I'm On A 2 Week Medical Leave

I'm 32 and I've been with Swift 10 months. Never had any major issues. I wish pay was a bit better but I ain't complaining to much. My only issue is I tend to get high blood pressure easily and I know out on the road it can be a bit difficult to eat healthy. I try to only eat tuna from subway and drink lots of water and if I do drink pop, I stick with either 7up or Sprite.

Well one night about a week ago, as I was driving, I felt a serious case of dizziness. Could have been vertigo or maybe my blood pressure was acting up. It came out of nowhere and only lasted a few seconds. My dot medical card expires in August so I figured since I was already out for almost 2 months I better set my home time in so I can get that taken care of.

Fast forward a week later (today), I go to see the physician. Swift paid for it. I tell the doctor I had a case of dizziness. Once she heard that, she began asking me a serious of other questions. I answered no to those but the fact I had dizziness while driving made her not grant me my medical card until I see another doctor AFTER WAITING 2 weeks to make sure my blood pressure stabilizes and no more dizziness.

I called my DM and told him and he told me, because I said something they cannot allow me to drive until I see that doctor and he gives me the ok to drive again. I HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS.

For the time being, I have to clean out my truck, a truck I have been using since I've been with the company and I loved and they are going to give it to someone else and when I return they're going to give me a different truck.

My health is most important, but I wonder to myself, if I hadn't said anything to them about that I would be going back to work this saturday (I took a 3 day home time). Now I have to sit for 2 weeks and get my health back in order.

As frustrating as this is, you absolutely did the right thing. You cannot risk getting dizzy while driving and possibly killing or injuring yourself or others.

A truck change is unnerving, because you're used to your current truck and know it's quirks, if any, not to mention the ordeal of a truck cleanout, but any company would do that. Maybe you'll get a nicer one on your return. Let's think positive.

I hope it amounts to nothing, healthwise and all is well. It's only 2 weeks, so not long at all in the grand scheme of things.

Obviously, your health is more important than the truck you became accustomed to. As a company driver, your time in that truck was finite anyway. Don't regret being honest about your health... in taking a mandatory two-week leave you may have added years to your career and life. You definitely made the smart choice.

I'll add that eating healthy on the road is not difficult at all... I haven't 'eaten out' in over two months. If you're drinking sodas, limit yourself to one a day at most, because if they have any calories they are going to come from sugar. Tuna subs are a good choice, as long as they are on wheat bread. The other breads turn to sugar.

Anyway, good luck getting back on track, look forward to having you re-join us on the road.

On the bright side, you'll be back out on the road. It might seem like a long time, but compared to getting another dizzy spell and potentially causing an accident, it's nothing.

I had a similar incident just outside Denver a few months back. It turned out to be dehydration, so a rather easy fix, but there are so many things that can cause dizziness that it's definitely worth getting checked out.

Aaron you did an honest thing to your self and to everyone out there on the road, that is very professional of you brother, stay strong and don't worry too much about what will happen with the truck situation, plus, you wouldn't appreciate the good days as much if you didn't have bad ones, take care of yourself brother.

I'm 32 and I've been with Swift 10 months. Never had any major issues. I wish pay was a bit better but I ain't complaining to much. My only issue is I tend to get high blood pressure easily and I know out on the road it can be a bit difficult to eat healthy. I try to only eat tuna from subway and drink lots of water and if I do drink pop, I stick with either 7up or Sprite.

Well one night about a week ago, as I was driving, I felt a serious case of dizziness. Could have been vertigo or maybe my blood pressure was acting up. It came out of nowhere and only lasted a few seconds. My dot medical card expires in August so I figured since I was already out for almost 2 months I better set my home time in so I can get that taken care of.

Fast forward a week later (today), I go to see the physician. Swift paid for it. I tell the doctor I had a case of dizziness. Once she heard that, she began asking me a serious of other questions. I answered no to those but the fact I had dizziness while driving made her not grant me my medical card until I see another doctor AFTER WAITING 2 weeks to make sure my blood pressure stabilizes and no more dizziness.

I called my DM and told him and he told me, because I said something they cannot allow me to drive until I see that doctor and he gives me the ok to drive again. I HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS.

For the time being, I have to clean out my truck, a truck I have been using since I've been with the company and I loved and they are going to give it to someone else and when I return they're going to give me a different truck.

My health is most important, but I wonder to myself, if I hadn't said anything to them about that I would be going back to work this saturday (I took a 3 day home time). Now I have to sit for 2 weeks and get my health back in order.

As frustrating as this is, you absolutely did the right thing. You cannot risk getting dizzy while driving and possibly killing or injuring yourself or others.

A truck change is unnerving, because you're used to your current truck and know it's quirks, if any, not to mention the ordeal of a truck cleanout, but any company would do that. Maybe you'll get a nicer one on your return. Let's think positive.

I hope it amounts to nothing, healthwise and all is well. It's only 2 weeks, so not long at all in the grand scheme of things.

Thank you Susan. You're absolutely correct. Also they just added these flanges to the side of my truck in hopes of it getting better gas mileage. I was hoping to see what thats about but maybe the other truck they give me will be better.

Obviously, your health is more important than the truck you became accustomed to. As a company driver, your time in that truck was finite anyway. Don't regret being honest about your health... in taking a mandatory two-week leave you may have added years to your career and life. You definitely made the smart choice.

I'll add that eating healthy on the road is not difficult at all... I haven't 'eaten out' in over two months. If you're drinking sodas, limit yourself to one a day at most, because if they have any calories they are going to come from sugar. Tuna subs are a good choice, as long as they are on wheat bread. The other breads turn to sugar.

Anyway, good luck getting back on track, look forward to having you re-join us on the road.

I honestly didn't know that other breads can turn to sugar. I always get wheat only because I thought it tasted better to me lol, not realizing the health benefits. Mainly what it boils down to is I need to learn discipline on eating habits. I can't wait to get back on the road and rejoin you guys and gals. I miss it already.

On the bright side, you'll be back out on the road. It might seem like a long time, but compared to getting another dizzy spell and potentially causing an accident, it's nothing.

I had a similar incident just outside Denver a few months back. It turned out to be dehydration, so a rather easy fix, but there are so many things that can cause dizziness that it's definitely worth getting checked out.

Definitely Dan. Also high blood pressure runs in my family and even though i'm 32, i've actually had to deal with this since I was a teen. I have never taken medication though. The doctors always told me "limit your salt intake". I REALLY NEED to do that.

Aaron you did an honest thing to your self and to everyone out there on the road, that is very professional of you brother, stay strong and don't worry too much about what will happen with the truck situation, plus, you wouldn't appreciate the good days as much if you didn't have bad ones, take care of yourself brother.

I'm 32 and I've been with Swift 10 months. Never had any major issues. I wish pay was a bit better but I ain't complaining to much. My only issue is I tend to get high blood pressure easily and I know out on the road it can be a bit difficult to eat healthy. I try to only eat tuna from subway and drink lots of water and if I do drink pop, I stick with either 7up or Sprite.

Well one night about a week ago, as I was driving, I felt a serious case of dizziness. Could have been vertigo or maybe my blood pressure was acting up. It came out of nowhere and only lasted a few seconds. My dot medical card expires in August so I figured since I was already out for almost 2 months I better set my home time in so I can get that taken care of.

Fast forward a week later (today), I go to see the physician. Swift paid for it. I tell the doctor I had a case of dizziness. Once she heard that, she began asking me a serious of other questions. I answered no to those but the fact I had dizziness while driving made her not grant me my medical card until I see another doctor AFTER WAITING 2 weeks to make sure my blood pressure stabilizes and no more dizziness.

I called my DM and told him and he told me, because I said something they cannot allow me to drive until I see that doctor and he gives me the ok to drive again. I HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS.

For the time being, I have to clean out my truck, a truck I have been using since I've been with the company and I loved and they are going to give it to someone else and when I return they're going to give me a different truck.

My health is most important, but I wonder to myself, if I hadn't said anything to them about that I would be going back to work this saturday (I took a 3 day home time). Now I have to sit for 2 weeks and get my health back in order.

I've seen a lot of accidents on the road and although I am sure not all of them are caused by health reasons, I know that my situation is a health risk and driver risk to my self and others. Interestingly, although I was a bit upset, I quickly got over it and realized I am helping myself and others. I have heard of drivers having heart attacks and although they lived and didn't cause an accident, their trucking career is completely over. I do love to lift, but lately I have been kinda lazy. Gotta get back to it now. Thank you my friend for the kind words.

Aaron you did the right thing. No question about it...!