Highs And Lows - Passed Permit Test, Got Flagged For Sleep Apnea Test
Topic 26867 | Page 1
30 months
Woops, meant 3 months, lol.
Jay G, A lot of drivers have sleep apnea and still have productive careers, first and foremost your health should be your first priority. Wishing you the best of luck
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.
Jay, I will tell you my experience about Sleep apnea and that CPAP machine.
I was tagged, probably like you were, by Body Mass Index and neck size. Still, I don't feel it's a problem I have, but during my (full) sleep study, the assistant came in and put a nose mask on me. And to keep my CDL , I figured I'd better not fight it.
So I put what I personally call a "head jock" 
on. Some CPAP people hate the thing, and even take it off after four hours each night. But on my part, after I got used to it, it isn't so bad. And in the morning my lungs feel like they do after a long run: refreshed and ready for the day.
Yes you lug that bag around. If you fly, your CPAP bag doesn't count as a carry on (hint; get a larger bag of any kind, and put other stuff in it with the CPAP, that's OK.). Also the instructions say use distilled water. As long as you empty the water supply box every day, and wipe it dry, you can use tap water.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
Body Mass Index:
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.
"head jock"
Thank you for sharing and I will have to keep that recommendation about bag size in mind when I get my results.
I’ve been on a CPAP for 10 years and it has saved my life. Best nights sleep in many years was the first night with the CPAP. Best of luck, if you do have sleep apnea , getting tested will be a big win for your overall health.
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.
So the results came back and I definitely have sleep apnea. It seems pretty severe as it was over 40. I hear people *****ing and moaning about having to take the test, but just about everyone I have spoken to has almost too good to be true stories of what its like to finally get a great nights sleep, lol.
It might sound kind of lame, but if the CPAP is half as good as everyone claims it to be I am pretty excited.
Back to a training related note, this definitely pushes back my starting time. I have to get a 30 day compliance report and fax it over to a contact in Cardinal Health. The good news is that apparently, I can request this report once I have been compliant for 70% so its mostly a matter of hurry up and wait while I wait for a machine.
My wife has some concerns about starting later and going through winter. I figure as long as I keep safety in mind I assure her I'll focus on the controllable and the rest, well the rest is faith based, lol.
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.
I have sleep apnea as well, and also needed to bump my start time back about 3 weeks to be compliant. I notice quite a difference. My wife is rather happy that I no longer jolt awake as shes trying to sleep on my shoulder. There have been a few times I'm so tired I crawl into bed and forget to put it on, thinking I'm just going to watch tv but fall asleep. I can tell a difference in how I feel the next day.
My wife has some concerns about starting later and going through winter. I figure as long as I keep safety in mind I assure her I'll focus on the controllable and the rest, well the rest is faith based, lol.
Starting in winter is great. You will get to experience the terrible weather with an experienced driver in the seat next to you. I'd be terrified to make a trip down the mountains in snow for the first time alone, or dealing with the wind in Wyoming.
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.
As long as you empty the water supply box every day, and wipe it dry, you can use tap water.
My father uses a cpap , and his doctor said tap water is usually treated with chlorine to kill off pathogens. This means there is chlorine in the water and the cpap turns it into chlorine gas, which is really bad for you.
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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As the title says, pretty excited to be one step closer to giving this new career my best shot. Got all my documents in order and went down to the local MVD aka DMV. Passed the permit test and the necessary tanker endorsement part too.
Prior to that, the physical. Up until that point, the only issue I was concerned about was blood pressure. My mother has high blood pressure and previously, my blood pressure would be slightly above the 140/90 point. I think before, it was like 148/80 and around that area. Thanks to a recent lifestyle change, I am happy to report back that my blood pressure was below the 140/90 mark! Thank God for small favors, lol.
But on that same token, I got flagged for sleep apnea. Through searching around, I realize its not the end all be all. And honestly, if it is a condition I do have, I understand that this is probably best for my health long term. It would just be kind of a mild bummer to wait. But, I have already waited this long, I suppose an extra 30 days isn't going to kill me, it might literally save my life, lol.
At least i was able to do the take home test. I was expecting a gnarly set up, but it was just a little box that had with a strap, a finger sensor, and the nose thing. So got that taken care of yesterday, now to wait a week for the results. To my understanding, the physician approved my medical card for 30 months pending follow up for sleep apnea. If I dont have it, I would still have to wait the 3 months and then do a whole new physical.
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.
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.