Sleep Apnea

Feeling super bummed... I had a sleep study today and I had to be put on cpap since I apparently have sleep apnea. Which makes it worse is Alice from Millis Transfer called to tell me my application was approved and to call her to schedule school. I had to send her an email asking if they allowed cpap or if there were trainers using cpap.I was supposed to get my DOT physical next week.

Just left me in a foul mood and I kinda feel like I got kicked in the balls.... this happen to anyone else before?

I know it doesn't seem like it , but you're fortunate. I know of two drivers who DIED IN THEIR TRUCKS from undiagnosed sleep apnea. One of them drove for my FM. He had dropped off his co-driver for hometime earlier in the day. He pulled over for his 10 on his drive home and never work up. Yeah, it's inconvenient and expensive but so is dying unexpectedly.

CPAP in the truck is no big deal so you can relax!

I've been using a CPAP machine for about 15 years. It took me a couple of tries to find the right mask and a couple of days to get used to wearing it...that's it.

You'll need one that records data nightly and be able to produce reports from the machine each time you go to your DOT physical. Some companies require that you set it up such that they can monitor your usage daily, but most just accept the DOT med which will require the reports.

I have a ResMed Airsense 10 with a ResMed Swift FX Nano mask and like that setup a lot. There are plenty of other rigs that are dandy too.

If you wear your glasses in bed for watching TV or whatever, you'll want to choose a mask that allows that in case you fall asleep while doing so. That's part of the reason I choose the Nano.

I use an AC adapter (the one that comes with the machine) plugged into my inverter. Some people use a D/C cord plugged into a 12v outlet. I tried that in my prior truck and it didn't really work. That truck also lacked an APU , and when the start/stop idle nonsense cycled, the machine would shut off, so I added a UPS and then all was well. But I now have a truck with an APU, so I just plug the A/C cord into a wall outlet and it works great.

ResMed doesn't permit users to have the software to produce the reports...they want you to take the machine or the SD card from it to a DME place to get the reports. But there is a place on the 'net where you can easily find software that will work and print the reports yourself.

The only real pita that I find now is that when traveling out of the truck, one must pack up the CPAP machine and cart it along everywhere. I formerly had a travel machine but no longer use that because the reports wouldn't be accurate. I suppose if one had another machine that could create reports, two reports could be generated with an explanation to the medical examiner. But my travel machine doesn't save data, so I'd have to buy another one. I'll probably do that some day...

Best wishes to you.

Feeling super bummed... I had a sleep study today and I had to be put on cpap since I apparently have sleep apnea. Which makes it worse is Alice from Millis Transfer called to tell me my application was approved and to call her to schedule school. I had to send her an email asking if they allowed cpap or if there were trainers using cpap.I was supposed to get my DOT physical next week.

Just left me in a foul mood and I kinda feel like I got kicked in the balls.... this happen to anyone else before?

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.

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.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

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.

I am a hopeful future driver too. I was diagnosed a few years ago with sleep apnea too. After I started using the Machine I felt a million times better, more energy, and was able to stop chugging energy drinks all day to stay awake. Its not only a life saver it can be a life changer.

I was given the test by my company and passed. 2 years later they made me.retest and they diagnosed me with apnea. In October i got the machine

My machine gives daily readings via a modem and i have a phone app that gives me the stats.

For easier cleaning, i paid $300 for the SoClean oxidizing machine. no water needed, just throw the mask and hose in and a couple hours later all germs are dead. Most people fail to understand the germs can kill you just as easily as the apnea. many drivers do not clean the machines properly.

i hated the machine for months. i did not feel good, energetic or an improvement. i felt worse. more tired than ever and never really got a deep.sleep. As ridiculous as this sounds, i felt as though a part of me died because i stopped dreaming. i have dreamed my whole life in movie like marathon type of dreams which often inspire my novels i write. that alone took me months to get adjusted to.

ive changed masks 4 times, and they arent cheap. Like $140 each. there is a warranty of 30 days to exchange, but who can keep going back to exchange in that short a time?

My family now tells.me that i wheeze and snore without it, which i never did before. therefore i have accepted that i need it. i never felt tired or sluggish BEFORE the machine but i did after. Only just recently did i not feel tired anymore. i finally feel as good as i did before the machine. i still do not dream on a regular basis which really upsets me.

bottom line is that i tolerate it, Im planning on losing weight and getting off this darn thing. if you dont want it lose weight. there are people who have a genetic apnea who will have it regardless of weight. for that reason, i feel discriminated against. if it is that serious and anyone could have the genetic form, then everyone should be tested, period.

I am a hopeful future driver too. I was diagnosed a few years ago with sleep apnea too. After I started using the Machine I felt a million times better, more energy, and was able to stop chugging energy drinks all day to stay awake. Its not only a life saver it can be a life changer.

Why do people feel bummed about something that helps them actually sleep better?

I dearly love my cpap machine. I don't even know I have the mask on at night and my whole life changed for the better when I started getting a REAL nights sleep.

If you are a military veteran the VA will hook you up with a machine and all the gear for free and you can get a new mask and hose every 6 months.

Like Rainie said, keep the mask clean. I wipe my mask down inside and out every night before bed time with alcohol wipes. Also, the filters they give you are not worth the effort, they let too much dust through. I cut a square of blue shop towel (from Walmart) and snap the little air inlet window over it and since they're a tighter weave than paper towels they stop 100% of any dust that might get in other wise.

Once a week I take the mask apart and soak it, the hose, and water dish in warm bleach water with a little dish soap solution for 30 minutes.

Don't be bummed out, be glad they caught it in time.

I have a CPAP machine. Yes, it does take some doing to get used to sleeping with a mask attached to an air hose, but it can be done. It is something I need to keep me from dying in my sleep. Why would I not wear it???

Make sure to keep your mask clean. This week I'm getting one of the mask cleaners like Rainy mentioned.

Good luck, Colin K.

Well thank you all so much. I’m shocked by the number of people that use one. To address one comment listed I’m not bummed by finding something that would help me more so that it delays forward progress I was making in transitioning to a new career. Im sure you understand that. I’m glad you guys told me about the downloading one. I’ll ask my doctor when I see him on Thursday. I would prefer not dying in my sleep as well. Thank you again.

I dearly love my cpap machine. I don't even know I have the mask on at night and my whole life changed for the better when I started getting a REAL nights sleep.

If you are a military veteran the VA will hook you up with a machine and all the gear for free and you can get a new mask and hose every 6 months.

Like Rainie said, keep the mask clean. I wipe my mask down inside and out every night before bed time with alcohol wipes. Also, the filters they give you are not worth the effort, they let too much dust through. I cut a square of blue shop towel (from Walmart) and snap the little air inlet window over it and since they're a tighter weave than paper towels they stop 100% of any dust that might get in other wise.

Once a week I take the mask apart and soak it, the hose, and water dish in warm bleach water with a little dish soap solution for 30 minutes.

Don't be bummed out, be glad they caught it in time.

I am a hopeful future driver too. I was diagnosed a few years ago with sleep apnea too. After I started using the Machine I felt a million times better, more energy, and was able to stop chugging energy drinks all day to stay awake. Its not only a life saver it can be a life changer.

^^^^Thats the ABSOLUTE truth right there.