is sleep apnea considered a medical alert?

[TheTwinsMom1]

I already had a medic alert bracelet since I am allergic to morphine and dilauded, so I went ahead and put on there that I was on CPAP for OSA.

[Ceci.G]

It should be considered! As for the person that posted that if in an emergency room it would be the least of your problems; have I a story for you & anyone else seeing this chat!! I was 22-25 yrs old & had my gallbladder removed & they had a very hard time waking me from the anesthesia. I was young in great health or so I thought, had lost 30-35 lbs due to gallbladder problems....fast foward to 36-38 yrs old & stressing to doc that I can't take the tired/sleepy worn out feeling any more & diagnosed with hypothyroidism & based on other complaints & doc saw in records of the surgery & problems coming out of anesthesia so I was sent for sleep studies.
That simple surgery was stressful for everyone! WHEN I could finally hear people talking I heard the nurse telling my mom & boyfriend to talk to me because she couldn't get me to respond.....I could hear my mom & nurse & my boyfriend but I couldn't open my eyes, I wanted to but I couldn't! I could hear the "concern" in their voices & I was trying to talk or move or open my eyes, I hated that feeling! This may have been a rare incident I don't know, just sharing my experience.

[Julie]

I don't think that was about sleep apnea (you were awake and aware apparently) but sensitivity to the anesthetic. Though if you have diagnosed apnea you certainly should tell the anesthetist ahead of time and possibly bring in your own machine/mask if they're not set up to use their own in the recovery room. Talk it over with your MD in future prior to any surgery.

[chunkyfrog]

Ceci, what you experienced sounds like sleep paralysis,
A common thing, EXCEPT while conscious.
I was conscious while being intubated, once,
so I make sure the anesthetist is aware that I don't want a replay!

[Patrick A]

I am not positive but I read some where that if you are diagnosed with it and hold a CDL it can disqualify you from driving commercial vehicles!

[The Latinist]

I am not positive but I read some where that if you are diagnosed with it and hold a CDL it can disqualify you from driving commercial vehicles!

If you are compliant with xPAP therapy it should not affect your CDL eligibility at all. You may be required to prove compliance periodically, however.

[Patrick A]

I am not positive but I read some where that if you are diagnosed with it and hold a CDL it can disqualify you from driving commercial vehicles!

If you are compliant with xPAP therapy it should not affect your CDL eligibility at all. You may be required to prove compliance periodically, however.

I have a friend that thanks to a doctor at Kaiser Permanente and more than likely his attitude he was disqualified because "his side of story only" She refused to fill out the forms for his. CA. DMV CDL Physical so I know what you mean. They are trying to make OSA a disqualifying item just like Type1 Diabetes.

[BleepingBeauty]

I am not positive but I read some where that if you are diagnosed with it and hold a CDL it can disqualify you from driving commercial vehicles!

If you are compliant with xPAP therapy it should not affect your CDL eligibility at all. You may be required to prove compliance periodically, however.

I have a friend that thanks to a doctor at Kaiser Permanente and more than likely his attitude he was disqualified because "his side of story only" She refused to fill out the forms for his. CA. DMV CDL Physical so I know what you mean. They are trying to make OSA a disqualifying item just like Type1 Diabetes.

It should be a disqualifying factor if it's not being treated effectively. I don't want anyone to be behind the wheel if they're too sleepy to be alert. A vehicle is a weapon, and nobody who's impaired should be operating one.

I was on Prednisone for about a month (for pneumonia) recently, and I had my neighbor drive me to a followup doctor's appointment because the drug was seriously impacting my sleep and I didn't feel I should drive. I was not just looking out for my own safety, but that of everyone else on the road.

[The Latinist]

It should be a disqualifying factor if it's not being treated effectively. I don't want anyone to be behind the wheel if they're too sleepy to be alert. A vehicle is a weapon, and nobody who's impaired should be operating one.

Looking back, I am ashamed that I drove for so long in such a dangerous state. I realize now that on more than one occasion my lack of alertness endangered myself and others, but somehow I always was able to rationalize it away. I can understand denial, although I don't sympathize with it. I'm glad the DOE is on-the-ball, and I'm glad that doctors are taking their responsibility seriously in ensuring compliance.

[SleepingZ]

When I was at the sleep clinic last week to see another doctor for a second opinion, he told me the results of my sleep study tests were worse than the one I had done for the first doctor which my GP had sent to him.
While in the waiting room, I saw brochures for Medic Alert. Since sleep apnea is the most common problem sleep clinics treat, it implied that one should have some type of medical alert ID.

[Julie]

Well... they are trying to make money after all , but if you want to put an alert on your bracelet, it's a good idea, maybe something like 'sleep apnea, apap 8-12', which should mean something to any medical person who reads it.

[Luthie2006]

Two weeks ago at the hospital where I actually work I had a very simple upper endoscopy (upper scope) for terrible acid reflux I was having that had gone on for 7 months without reduction with all the proton pump inhibitors I took. Time for Upper endoscopy, simple camera procedure,right ? Wrong. Luckily I was in a very well known safe teaching hospital. I had the best anesthesiologist (just by sheer luck, who does all the cardiac and brain surgeries at the hospital) For some reason, he was in the GI lab that morning on June 16th. They now use Propofol (sp?) in an IV to put you under so that they can look down my throat with the scope to the upper part of my stomach. I woke up about 20 minutes later feeling good but my neck felt like someone punched me or lifted me. I had told the anesthesiologist that I do have sleep apnea and laryngopasm and he was well aware of it as well as the GI doctors too. What had happened is when I went into the deep sleep, my airway closed up (seen on the monitors) and I was starting to lose oxygen. So the anesthesiologist hoisted and lifted up my neck several times to get an airway opened up. Because of his experience (I was told this later on) he was able to get my airway opened up without intubation, ventilator or as tracheotomy for me to breathe again. The GI doctors were a bit scared later on they said and glad that I just happened to have the top anesthesiologist there of the hospital. Any other one would have put me on a ventilator to get me to breath again. And I am fairly healthy, except for acid reflux and sleep apnea; no other issues.
So what I am saying in essence, is always tell your doctor even if it is just having propofol in a vein, that you have sleep apnea. They really were not sure if it was the scope down my throat that made my airway close up or the anesthesia that did it. They think it was a combination of both. So they warned me always, always tell your doctor even if you are going in for a colonoscopy, endoscopy or any kind of minor or major procedure. At least I made the anesthesiologist aware that I have sleep apnea BEFORE the procedure, so he was prepared in case my airway closed up which it did. My neck and tongue hurt for a week. In his process to get me breathing again (and this was with oxygen already in my nose before the procedure) he did something to my jaws and my tongue was severely bitten when I woke up. But better my tongue bitten than losing my airway. My tongue healed. I am so glad I told them I had sleep apnea! Please do the same for any minor procedure where you are going to be put asleep.

[Tatooed Lady]

I'm a truck driver who now uses APAP. I drive across state lines, and am required to get a DOT physical, up til now, every 2 years. My last one was the catalyst for winding up with a sleep study and APAP machine. At the time, I was issued a medical card good for 6 months instead of 2 years, which means that by August (the end of the 6 month period) I am required to be in compliance with my therapy for a MINIMUM of 2 weeks. I'm not sure how long my card will be good once I get my compliance checked, I will let you know when I find out.
But as of now, OSA is NOT a reason to yank a CDL. At least, not any OSA I've heard of. I suppose if it's out of control, that could be an issue. BUT...at the moment, the only drivers I know of getting tested are heavier ones. The skinny ones will get nailed someday soon. The government can't keep their fingers out of that potential goldmine.
I also am now thinking of adding some info to my wallet and carry case. With all the traveling I do, it certainly can't hurt. I wouldn't add pressure settings, though..those are too subject to change, if my fingers get frisky.