Question About Medical Cpap Machine For Sleep Apnea
Topic 21425 | Page 1
Hi and welcome! i also have a CPAP.
Once diagnosed DOT requires you be treated therefore you will be required to provide 30 days of stats to prove you are DOT compliant and getting treated.
Because of this, Im sure your company will provide you with a way to plug in, otherwise, you wouldn't be able to drive.
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.
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.
Make sure you let your new company know that you're required to use it. They will most likely make every effort to accommodate your needs, possibly avoiding lawsuits if you have a problem caused by not using your prescibed machine.
I don't have an APU. I drive a freightshaker with the idle control jazz. I have a 2000w inverter that the company shop installed.
I tried plugging into the inverter, but every time the truck starts during the night (when the batteries get low, or when the thermostat calls for a/c), the cpap would shut off and I'd suffocate until I woke up and fixed the problem. I got 12v power supply from the cpap mfg. and plugged into a 12v outlet, but had the same issue.
So, I bought a UPS for about $75 and put that between the inverter and the cpap. Problem solved! I also use the UPS for my TV and various other electronics. It makes everything better. I use a separate power strip not plugged into the UPS for my cooking appliances...they draw too much power for it.
I hope this helps....
I am starting with my first OTR company in a couple weeks. The trucks aren't all APU equipped so I may not get one. My question is I have a cpap for sleeping, and need to find a way to operate it in the truck. Will the trucks have wall plugins or do I need to buy a power inverter. The trucks are all 2016 or newer
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
Most cpap machine manufacturers sell 12vdc adapters that can be plugged into a cigarette lighter or similar 12 vdc ports. My current machine draws 60 watts including humidifier, which should not cause undue current drain.
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.
We have a bunch of information about sleep apnea for truck drivers in our trucker's wiki: Sleep Apnea For Truck Drivers - The Complete Guide
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.
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.
So, after reading your replies I emailed my company, and the safety director (whom is the person I emailed directly) called me back on the phone with in a minute or two of sending the email. She said I am "stressing over something that isn't a big deal, and stay out of the forums." She added that alot of their drivers use cpaps and I can go buy an adapter or an inverter for the truck. This is hard for me to do. I currently have $750 coming in monthly and split $1200 rent with 3 other people. Which leaves my wife and I with barely any gas money for the month. I go out with this company in about 3 weeks, and next month our $750 income is cut down because my account is already in the hole over $150 and I need to go buy an inverter, and a UPS or an adapter? Inverters are $20 or more, and UPS are over $50. The adapter for my specific machine is over $180 minimum..... What do I do? Do I tell the only company that wants me (due to my background) to stuff it? I have literally applied to over 30 companies and been declined by everyone including the major carriers who hire anyone.
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.
I would take the safety directors advice. Wait until you get a truck, see what you need, if anything, then work out how to make that happen. Small inverters are not that expensive. They might be able to advance you some money to purchase one if you find you need it.
What do I do?
What you do is you become resourceful and figure it out. I mean, come on, man........it's less than $200. They're not asking you to buy a new Cadillac. Go to a temp agency and work a few days, they'll pay you at the end of each work day. Sell something you have laying around the house.
One of the most important traits you'll have to have as a driver is resourcefulness. You can't just sit back and wait for the world to figure everything out for you. Figure out a way to come up with the equipment you need to get out there working.
I have literally applied to over 30 companies and been declined by everyone including the major carriers who hire anyone.
Why is everyone turning you down?
Hi and welcome! i also have a CPAP.
Rainy, I thought you posted that you had tested a couple months ago but had no sleep apnea?
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.
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.
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I am starting with my first OTR company in a couple weeks. The trucks aren't all APU equipped so I may not get one. My question is I have a cpap for sleeping, and need to find a way to operate it in the truck. Will the trucks have wall plugins or do I need to buy a power inverter. The trucks are all 2016 or newer
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
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.
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.