DOT Physical Question

Anonymous-0 · Apr 30, 2009

I applied for, and apparently got, a part-time job as a non-CDL driver for a national company. Last hurdle was the DOT physical, which I took yesterday...and apparently failed. The doc said I showed all the classic signs of suffering from sleep apnea, and wrote me out a referral to get tested.

This area is all new to me. If I still have to be "tested" to see if I have sleep apnea--that is, if it's not a formal diagnosis--then how can it cause me to fail the physical? I've just never heard of failing a physical over an ailment that I may not even have.

Can someone please explain to me how that works?

waltdavies · Apr 30, 2009

Get the test and if the doctor clears you then take that back and you will be OK or don't take the test and forget about passing your Physical.
Simple as that.
Walt

Goose · Apr 30, 2009

I'm not sure. A fellow I know had a Class A CDL for years when he failed a DOT physical because of "symptoms of diabetes". He was washed up as an OTR driver also because of an unsubstantiated diagnosis.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 30, 2009

As soon as I got bak home,I scheduled an appointment with my doc. So at 8:45am tomorrow, we'll start getting to the bottom of this.

Seems these days several of the local hospitals have opened "Sleep Disorder Centers." Some insurance covers this stuff,and some doesn't...which makes me believe it must be a bunch of hooey, or ALL the insurance companies would cover treatment there. You have to have a referral from a doctor to be treated there...or at least for insurance to pay for the testing. My wife was diagnosed with sleep apnea a few years ago, and while our insurance at the time would pay for the testing, they wouldn't pay for the treatment...another thing that signals me that sleep apnea might be a load of hooey, since the insurance won't pay for fixing the problem.

Casey in Ky · Apr 30, 2009

I work for AT&T and take a DOT physical every 2 years. They drug test us, check blood presure and heart hate, sugar, reflexes, eyesight, and hearing. Sleep apnea? That"s a new one on me. Never even been asked if I snore. And beleive me, this bunch is VERY thorough, they"re always looking for a reason to sack somebody.

rustyfarmall · Apr 30, 2009

(quoted from post at 10:12:06 04/30/09) As soon as I got bak home,I scheduled an appointment with my doc. So at 8:45am tomorrow, we'll start getting to the bottom of this.

Seems these days several of the local hospitals have opened "Sleep Disorder Centers." Some insurance covers this stuff,and some doesn't...which makes me believe it must be a bunch of hooey, or ALL the insurance companies would cover treatment there. You have to have a referral from a doctor to be treated there...or at least for insurance to pay for the testing. My wife was diagnosed with sleep apnea a few years ago, and while our insurance at the time would pay for the testing, they wouldn't pay for the treatment...another thing that signals me that sleep apnea might be a load of hooey, since the insurance won't pay for fixing the problem.

Buzzman, I think you just nailed it. The insurance will pay for it, so the doctor is going to do his best to get it.

waltdavies · Apr 30, 2009

I found this online.
---------------------------------
What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.

Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

Sleep apnea usually is a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights each week. You often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep when your breathing pauses or becomes shallow.

This results in poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness.
Overview

Bobl1958 · Apr 30, 2009

Hey Buzz, hate to think that sleep apnea would stop a person from getting a job, but trust me it is a problem. My heart doctor said that "although everyone with heart problems does not have sleep apnea, almost everyone with sleep apnea will have heart problems." I took my sleep test. The conclusion was that I woke up 243 times that night. What it amounts to is your body does not go into the deep sleep (rem sleep) that is required for the blood to oxygenate itself. That is where, in a nutshell, you get your energy. I used to have trouble staying awake through the afternoon, and no energy in the evening to want to do anything. Since I have my CPAP, I sleep considerably better, and have lots more energy. Maybe not for everyone, but sure works for me. Still can't believe you can't pass a physical because you snore. Good luck.

Mark - IN. · Apr 30, 2009

Holy cow. I didn't even know what sleep apnia was until I read Walt's post below. How in the world did they figure that out? What'd you do, fall asleep in the office? No, I didn't mean that seriously, but what I'm getting at is how in the world does one show up for a physical ready and raring to go to work, only to have someone say "No you don't cause I can tell you're a lousy sleeper" or some of the other stuff I read below?

Good luck, and I mean that sincerely. Good gracious, I might even have sleep apnia and didn't even know it until I read what Walt posted. Sure would like to know, and then again, I better not even suggest it. Maybe you don't have sleep apnia disrrupting your sleep at all. Maybe all you have is anxiety like many others do these days. Know what I mean? I'll bet a whole lot of others have problems sleeping these nights.

Mark

DOT Physical Question

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

waltdavies

Member

Goose

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Casey in Ky

Member

rustyfarmall

Well-known Member

waltdavies

Member

Bobl1958

Well-known Member

Mark - IN.

Well-known Member

Similar threads