Question
Does anyone on here know any driver who has had a stroke and driving within a year?
or even just any CMV driver who is driving and has had a stroke?
I'm asking because my husband has had a stroke and is now well. We've hit a brick wall getting him back on the road.
Any info or help is appreciated.
Answer
Glad to hear that Hubby is doing better, but you are vague on the road block.
Has he contacted his previous employer and what was their response?
Has he tried to obtain a DOT Medical Card?
You stated Hubby had a stroke a year ago, is he still on any Anti-Seizure medication?
391.41 Physical Qualifications
(b)( Has no established medical history or clinical dianosis of epilespy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.
If your Hubby is not on ANY anti-seizure, or any meds now, try talking to the Doctor about a medical waiver.
Good luck and keep us inform.
Answer
Okay, I'll be more clear. : )
First of all
His stroke was almost 2 months ago. He's an owner operator and leased to a company.......hasn't lost his contract, it's not something that's going to happen due to this.
Our problem is and this is going to sound really funny but it's true. He is at low risk for having another stroke, and he's fine. He has a small deficit being a field of vision 'loss' (it hasn't all come back yet, just most of it). And that's high in the upper left quadrant of his sight. His field of vision passes the physical.
He's been released by all drs. and they know he's a truck driver and they have taken that into consideration. They wanted to be real careful before they released him due to that fact.
He's on coumadin...also NOT disqualifying. The nuerologist in Boston, where we were at the time of the stroke got him started on the blood thinners and recommended in his records that he stay on it for 3 months and then go on asprin but that they'd also consider keeping him on it, due to his line of work.
He worked really hard at physical therapy, made sure we made and went to all drs. appointments to get on the road to recovery.......knowing that with stroke that time is of the essence.
His blood pressure is always in the range of 112/60 to 120/70 and his arteries have 0 yes that's 0 plaque
His stroke however was a blood clot, but he has no others and they were unable to find where that one came from .
So after the dr. released him, us mistakingly thinking that he had to go to one of those places where they do random drug tests to get his medical certificate signed. He answers all questions honestly, as we should and will continue to do so.
The 'dr.' does the physical then has a question about the stroke, and concludes that because there was a study done for DOT examiners 16 years ago that a stroke patient should (and that is the word that is used......if it matters...) not drive for one year!
We were needless to say SHOCKED!!! Knowing that there are drivers on the road that have had heart attacks and were not required to stay off the road for a year, but as little as 2months.
This dr. did not even talk to hubby's dr. or look at his records.
Now, speaking to OOIDA, any dr. can do the physical as long as they read and understand what the job consists of. It's all on the physcial form that we gave ours.
We're meeting with his dr. on Friday
But really, we're not sure what she'll do.
So I know that there are drivers out there who have had a stroke and got back on the road before that year was up. We just need to find them.
In the meantime. The maybe good news is that we think we have a good prospect for a driver for our truck.
Our last resort will be though to file a "Resolution of Conflict". We'll do this last because whatever their answer is then, will be the final answer.
Thanks if any of you can help.
Answer
Driverswife;
You are going about it right! You need to have his personal doctor do his DOT physical. If that doctor passes him, then it may be for only a short period of time like 3mts or 6mts. At this point he will need to go back and have a new DOT physical.
The doctor may require him to have a yearly physical after that. Now having said all of this. Once the doctor has perfomed the physical, the state that you live in has a medical reveiw board. They must review his physical and medical records and make a determination on his medical status.
The Review Board may just consult with your doctor and have thier concerns anwsered. Each medical case before them is handled on a case by case basis. They could apporve your husbands Medical, or deny it. You can not rely on the fact that other drivers have been allowed to operate a CMV after a stroke. Each medical case is unique and different.
Good Luck! And let your doctor know that the Medical Reveiw Board will be in contact with him, to confer on your husbands medical condition and probably want a complete copy of your husbands medical records for review.
Catch you on the flip!
Answer
Hmmm
I've heard this now like three times, but it's funny that the safety director at the company never has mentioned it???
I guess I thought that the certificate gets signed and we're good to go.
Where does it say that the medical review board will do this, and is that for every time that anything in that box is marked?
I guess this is a good thing to be inexperienced in.
Thanks for the answer scalehouse.
Oh, hubby talked to his nuerologist's nurse practitioner this afternoon and she said to him, "Find out what documentation you need. You are NOT going to have another stroke."
So maybe one step in that direction.
But we also have a very possible driver for the truck and may end up having to make a decision ourselves to stay off the road for a few more months. It's kind of tempting really.