Intrusive Questions from the Government

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:54 am

1st of all, I have a basic machine - Resmed 7 lightweight. No card reader - no software. I have no way of proving how my therapy is working except to say that in one year - I feel 100% better!

2nd - it should be like epilepsy - your doctor should be the one to stop the driving. (In Georgia I think you have to be seizure free for one year before you can drive again). The doctor eventually told my elderly uncle that he must stop driving due to declining vision.

What about these questions:

Do you eat while you are driving? I actually saw someone eating FRIED chicken while driving. Imagine those clogged arteries, much less those slippery, greasy fingers!
Is there a possibility you could go into diabetic shock (if you are diabetic) while you are driving?
Do you turn around while driving and yell at your kids?
Do you read the newspaper while driving?
Is there any possibility that you could black out while driving?
Do you have severe migraines?
What is your IQ? (my husband always said should give an IQ test and not a driving test!)
Do you speed and weave in and out of traffic, change lanes and then make sudden right hand turns?
Does everyone in your car wear seat belts?
Do you take antihistamines while you drive?
If you should become tired while driving long distance, do you promise to pull over and take a little nap?

These seem silly, but look around you at other drivers.

gecko1977a · Post by **gecko1977a** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:44 am

I can attest to not telling the DMV jack snit....
When i was 16 they asked - do you have a heart condition. I answered yes, i had a coarctation of the aorta and was repaired when i was 12.... ever since then i have had to have what they call a medical restricted license.

every freakin year I have had to get this stupid form filled out by my family Doctor and he never fills it out they way he needs to (to say it is not needed for a medical exam to drive; though he is getting better)

I even had my license suspended once cause the DMV did not get the form in the mail....wanted me to mail another form and wait two weeks, would not allow it to be hand delivered to them.

This last year i got freaked out when the form had not arrived, I had to rush to a local office get a form get it filled out, only to find that the previous time he had noted that i did not need to submit to medical exam till the next time my license renews

I am suprised that he never sent anything to the DMV, cause I had told my dr and sleep doc that I doze off driving, but always pull over

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 10:57 am

sleepyred wrote: I actually saw someone eating FRIED chicken while driving. Imagine those clogged arteries, much less those slippery, greasy fingers!

ROFL! That is too funny, but the scary thing is, I used to live in Atlanta, GA, and I actually saw that quite a bit!
Absolutely ridiculous.

byront · Post by **byront** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:34 pm

[quote="Ritap1965"]I just got my drivers license renewal application in the mail, and one of their questions is:

Do you have a condition that produces abnormal sleepiness (Sleep apnea, narcolepsy, etc)?

[quote]

That's a tricky question and could really honestly be answered either way. You do have a condition that causes abnormal sleepiness - yes. But does it cause you abnormal sleepiness - no, because it is treated. So - treated, you still have the condition but no longer have the abnormal sleepiness. I would assume that it is the symptom that is the most important part of the question (abnormal sleepiness), and should be given the most weight. My opinion - I would answer flat out NO. Government agencies and big business's love to collect information that they may be able to use against someone at a later date. Next thing you know your insurance rates will go through the roof, and it wouldn't surprise me if they were partially to blame for the question to begin with. Or else you will be required to give yearly signed compliance reports to the DMV, which would put your therapy back into the hands of your sleep doctor or the DME's. I'm sure they are all for that - more free $$$! As mentioned, there are many things just as, if not far more, dangerous. I would be willing to bet that far more accidents can be linked to cell phones than to sleep apnea. And what about those gal's that do their makeup in the rear veiw mirror on the way to work in the morning! --- BT

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:49 pm

Well.... I am going to agree with the others....

If you are feeling OK and being treated for sleep apnea... then answer NO.

If you answer YES, I think you can bank on the idea that the DMV is going to make you have some kind of form filled out by your dr. THey may even put some kind of notation as such on your dl.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:02 pm

I will throw my agreement in with the others.
I don't see any problem with asking the question. It certainly is a legitimate question and one that really should be asked.
Untreated Sleep Apnea is extremely dangerous and I'm sure contributes to a great many deaths each and every year.
However, most of us are treating our Sleep Apnea and are no longer tired and sleepy during the day.
It's basically the same as those with glasses being required to wear them while driving.

doubletee2 · Post by **doubletee2** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:17 pm

My DOT physical is coming up in November and I am already thinking about the form I have to fill out. In the last year I had a catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a possible causative precursor of that condition. Unfortunately there is a statement about perjury at the bottom of the form that will force me to answer truthfully with no logical bending of my response even though I have and am being treated successfully for both ailments.
In the Utah lady's case it is a regular driver's license I will assume and I think that question about sleep apnea is illegal. It will be legally challenged eventually is my bet. My advice: Answer no, if there is no perjury statement on the form.

Ms Piggy · Post by **Ms Piggy** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:57 pm

I mentioned that some U.S. states ask if drivers have OSA when I last saw my local supplier, he said people had to submit their machines card to show compliance, I don't know who they submit it to or which states he was referring to. Here, Canada, the Doctors are not required to report OSA to the authorities, but now I think about it I seem to remember that there was a question that caused me to hesitate before saying no when I renewed my license last time.

ldemmery · Post by **ldemmery** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:58 pm

Yes they do, at least in Ontario. My doctor asked me if I was compliant, if not he'd have to report me.

He called me to come all the way to his office (he's very out of the way for me).

Joke was on him.... I DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LISENCE!!!!

Perhaps it was on me too... total waste of a day, had to take time off work and then travel and hour on a bus!

Lynne (in Ottawa)

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:12 pm

One of my concerns; if there is something about OSA on my driver's license and even wearing my MedicAlert there might be presumption of "guilt" if ever in an auto accident even if it was not my fault. They see sleep apnea and jump to the assumption I went to sleep at the wheel. I now carry my medical info on a USB device. but do wear the Medic Alert. I have pretty strict rules for myself about driving-the thought of injuring someone else keeps me compliant with XPAP and my rules. Basic rule is that the past TWO nights I must sleep well in order to get behind the wheel when I'm going to be driving longer than an hour. No sleep-no driving-even to the Post Office 5 minutes away.

gecko1977a · Post by **gecko1977a** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:36 pm

On my route to work, I know every exit, gas station, McD's, Tim Hortons (to heck with starbucks), rest area, you name it.....

Before treatment I was scared to death some days to drive. I had one day where I could not get myself alert enough to get off the freeway, I would say "next exit I am pulling off" and miss it

doubletee2 · Post by **doubletee2** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:09 pm

Commercial drivers must be held to a higher standard of health than private drivers is the central tenet seemingly. I did some research into the standard for commercial drivers and found out that sleep apnea is not an automatic disqualifier. If the driver is receiving successful treatment/therapy then it appears to NOT be a problem. The federal law is more concerned with those drivers who would be prone to losing consciousness for any reason. Neither of my ailments qualify and I am receiving excellent and effective treatment/therapy which I can document. So I should get my two year certification with no problems, hopefully. When the bureaucrats narrowly interpret the law is where things go afoul. Happy motoring!

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:08 am

For myself.... I haven't even been close to falling asleep at the wheel after getting on APAP. However... prior to APAP and diagnosed for OSA... I never actually fell asleep at the wheel... but there were a few times I came close

I'm just glad I never did and that I got treatment before anything ever happen.

I find it odd they ask the question, because most likely if you have been diagnosed then you are receiving treatment!!!!!!!!!!

Ms Piggy · Post by **Ms Piggy** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:23 am

Even before I knew I had OSA I never felt the need to nap nor did I fall asleep when driving for short or long distances, so I guess that does not apply to everyone but it is the one thing that is always mentioned. I agree with Krouseau re the presumption of guilt, if you had a driving accident the lawyers would love to find you had OSA.

Intrusive Questions from the Government

Machine

Re: Machine

Mask

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose for rain out/PapCap Headgear and chin strap

Mask	Humidifier

Mask	Humidifier