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Advice needed please: Queensland rules
#21
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
thx for the link & info dwd1249. At least I can read for myself now what the actual laws are here. Looks like its gonna be all over for me though as if reading through that information I stand next to no chance of ever getting my licence back at least if its left in the hands of this particular doctor. The only actual 'sleep specialists' through the public system are around 500kms away & if I can't drive then I have no other way of going to plead my case to them. There are two 'private' ones where I live at a cost of $400 per test so they are out of the equation. From reading this information even to go out and buy a machine (if I could afford it) will do me no good without a dr to say I am 'fit' to drive and I don't know if there are any drs near me that will do this without tests being rerun & expensive machines either trialed or bought etc. All of this takes time and money I simply do not have. By time I mean I will not survive staying inside the four walls of my home without any help to access food supplies or anything else necessary for survival including being able to actually get to the drs and other places to 'trial' machines etc. As I already have mental health 'issues' staying locked inside with no one to talk to etc for months at a time is not conducive to my mental health problems either. So thank you all for trying to help me but I can't see any way out of my problem but to remove the 'problem' that being me.

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#22
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
When my home sleep test showed osa I got a acpap online and started using it. My gp was happy with that but we both knew more would have to be done to sign me off on my yearly drivers assessment. He had to refer me to a sleep specialist in Canberra, 3 hours away. My first appointment there I took my machine and data that I downloaded from it. He was a bit bemused that I bought a Chinese machine online (He had never seen one) and started treating myself. Never the less he signed me off for 6 months.
After the second visit he signed me off for a year. Then I found a Doc closer to home that could sign me off . Now that I retired I just have to keep my local gp happy. I've been going to him for 20 years for high blood pressure and other then him always playing to over weight card we have an excellent relationship .
Hang in there I'm sure things will work them self out for the best.
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#23
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
Hi Sandii
Excuse me, I haven't read all 3 pages of this thread, just wanted to tell its the same in other staes too and especially to truck drivers
... I'm in NSW and get a yearly form form the RTA to be filled and signed by the doctor that all good with the treatment

Am I eligible for a Queensland Health loan device for sleep disorder treatment?
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/qhsdp/asp/eligbility.asp
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#24
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
Hi Sandii,
I'm new to the board and was about to write a post to introduce myself when I read yours. I'm in Qld too (Brisbane). I had my GP refer me to Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Thoracic Medicine Dept for a sleep study. I was diagnosed in 2013. The RBWH hires out machines for free to people who qualify, which sounds like you would with your disability card. The sleep study is also performed free of charge at the hospital. I'm not sure how far from Brissy you are, but it may be worth a phone call?
As for driving licenses, my initial diagnosis was moderate - severe apnea, and no mention of my driving license was made. As the hospital is a Government body, I would have expected them to talk to me about it if it was an issue. So I believe your treatment has been grossly unfair, to put it mildly.
I hope you can make contact with the hospital and source a machine. Best of luck.
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#25
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
Sandii, hang in there, lots of people are here to help out all they can.
First I think your best bet is to start with your disability people. They understand your CPTSD and it sure seems like that could have impacted the test results. They should be able to help out.

You have a situation that needs to be corrected and soon. It is not the driving, it is access to food and medical, Make it clear to them that you have this problem of not being able to get food while this is being resolved.

Solve one problem at a time and for you right now it is getting food.

next is figuring out how much of your test results were cased by CPTSD and not actually caused by sleep apnea. Ask the disability people to help with that, a sleep Doctor may not have any experience with CPTSD.

You are getting disability payments to SUPPORT YOUR LIFE, so now that you cannot drive they should increase payments to provide transportation or to get an APAP machine so you can again drive yourself.

I assume that if you were diabetic that your disability would pay for insulin and supplies TO KEEP YOU ALIVE. Just seems kind of obvious for them to help you get food and maybe an APAP machine.

My father in law has a brother that can no longer drive and his Veterans coverage hires a neighbor to drive him to appointments and to the store.

Don't accept a no from anyone that is not authorized to say yes.
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#26
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
Grover64, please see your private messages (link at the top of this page).

Thanks
Paul

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#27
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
Sandy, if there are other local doctors that could treat your problem, look them up online and try to call them, and if you can't speak with on, try writing each a letter explaining your situation. It is not unheard of for a doctor to take on a case pro-bono.
I am not a Medical professional and I don't play one on the internet.
Started CPAP Therapy April 5, 2016
I'd Rather Be Sleeping
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#28
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
Hi Sandii,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
I’m sorry you have had such harsh treatment from this doc, try like anything to fire her and find another one who will take more of an interest in your situation and care for you.
You have had some great advice here on this board, so hopefully you can find some help, so you can get on with treatment and getting your drivers license back.
Hang in there for more responses to your post and don’t give up.
Much success to you and keep us posted on your progress.
trish6hundred
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#29
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
This is one of the things that's wrong with the Nazi/nanny state.

When people hear about how Sandii got screwed by the system, they'll avoid going to their doctor if they have problems that might possibly be sleep apnea.

The end result could easily be more untreated sleep apneacs on the road, rather than fewer. To say nothing of the societal costs of more untreated sleep apneacs in general. Plus the costs of people with other conditions that go untreated because they're afraid of going to the doctor. Or those who fake out their sleep test because they don't want to lose their driver's license.
Get the free OSCAR CPAP software here.
Useful links.
Click here for information on the main alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
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#30
RE: Advice needed please: Queensland rules
And if there was no public healthcare, she would not have known and been on the road anyway, or none of the low income would know and would also be on the road anyway. I understand there are views on both sides of public healthcare and regulations concerning public safety and where the government should and should not be involved, but there are pluses and minuses in both cases here.
I am not a Medical professional and I don't play one on the internet.
Started CPAP Therapy April 5, 2016
I'd Rather Be Sleeping
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