sleep test

shane,

Sounds like a test for sleep apnoea to me.
Just a test to identify whether the inclusion of an oxygen mixture will improve his sleeping pattern and perhaps stop snoring if he is a chronic snorer.

Nothing to do with license loss AFAIK.

Depends on the doctor and what they find, but I seriously doubt it will effect the license at all, unless he has severe narcolepsey.
It would kill their business if it was a known fact that their findings would lead to a license cancellation, people wouldn't go for testing.
No testing= no medicare payment and no selling of expensive CPAP machines and masks.
Your mate will notice a huge difference to himself after he starts CPAP if that's what he needs. It will take him a few weeks to get used to it, but once he does the difference is amazing, you really do forget what a good nights sleep feels like, and how bloody tired you were all the time.
CPAP also seems to diminish the effects of a hangover a bit, I may have to do a bit more in depth research into that one for a definitve answer on that, but early self inflicted studies are encouraging.....

If he gets a CPAP and likes camping - he can get an inverter and run the CPAP all night no problems- I've been doing it for over 5 years.

Funniest thing is with sleep tests when I had mine, they put you in a strange bed, strange surrounds, put about 30 wires and sensors on you so you cant roll over, and expect you to have a good night sleep...

I had the opposite problem when I had my sleep test - I had the best nights sleep I'd had in weeks!! Seriously!!

It cost me about a grand all up in fees and doctors bills and all they told me about the problem was - what it wasn't. They didn't have a clue what it WAS! They didn't have a clue why I couldn't sleep for longer than 3 hours at a stretch and was knackered all day long.

I didn't have sleep apnoea, I didn't have "Restless Leg Syndrome", I wasn't suffering lack of REM Sleep,,,,,,,

I suggested it was perhaps working 17 hour days, 7 days a week with the phone ringing at all hours of the day and night, sleeeping on planes, helicopters, ships' decks and airport lounges. They said, "Nah that's not it, can't be,,,,,,,,,but can you come in and see the doctor again?"

What and do another grand!!

I retired, stopped smoking 60 a day and I now sleep like a baby,,,,,,,,,,,10 hours a night with a "grandad nap" after lunch

I shoulda been a doctor eh!

How did ya go with that intercooler Truckster?

Bilbo - "The sleepy hobbit"

Absolutely no need to worry Shane - they're not out to get you!! Having a good nights sleep is not a requirement for holding a licence, so failure to sleep well won't result in licence cancellation. If he needs a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine it cures sleep apnoea and snoring. It is simply an air pump (not an oxygen supply) which applies air pressure to the airways and stops them collapsing. The collapse of airways blocks them and causes snoring snorting and stoppages in breathing. Sort of like an internal splint for airways!

The test I had identified chronic sleep apnoea and a CPAP machine was recommended and trialled. If you think getting a good sleep was hard during the sleep test try sleepng with one of those machines str apped on your face not to mention the noise they make. I put mine outside the bedroom window inside a cardboard box just to get some peace. In the end I decided to save the $1200.00 and lost weight instead. Problem solved.

wake up- do your'' 5bx '' and get on with your day ,i worked in a shop 12 hrs a day on my feet and thought was reasonably fit doing that ,no way, youve got to get that heart rate up with a bit of real exercise everyday

Sleep Apnoea really amuses me. Everyone buys a CPAP machine to fix it. Like Blown4b did, a bit of weight loss is what most people need.

Hi Shane
I had the test done about 18mths ago and have chronic apnoea
The specialist told me that as of May last year they have to report it to Qld Transport and a notation is made on your licence so if you have an accident they could say you were at fault as you were too tired to drive, don't know if they ever made it law though.
Tried my CPAP machine for about a month then threw it in the cupboard as I found it too invasive.
Going to a seminar tomorrow night to hear about BUTEYKO METHOD where they claim they can cure sleep apnoea by retraining how you breathe, not cheap at $595 for 4 day course but the CPAP wasn't cheap either.
Check out these sites
www.buteykoairways.com or www.sleepingallnight.com
Cheers Ray

I had asleep test done last year and the results were MILD sleep apnea. However my doctor wanted to cancel my license on the spot. I told him a few facts of life and now have a letter saying that I am not to drive when sleepy - OK, I never did anyway. He did not even recommend any Cpap machine or nothing else to treat me as my condition is mild - just no license. Then there is my boat license, he never mentioned that but I guess that would have gone too - and I have half the cost of a house tied up in a boat

If he cancelled it, I would move countries as I have a NZ license, you cannot live where I live in OZ with no license.

It all depends on your doctor as to what happens.

I have now dumped that doctor as I was not too happy with him anyway with other matters and am now determined to avoid such clinics like the plague.

Stevesub

Shane, there is a lot of comment above that is useful but if diagnosed as an apnoea patient your doctor is supposed to notify the licensing authority, more particularly if severe.

Some people find CPAP systems difficult to adjust to but others find it easy. It depends on your attitude to a great extent. I had called another EO member before the diagnosis was complete and said that we all use turbos or superchargers in some form.

The alertness of each individual is dependent on the amount of rest and recovery they get each night. CPAPs are all different in their capability. Some log the hours of use, the pressures, dates and all the other compliance which is useful.

Once any diagnosis of apnoea, any accident you may have could be investigated to see the driver should be seen as responsible. The compliance report provided by your machine can be your guarantee or at least that your apnoea, wasn't responsible for such an issue.

According to some papers I have seen, some severe patients should be barred from driving heavy vehicles until the diagnosis is complete and treatment commenced. Treatment responses can be immediate but compliance is important to record. A high rate of accidents around Australia (and other places) are from drivers falling asleep. That is aside from alcohol and drugs of course :-((

It is important to note, not driving is better than causing a loss of life of your mate or him causing one.