Diagnosed Sleep Apnea Treated, Will I Still Job As A Driver?

I just joined TT tonight, I have spent the last few days reading everything. I have thought of drive a truck for many years. I do not like my job of 24 years and I am really serious about this. But now have one concern if I could get hired after reading the sleep apnea witch hunt article.

I have sleep apnea diagnosed about 10 years ago. I am on a cpap machine and use it every time I sleep.

So does any know if this is an automatic no, a maybe or no problem at all.

Thanks for this wonderful website it is a pleasure to read and great for the industry.

Many drivers use a Cpap or bi-pap mechine depending on what their doctor says. As long as you comply with the rules you should be OK. I know you will have to have the memory card read every so often so they know you are using it or you will have to get one that has a removable memory card so they can track the use of it.

Hi Glenn and welcome! I would think if you are already diagnosed and using a cpap machine it shouldn't be an issue. I think the problem comes in when there may be an undiagnosed issue. For someone who falls in to the parameters now set forth, they have to do the sleep study test or they cannot get a license. Those that have their license already can correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure I have it correct. I may be one of those that have to do one based on my BMI so i have been trying to pay attention to the discussions around this topic!

Here is the problem. The BMI testing does work or at least it's not causing problems. I know I know it's outdated but until it becomes a major issue it will continue to be used. The scalpel is just as outdated but it's still has a use. Got the money to fight the medical community on the issue in court? I know I don't.

BMI was a great guide back in the day cause it was thought that only over weight people had sleep apena. Now that it is k of it can affect anyone, no matter the body type, their excuse they use now is "Being over weight COULD be a sign" so you need to be tested and since the court of law depends on medical professionals, like doctors, for court cases it's not likely that doctors would recommend not using the BMI as a way to look for signs of sleep apena.

The FMCSA has made it that if the doctor is not on their approved doctors list, which means testing for the doctors, that your own private doctors has absolutely no say in what you may or may not have.

Unfortunately unless someone has more money than God to challenge the government on sleep apena standards then we have to follow the rules they set in place and that means if the doctor doing the dot physical says you need testing then if have to go get tested. No arguing or exemptions to this.

You know what? Of all the drivers that was force to take a sleep study test all of them agreed that they sleep much better and feel more rested in the morning. If this is something that truck drivers can agree on then it must but true since truck drivers never agree on anything.

Having Sleep Apnea is not a deal killer, I have it but had to get a newer machine with a memory card and a small wifi modem attached so they can see my usage....Join the crowd, Prime Inc will even pay all the upfront costs and then take $40 a week out of your checks until paid for..

Ken C

Glenn -

Not an expert on this. Having said that, a problem w/sleep apnea is CPAP compliance. You can have the machine, but if you don't use it according to the rules/specs, you may have issues.

By the way, there are surgical alternatives for Sleep Apnea. Obviously, surgical options have benefits and risks. But if this becomes an issue, you may want to talk to your doctor about it. If you decide to go the medical route - do you have a university with a medical school / center near by? If so, you may want to schedule a second opinion from them. Academic physicians tend to be more up to date with latest and greatest ways of dealing with issues.

Anyways, just my two cents.

I guess if it was me that had sleep apena I would try my best to fix what was causing the issue. If it was weight I would eat healthier and exercise more. If it was something in my throat causing it than I would under go surgery to fix the issue. The Cpap machines are a bandaid but not solving the problem that caused the sleep issue.

Thanks everyone for the information that it is not a deal breaker. I have been on a CPAP machine for over 10 years now and I use it every single time I sleep. It is a newer machine with the removable sim card but it does not have the wifi. I can have many records pulled that shows I have been in compliance for many years now.

I wanted to add a little to answer some other responses. Not all sleep apnea is cause by weight I was in my late 30's when I finally was diagnosed but it started when I was in my early teen's. I just did not know what was causing my issues. My weight at the time of my diagnois was about 190 and I am 5'11" I do not know what that made my BMI but I am sure it was under what they check. I currently bounce between 200 and 210. So with the current standards they might would let me slip by without testing me. That some would say would be the way to go but that is not for me. I know how dangerous server sleep anpnea is. I also want to make sure my future employer knows of the condition before I am hired.

There are some surgery's available but the one they would use to try and fix mine is only effective about 60 or 70% of the time. The bad side effects from it could cause other problems that could be life threatening even if the surgery was not success full. For me I will be using a CPAP for the rest of my life every time I sleep and I do not have a problem with that. It works for me and I am happy with the results.

I mainly just wanted to make sure it was not a total deal breaker. It sounds like they let guys drive all the time as long as they use the machine and comply with the doctors orders. I have no problem proving I comply because I do it anyway. I just did not want to start planning to change my career or actually get to the point of quiting my job and go through training just to find out I can not get a CDL or will not be hired. I have a excellent career of 24 years with a very large computer company. I will have a job for many years to come if I want it. The problem is I am not happy with it any more.

I will add this bit of advice to anyone that has to take the sleep test. Do not sleep on your back. Sleeping on your back makes sleep apnea worse and I wonder if it could cause someone to have a few episodes during the test even though they really do not have it. If they see it they will put you on a machine. Some of the reading I have done I agree they are on a witch hunt and they think this is fix all to drousy driving. It is not and not eveyone just because of wieght has sleep apnea. This is a new thing relativily speaking so some in the medical field are going to push it and beleive me it has to do with money. But I can tell you if you have sleep apnea and you sleep on a CPAP you will know the difference right away. It does take some getting use to the machine but it is worth it. If anyone wants to know more about Sleep Apnea from a person who has it and understand somewhat about it I would be happy to answer any questions for you. I am not an expert nor know much from a medical standpoint, but I do not what it is like to go through life with it and what it is like dealing with it.

I will continue to read all I can on this site but I do not normally post much. Thanks again to eveyone's response to my first question on the boards.

If I had to have a Cpap I could not wear the full face mask. I would get the one that covers the nose.