FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Komodo · Post by **Komodo** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:06 am

I was driving in my car yesterday, listening to the radio, when a commercial comes on...........

FOR A SLEEP CENTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a GOOD commercial. It addressed the symtoms of OSA, the dangers, ease of testing, and treatment, all in 30 seconds.

This is the FIRST TIME I've heard anything like this. I think it's GREAT that the message is finally getting out there to the general public!!!

If I had heard this 6 months ago, I would have gone in for testing. I could have avoided being rushed into the Cardiac ICU instead.

Gerryk · Post by **Gerryk** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:37 am

I think we will be seeing and hearing more about OSA in the future now. Especially if the Federal DOT is interested in it.

Patrick A · Post by **Patrick A** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:03 am

Gerryk wrote:I think we will be seeing and hearing more about OSA in the future now. Especially if the Federal DOT is interested in it.

I believe the DOT is only interested in OSA if the person in question is over weight. Case in point:
I have a friend that holds a CDL ( commercial drivers license) he is not overweight he has yet to be required to have a sleep study.
I have another friend who is overweight he was found to have OSA. His doctor at Kaiser disqualified him to drive commerical vehicles to the California DMV until he had a sleep study. He had his sleep study was found to have OSA as soon as he was found to be in compliance with the use of his Cpap he got his CDL back.

I myself have OSA, I also had a CDL, I no longer hold my CDL due to other medical reasons, but being as I am overweight I would be required to have a sleep study done in order to renew a CDL.
I read that they were basing this requirement on BMI so if you drive a commercial vehicle of any kind and you are overweight they will single you and require a Sleep Study.
I am sorry to say this but if you don't look like "Barbie" or "Ken" it is coming down to you will be disciminated against.

BleepingBeauty · Post by **BleepingBeauty** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 11:05 am

Patrick A wrote:I am sorry to say this but if you don't look like "Barbie" or "Ken" it is coming down to you will be disciminated against.

Like we're not already?

Komodo, thanks for posting about the ad you heard. I hope that trend continues.

Scarlet834 · Post by **Scarlet834** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 12:30 pm

Patrick A wrote:
Gerryk wrote:I think we will be seeing and hearing more about OSA in the future now. Especially if the Federal DOT is interested in it.

I believe the DOT is only interested in OSA if the person in question is over weight. Case in point:
I have a friend that holds a CDL ( commercial drivers license) he is not overweight he has yet to be required to have a sleep study.
I have another friend who is overweight he was found to have OSA. His doctor at Kaiser disqualified him to drive commerical vehicles to the California DMV until he had a sleep study.

I think the DOT is short-sighted enough to only be suspicious of OSA if the person is overweight. I have a family member who is a nurse and was still very surprised to learn that I have OSA (the stereotype of the big ex-football player with a thick neck continues). I hate to see one physical type being targeted, but I'm glad they are starting somewhere. I cringe at thinking of specific scrutiny directed at whether I can personally drive, but at the same time I at least truly should not be driving in an untreated state. I just didn't know it until this year.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:00 pm

Komodo wrote:This is the FIRST TIME I've heard anything like this. I think it's GREAT that the message is finally getting out there to the general public!!!

I think that's GREAT, too, Komodo! May there be many more!!

falvesjr · Post by **falvesjr** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:11 pm

One of our local sleep centers (the one I went to, actually), has had radio ads for a while now. Not only that, they have ads on TV too! And no, I didn't go there because of the ads, they just happen to be the one associated with the health care system I use.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:26 pm

Locally, a sleep center probably the largest and longest established has been running TV spots for quite some time. Seems their target audience includes cpap users not satisfied with their mask experience, as much of their air time shows and talks about mask fitting. Haven't heard any radio spots yet.

Arizona-Willie · Post by **Arizona-Willie** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:26 pm

Patrick A wrote:
Gerryk wrote:I think we will be seeing and hearing more about OSA in the future now. Especially if the Federal DOT is interested in it.

I believe the DOT is only interested in OSA if the person in question is over weight. Case in point:
I have a friend that holds a CDL ( commercial drivers license) he is not overweight he has yet to be required to have a sleep study.
I have another friend who is overweight he was found to have OSA. His doctor at Kaiser disqualified him to drive commerical vehicles to the California DMV until he had a sleep study. He had his sleep study was found to have OSA as soon as he was found to be in compliance with the use of his Cpap he got his CDL back.

I myself have OSA, I also had a CDL, I no longer hold my CDL due to other medical reasons, but being as I am overweight I would be required to have a sleep study done in order to renew a CDL.
I read that they were basing this requirement on BMI so if you drive a commercial vehicle of any kind and you are overweight they will single you and require a Sleep Study.
I am sorry to say this but if you don't look like "Barbie" or "Ken" it is coming down to you will be disciminated against.

=================================================

No .... no ... not discriminated AGAINST ... they are being discriminated FOR.

They are helping the people not denying them something.
As long as they get their CDL back when they are in compliance with the therapy then it's not really discrimination.
Being overweight is a danger sign for OSA so they are being diagnosed ... not penalized.
Sleepy truckers are one of the main cause of accidents on the highway. Anything they can do to improve on that is good.

Patrick A · Post by **Patrick A** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:49 pm

Arizona-Willie said:

No .... no ... not discriminated AGAINST ... they are being discriminated FOR.

They are helping the people not denying them something.
As long as they get their CDL back when they are in compliance with the therapy then it's not really discrimination.
Being overweight is a danger sign for OSA so they are being diagnosed ... not penalized.
Sleepy truckers are one of the main cause of accidents on the highway. Anything they can do to improve on that is good.

Truck Drivers that are over weight by even 20 pounds are being singled out for these compliance tests. I have a friend that it took him over a year to get his CDL back due to a diagnosis of Sleep Apnea by a doctor at Kaiser even after he started using a Cpap machine. When he finnally got it back his employer let him go. thanks to Kaiser Hospital.

FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Re: FINALLY!!!!!!! (must read! )

Machine

Machine