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Q&A
What if I’ve have a Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
What if I’ve have coronary artery bypass surgery?
What if I’ve have angioplasty surgery or stents?
What if I’ve have ventricular tachycardia?
Can I get a DOT medical card if I have a defibrillator?
What if I take nitroglycerine for angina?
My medical certificate only expires in nine months. What if I recently developed a medical condition that I couldn’t drive. Can I drive truck again now?
Even if you currently have a ‘current’ medical certificate, you are prohibited from driving a CMV with any medical condition that would be disqualifying or may interfere with the safe operation of a CMV. Once a disqualifying medical condition is resolved, and before resuming operation of CMVs, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have a Myocardial Infarction (MI)?
You will need to be off work for at least two months. You will need to get an Ejection Fraction and Exercise Tolerance Test, and be cleared by your cardiologist before returning to work. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have coronary artery bypass surgery?
You will need to be off work for at least three months. You will need to get an Ejection Fraction and Exercise Tolerance Test, and be cleared by your cardiologist before returning to work. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have angioplasty surgery or stents?
You may return to work once you’ve been cleared by your cardiologist, which may be as soon as one week after the procedure. You will need to get an Exercise Tolerance Test three to six months after the procedure, and again at least every other year. This is a disqualifying medical condition, so once it is resolved, and before resuming operation of a CMV, you are responsible for obtaining re-certification from a Medical Examiner.
What if I’ve have ventricular tachycardia?
If you have recurring episodes you should be evaluated by a cardiologist to see if the underlying cause of the ventricular tachycardia is disqualifying.
Can I get a DOT medical card if I have a defibrillator?
The defibrillator is a disqualifier for inter-state driving. The defibrillator is designed to correct problems when they occur, but it still leaves a safety risk.
You may be able to drive inter-state, based on your state’s regulations.
What if I take nitroglycerine for angina?
Taking nitroglycerine is, of itself, not a disqualifier. The medical examiner may require an evaluation by your treating physician to make sure that your angina is stable.
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I have a defefibrillator but the heart doctors have given me clearance to drive a commercial vehicle in writing is there anyway I can get a dot physical card.
What if my medical certification expires three weeks after my myocardial infarction? How long a grace period to get a new medical certificate?
My husband has never had to do a DOT physical before. He’s 56 and was diagnosed with “sleep apnea” about 1.5 yrs ago. We immediately got him into a cardiologist as well as n ENT Dr. His last visit with his ENT was 2 wks ago this visit was for my husband to have surgery for the new inspire implant which specifically is for sleep apnea. What this device does is shocks a nerve in the neck that is responsible for keeping the tongue from falling back down the throat which in turn causes the patient to snore. This is where the inspire comes in. This device senses the tongue falling back into the throat and will send a little shock to this nerve forcing the tongue back up which in turn opens the patients airway back up. My point is, is that, sleep apnea is not heart related is has nothing to do with the heart. It is the way an individual sleeps ex: with their mouth open lying supine or on their back when you are sleeping all the muscles around the mouth relax and causes the mouth to open and tongue to fall back. Just like when someone passes away eyes open, mouths open, and tongue will fall back down the throat.
Again, this is why those with SA make gurgling sounds. With that said, the ME didn’t pass my husband because he wants proof it’s under control
He saw his cardio Dr today and gave him a clean bill of heart health. No HBP no hyper or hypo tension. His Dr also gave him a letter for the ME. With the given info above this should be enough evidence for the DOT ME to pass him. Correct??
Had a stent placed in heart 14 yrs ago. Recently moved to Florida. Medical expires before I can be seen by cardiologists here due to being a new patient. What path can I take here