🚀 go-pugleaf

(For the uninformed, most people on this newsgroup know what sleep apnea
is).

For the really informed this is a good law.

"Doug the Desert Tripper" <destrip@see-below.no-SPAM.net> wrote in message
news:29dg9tc3fr2sgeur42d8iin1vmh1vco94q@4ax.com...
> Sorry if I rant and crosspost, but I am really ticked.
>
> I have a heads-up for those considering seeing a doctor for
> obstructive sleep apnea in California (not sure about other states). I
> found out too late, so thought I would post a little heads-up.
>
> (For the uninformed: Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder
> characterized by excessive snoring and pauses in breathing during
> sleep, caused by soft tissues in the throat obstructing the airway.
> Usually treated by a CPAP [continuous positive airway pressure]
> machine, resembling one of those low-velocity hair dryers that
> attaches to a plastic cap on the head, except that it is instead
> attached to a mask on your nose!)
>
> Last December I underwent a sleep study which revealed that I had
> severe obstructive sleep apnea. I have been somewhat tired most of my
> life, so I wanted to know what is going on. The dr. prescribed me a
> CPAP machine set to 9 cm H2O.
>
> At the followup visit, the doctor informed me that a diagnosis of
> sleep apnea IS NOW REPORTABLE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES!! At
> the time I didn't think much of it, until I got a letter from the
> Department of Motor Vehicles "Driver Safety Division" (a bureaucratic
> wing which I didn't even know existed). The letter said if I
> didn't go back to the doctor and get a bunch of paperwork filled out
> by him within 15 days I would LOSE MY DRIVING PRIVILEGE.
>
> I did this pointless task and got the paperwork in on time. Case
> closed, right? WRONG! A few days ago I got another one of those
> menacing letters and had to call for an appointment which was made in
> the normal rude DMV-clerk way. Now I have to talk to some hearing
> official on March 9 (by phone). Who knows what will come of that! And
> when I get things resolved, who knows how often in the future I will
> be hounded by these weasels about this! And if, heaven forbid, I get
> in an accident, will my chances of being found at fault increase
> dramatically now that I have a black mark of sorts in my formerly
> impeccable DMV record?
>
> I have never had lapses of consciousness due to this, or anything that
> would affect my driving (unless I'm REALLY tired from driving all
> night or something like that) so this is a bunch of overkill BS as far
> as I am concerned.
>
> So... if you live in California, and think you might have sleep apnea,
> and want to avoid getting snared in a possibly lifelong bureaucratic
> mess, I suggest you think twice about getting diagnosed!!
>
> I am writing to my reps, Senator Brulte and Assemblyman Leonard, to
> tell them how I feel about this law. I realize it's designed to
> increase public safety, but, as usual, the gov. goes too far, and if
> too many people avoid getting diagnosed for fear of bureaucratic
> repercussions, those people's health could be affected in the long
> run.
>
> For those interested, here is the text of this strange new law (makes
> me feel great, being lumped into a category with Alzheimer's Disease
> patients):
>
> http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/Alzheimers/html/locregulations2000.htm
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Doug the Desert Tripper - Exploring Southern Cal deserts and the Net since
'94
>                        www.geocities.com/destrip
>     *Replace 'see-below.no-SPAM.net' with 'netzero.net' to email me.*
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> .