sleep apnea and DOT rules

[SuperSleeper]

You have too much faith in the politicians and the the sheeple who can vote.

And not enough fear of the creeping nanny state and big brother/big business state.

Give them time and we'll see regular drivers have their licences suspended for untreated sleep apnea here in the U.S. Then, doctors will become the unwilling "federal informants" by law. At that point, if they don't report their non-compliant OSA patients to the DOT, they will be fined, lose their medical license or be imprisoned for "endangering public safety". Mark my words: it's going to happen - just give it time.

With each passing year, we find more and more local, state and federal laws that each citizen is (unknowingly) guilty of violating... I'm probably a stinking criminal now, probably several times over, in fact. Of course, that's the goal of the nanny state - make so many complicated laws and regulations that everyone becomes a "criminal". Then, once everyone becomes a "criminal", they can (under color of law) levy fines, fees and taxes to control those "criminals" in order to raise money used to further expand the nanny state. Rinse, Repeat, Rinse, Repeat, round and round she goes.... At some point, it's really got to stop, I would think. Personally, I'd like to get off the Merry-Go-Round and quit playing "their game".

Ah, there I go again... somebody stop me before I hurt myself.

[PaulaO2]

This is already happening for other conditions. Epilepsy, MS, Parkinson's, others I'm sure.

Here in my home state, not only the doctors are required to report someone to the DMV. ANY DMV employee can flag someone's record. ANY. For whatever they think may or may not need further review.

Each review costs the driver for doc visits, extra fees to complete the forms, finding a doc who is willing to fill them out. Then, in two years, dance the dance again. Friend of mine almost lost her license because she did not have hand controls. She didn't need them, never had them. But some doc several years back (she got flagged a few years before me) had written that she has them and must use them. She had to pay out over $1000 to several driving evaluation places to provide evidence she didn't need it. She was going to actually appear at the "hearing" (gas, hotel bill, parking, more $) but they called her that morning and said they had all they needed.

In this state, they are not educating these workers enough. My friend I just mentioned? Has MS and  uses a power chair. She also has a service dog. The idiot DMV worker declared her blind because of the dog. Not so incidentally, I had my SD with me when I was first flagged. We have heard of about 5 others. Based on how they treat me this round, NC may be facing a class action lawsuit.

Then add in a professional driver's license? Just adds to the fun.  It doesn't take much for the USPS to remove a worker for any kind of driving incident.  It's cheaper to get rid of them and hire someone else at a much lower rate. So for truckers and bus drivers, it just adds to the stress of an already stressful job.

Oh, and for the first time, Sleep Apnea is one of the sections of the forms my doc has to complete. I don't recall seeing that before.

[ruscottm]

Well in in way I feel a bit lucky. And that is in New Jersey you only have to be 40 percent compliance but the hard part for me is trying to find some one to read my card.
The company that used to give me my cpap supplies does not deal with people with sleep apnea any more.
Have to deal with a company in TN.
So needless to say going on almost 2 weeks trying to get this card read so I can get back to work.
And it looks like it wont be any time soon. And by the looks of things by the time this all gets done I would not be surprised if I am taken out of work again because of high blood pressure.
But I am looking on the bright side Easter Sunday is tomorrow so maybe I might have my own miracle and I will get the e-mail with my results from the card and I can be back to work by Tuesday .
Keep you posted.

Scott

[Tiny]

I would think any sleep clinic close to you could read the card , Did you try that??

[PaulaO2]

Ask whoever the person is if they would accept a patient printout from the ResMed software, ResScan. It would have model number and everything on it. ResScan will calculate the compliance data. You can download it here and give it a try. Take in a print out and ask them about it.

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...nload-Link

[Tiny]

That's an interesting thought , I ask my doc next time I'm in his office

[PaulaO2]

Please do and let us know what he says.

[Ugly]

That's an interesting thought , I ask my doc next time I'm in his office

Or print out a copy for him when you're there.

[ruscottm]

An update just opened e-mail from company doctor I can come at any time to pick up my DOT card.
Picked it up will be back to work on Thursday.
Thank god,

Scott

[SuperSleeper]

Scott! Good to hear!