encouraging words for you. It sucks now, and it's not easy, but you did the right thing, and no one can take that from you. This will pass, and you'll be stronger. I know that's a cliche but it's been true in my own life too.

I really don't understand why a letter releasing me to return to work is insufficient for the DOT medical examiner. I also don't understand why one person can have a final say in my career. And I don't appreciate the fact that she jerked me around for 4 days and also implied I would be released, and then after many many phone calls that I know aggravated her and her staff, all of a sudden, I'm denied for a year over wording in the letter. And she waited until the end of business on Friday to inform my employer, instead of calling me directly, which is also shady and unprofessional in my opinion. She knows there is no way a neurologist can definitively state it was not a stroke or seizure, all they can do is state all test results indicate it was probably not, but that's not good enough for her. I have no history of stroke or seizure, there is no history of stroke or seizure in my family, all tests came back clear and normal, so can someone please explain to me why I'm screwed? And having my hands tied all weekend, not being able to get any kind of answers in regards to anything, is just adding to my stress and frustration. I have a 4 page list of places I need to contact on Monday either by phone or in person. I understand its a liability issue, and that is why the neurologist can't definitively state it was not a stroke or seizure, but if he is willing to write a letter stating I'm fit for full duty and ok to operate the truck, why isn't that good enough? I sent an email to FMSCA to inquire about options to appeal the decision, but of course I won't hear back until next week some time. In the meantime, although I have been asking for light duty work at the Swift terminal , I was told there wasn't anything available. And yet when I went online this weekend, there are postings for two open office positions, both of which I'm qualified for, because I worked in an office/customer service setting for 25 years before making the career change to truck driver. But no matter what I do, it will be a massive pay cut, because dividing my weekly salary by 40 hours means I was essentially making over $21 per hour, and any other job I find, the best I can probably do is $15 per hour, if I'm lucky. That's $1000 pay cut per month. I'm sorry, I know I'm just rambling and whining and complaining, but I'm really at a loss here, I'm so freaking frustrated.

Ahmalia wrote:

And yet when I went online this weekend, there are postings for two open office positions, both of which I'm qualified for, because I worked in an office/customer service setting for 25 years before making the career change to truck driver.

Right hand might not know what the left hand is doing...Swift is a huge company. If I were you, I'd apply for both of those office jobs.

Well, it's official. Medical card denied for one year. I've applied for a driver leader position at my terminal in the hope of keeping my medical insurance in place. It'll be an hour commute each way, but I don't mind driving, ha ha. It's also not too much of a paycut. They are holding off on terminating me to see if I get the job. I applied for unemployment 3 weeks ago, determination next week. If approved I'll get a lump sum for the back weeks which will help.

I am mentally and emotionally exhausted. Trying to keep my stress in check because it's affecting my blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Thanks to everyone that took the time to offer words of support and encouragement. I truly appreciate it.

Ahmalia, I haven't posted yet but I just wanted to let you know that you have been in our prayers since the beginning. I know first hand what it's like to have to deal with being off the road for circumstances out of your control and not knowing when the next paycheck is going to be coming in.

We wish you the best of luck with landing the job at the terminal and pray that everything works out for you!