OT: DOT regs & sleeping pills/insomnia

Was that her name? Maybe one of the others . . .

Although Ambien may have contributed, I think Tiger Woods got Tiger Woods in trouble.

So Ambien was not the name of an escort?

If you/doctors decide he can no longer drive due to the insomnia, you may want to look into getting disability. If he is close to retirement then the Social Security folks should not require him to start a new career. This is the type of situation that disability insurance system is designed for,

Perhaps the worst thing you can do is to attempt a new career at this age and not be able to do it because of other age related issues. Once you get a new job but are not able to keep it just because they want someone younger or someone who can stand for 10 hours straight or whatever... this could cause huge problems if you later go to apply for disability.

Before looking for new job, I suggest you talk to a reputable lawyer about this.

Good luck

jacobsbd wrote:If you/doctors decide he can no longer drive due to the insomnia, you may want to look into getting disability. If he is close to retirement then the Social Security folks should not require him to start a new career. This is the type of situation that disability insurance system is designed for,

Perhaps the worst thing you can do is to attempt a new career at this age and not be able to do it because of other age related issues. Once you get a new job but are not able to keep it just because they want someone younger or someone who can stand for 10 hours straight or whatever... this could cause huge problems if you later go to apply for disability.

Before looking for new job, I suggest you talk to a reputable lawyer about this.

Good luck

Thanks for the input, but my hubby isn't disabled, he can lift small cars (yes, really) . He has successfully worked thru all those hard issues from back in April when we first found out about the DOT regs banning these type of prescription drugs. He has worked really hard, using some tips I picked up for him from this forum, the book RobySue recommended (and this book was his guide for most of the work), along with some herbals that have been helpful.

Now I'm not saying that some people might need to be disabled for being unable to do their job anymore, but he can still lift, push, drive & basically function fine. His only problem was insomnia, which as I said, with a lot of help from this forum & a lot of work on his part, he has overcome. He does say regularly he is glad he was already on CPAP when it happened, that prior to CPAP his sleep was so poor that losing the sleeping pill would have pushed him over the edge to never sleeping. Now he sleeps about 7 1/2 hrs a night, with only one bathroom break. Prior to CPAP, he got up 6-8 times a night to use the bathroom. Big difference.

I'm really proud of all he has accomplished in treating his insomnia and he says he feels better without sleeping pills. I never thought I'd hear him say that!

In case anyone of the many who helped me (and him) along the way is reading this - THANK YOU! Many forum members contributed in the form of suggested reading, suggestions for herbals (and warnings against some), and general encouragement. A big thanks to RobySue for her encouragement & recommending the book "Sound Sleep, Sound Mind", we keep it in the bedroom as a reference, he has read it at least 10 times, I've read it at least 5. If anyone out there is a CDL holder with sleep issues, please know you can work thru them, it takes work, but your life can be better for it.

Jen

Congratulations to both you and your husband! Hip hip hooray!