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Truckers Corner Revisited

For those lucky souls that don't know me, I am a trucker. I drive an 18 wheeler in the New York metro area, as well as all of New Jersey, the Philadelphia area and if I am lucky, the Baltimore area [more $$$ there]. I encourage other truckers/ 4 wheelers to discuss the ins/outs, ups/downs, good and bad of CPAP life. We should try to help and encourage one another, for surely NO ONE ELSE WILL. I do feel somewhat accepted when I discuss sleep issues here. I am kinda surprised no other truckers have popped up to 'carry the torch' so to speak, as most truckers are sleep deprived at one time or another, and I am starting to think there are MANY undiagnosed apniacs behind the wheels of tractor/trailers. I didn't know that I had sleep apnea, and was forced [if I wanted to keep truckin] to get a sleep study. Now that I have been on the CPAP for a while [3 months] I have felt a continuous improvement in my well being. I still don't get enough sleep, but i feel the sleep I am getting is more restful and productive [if that is the right word?] and I've had DREAMS, vivid ones. So... what have your experiences been like behind the mask? We are coming up on Thanksgiving, and this reminds me... Turkeys and tryptophan! I know I'll get at least one good nights sleep!

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Permalink Reply by Judy on November 15, 2009 at 12:34pm

Giggle. Good on you, Dave Foster! There is TruckerDad at apneasupport.com and I believe he has gathered a few more truckers there and might even has a special spot for truckers. Not that I want to IN ANY WAY discourage you from posting here and moving over there!!!! Far from it! Maybe you can encourage some from apneasupport and cpaptalk to join us here too.

You must have nerves of steel to drive that big rig in those area!!! About the only worse place I know to drive is Boston! And that is in a little ole 4 wheeler station wagon, NOT some big rig. Salud, big guy.

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on November 15, 2009 at 7:59pm

Hubby is on his way back from the east. He should be home tomorrow.

He probably needs a sleep test, but he is close to retirement and has balked. Please no lectures since he is a grown man and I have talked until I am blue in the face.

I think more truckers will join you Dave, but in my opinion it is under diagnosed and many are afraid to have that stigma on their record since they drive, especially those that are getting older and don't want to jeopardize their retirements (I know all the agruments so again no lectures.)

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Permalink Reply by 99 on November 15, 2009 at 8:08pm

its all the question about timing get the timing right and you are laughing
how long does it take to set up a test
how long for his retirement

sleepycarol said:

Hubby is on his way back from the east. He should be home tomorrow.

He probably needs a sleep test, but he is close to retirement and has balked. Please no lectures since he is a grown man and I have talked until I am blue in the face.

I think more truckers will join you Dave, but in my opinion it is under diagnosed and many are afraid to have that stigma on their record since they drive, especially those that are getting older and don't want to jeopardize their retirements (I know all the agruments so again no lectures.)

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Permalink Reply by dave foster on November 16, 2009 at 9:55pm

Judy, Thanks for the complement, but im justa guy doing a job. if im not mistaken there are like 3 MILLION truckers in the US. I am not sure how much longer i can handle the stress; i am a little envious of the 9=5 crowd, cause they can go home and have a life. Im still driving till 10-11-?? pm. i have no doubt this contributes to my sleep problems, as i am still 'key'd up' or wired, or whatever you want to call it when i get home. sometimes i just CANT sleep for 2 or 3 hours. perhaps i should find some kind of stress relief. Anyone else got these issues?

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Permalink Reply by dave foster on November 16, 2009 at 10:16pm

Sleepy Carol, hey thanks for the comeback. I am the LAST person to preach or lecture about sleep apnea ! I do hope your hubby changes his mind, if for no other reason that the machine can make you feel better. More and more trucking companies and thier health care providers are making it MANDATORY. You want a CDL and a trucking job, and you gotta comply. I also heard a startling statistic- about 30% of deaths occuring during sleep are either directly or indirectly related to OSA. i don't know how they came up w such a number, but even if it was only 5% or 1%... well you know the rest. In a way, we the CPAP-ers are luckier, cause we KNOW we have OSA, and we are taking care of it as best we can. Hope you and your hubby have some quality time.

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Permalink Reply by dave foster on November 16, 2009 at 10:24pm

Thx for the responce agent 99. I agree w your point, but you know what they say, 'you can lead a horse to water, but that doent mean he's going to surf' or words to that affect.