CDL's and apnea

[sleepyWI]

This story on the streaming cpap news was disturbing to me.

http://www.saljournal.com/?module=displ ... ormat=html

I don't at all condone wht the trucker did by hiding his apnea but it hits home for me. I have a CDL with passenger bus certification, and I occasionally drive a bus on a voluntary basis for work. I recently informed by supervisor that I would no longer provide bus driving services. My rationale was the potential legal problems that could result if I had an accident and it came out I was an apnea patient. I do not hide my condition and I am compliant with my treatment but there are medical records that relate to my problems adapting to the treatment. It scared me to think that this could be used against me if there were an accident, even if it was not my fault.

I think I did the right thing and I'm glad I don't drive for a living!

[racefan]

I have a CDL & I suppose if there were ever a problem I could prove through my DME that I am using it(being billed on a regular basis for supplies,masks etc.) As far as my family Dr. he has on file that I am using apap.

[pedroski]

Driving home from work today I was one of the first on the scene of a pretty bad auto accident on the highway and I couldn't help wondering if the guy who was in the wrong lane had OSA and had fallen asleep. It's a scary thing, the number of undiagnosed and untreated OSA's out there on our highways. All the more reason to help get the word out.

Peter

[Wulfman]

Here's another link from the Lincoln Journal-Star about the same article.
(it's sort of a "home town" newspaper for me and I check it daily)

http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/02 ... 170946.txt

This online newspaper also takes comments from readers. (hint, hint)

This particular story has been ongoing for quite some time and (I believe) has been discussed on this forum before

Some of MY questions are:
Was this guy one of the (non-compliant) "statistics"? (apparently)
Did he actually have a CPAP? (sounds like it)
Did he get the cheapest machine and (wrong) mask from his DME? (which resulted in his therapy failures)
Was he prescribed the wrong pressure?
Did anybody ever follow-up with him to see if he was compliant? (doubt it)
Did he not take his therapy seriously? (I would guess not)
Is he using his machine NOW???

It's people like him that are giving this therapy a bad rap.

Den

[NightHawkeye]

I'd just like to make one minor point, Den.

It's people like him that are giving this therapy a bad rap.

I'm all for personal responsibility and accountability, but when less than 50% of apnea patients are compliant with therapy, there are just so many unanswered questions . . .

For all we know, this guy took his therapy very seriously, but was one of the cases, not infrequently encountered here, where therapy was simply intolerable due to aerophagia, breath-stacking, [insert personal favorite reason here], etc., and he was unable to get the much needed support from his local medical professionals, and never knew to come to this forum to get the support which those of here routinely rely on.

Regards,
Bill ( . . . who counts his blessings daily)

[Wulfman]

I agree with the "unanswered questions", Bill.
(There was also that guy in New York (?) that was the buzz of these forums last year, too.)

We may never know whether this guy's accident was from non-compliant (or unsuccessful) therapy if he doesn't have to testify, but the newspapers are focusing on his apnea diagnosis.....which is what disturbs me.

Den

[NightHawkeye]

. . . but the newspapers are focusing on his apnea diagnosis.....which is what disturbs me.

Agreed. I don't much like that aspect either.

The silver lining, if there is one, is that sometimes things just have to get worse before they can get better . . .

Regards,
Bill

[cg30sailor]

I drive truck for a living and my G.P threatened to take my cdl away from me if I didnt get screened. He probably saved my life and someone elses in the process. I have driven truck for 13 years. There is many people out there driving trucks with apnea.
All you have to do is be compliant and you should not have to worry.Some companies are now paying for apnea screening before you can drive for them. They look at the big picture.(accidents and health problems).Preventing one fatality or a lawsuit can save thousands.
What about all the rest of the motoring public? they can drive as long and as far they want without sleeping. Yet, we are the most scrutinized industry in the country. Dont give up driving because of apnea. I too am from wisconsin and my employer commended me for getting tested.