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Homesick

Homesick

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I have a close friend who has Parkinsons disease and is having a problem getting it under control. His doctor has put him on a cpap machine and medication but it does not seem to be working. His doctor is saying his disease is getting worse because his road job schedule doesn't allow him to sleep constantly the same hours (normal road board schedule) and he should quit his job. His doctor says he needs a 9 to 5 job or 6 to 3 or some scheduled job like that. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
 
Homesick said:
I have a close friend who has Parkinsons disease and is having a problem getting it under control. His doctor has put him on a cpap machine and medication but it does not seem to be working. His doctor is saying his disease is getting worse because his road job schedule doesn't allow him to sleep constantly the same hours (normal road board schedule) and he should quit his job. His doctor says he needs a 9 to 5 job or 6 to 3 or some scheduled job like that. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
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I’m actually surprised he’s not disqualified from driving. Parkinsons is no joke.
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Homesick said:
I have a close friend who has Parkinsons disease and is having a problem getting it under control. His doctor has put him on a cpap machine and medication but it does not seem to be working. His doctor is saying his disease is getting worse because his road job schedule doesn't allow him to sleep constantly the same hours (normal road board schedule) and he should quit his job. His doctor says he needs a 9 to 5 job or 6 to 3 or some scheduled job like that. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
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Can you pass a DOT physical with a Parkinsons diagnosis?
 
I know one person. A city driver who has it.
He's not still when your talking to him.
But he is completely still in the tractor driving.
Not completely. I mean he has it under control because he can focus.
But. We know it will get bad enough where he will have to stop. Lose control.
Or he won't pass the next dot. Either way. It's bad when you put in over 30 and end up like this. He's a good man. I've known him from the day I got hired. He wouldn't stay in a tractor if he knew he couldn't control it. He would stop.
That's all I know about it. He has had it long enough to have gone through one dot physical.
 
mysticobra said:
I know one person. A city driver who has it.
He's not still when your talking to him.
But he is completely still in the tractor driving.
Not completely. I mean he has it under control because he can focus.
But. We know it will get bad enough where he will have to stop. Lose control.
Or he won't pass the next dot. Either way. It's bad when you put in over 30 and end up like this. He's a good man. I've known him from the day I got hired. He wouldn't stay in a tractor if he knew he couldn't control it. He would stop.
That's all I know about it. He has had it long enough to have gone through one dot physical.
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Michael J. Fox has had it for years and with proper medications your life can be extended for years. Hopefully he can get on the proper medications and continue to drive for years to come. He may need to follow his doctors instructions however.
 
runawaytrain said:
Michael J. Fox has had it for years and with proper medications your life can be extended for years. Hopefully he can get on the proper medications and continue to drive for years to come. He may need to follow his doctors instructions however.
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I hope so.
He's smart.. Funny. Good person.
He has damn good insurance. So I'm sure he is on the best meds we (he) can get.
 
Homesick said:
I have a close friend who has Parkinsons disease and is having a problem getting it under control. His doctor has put him on a cpap machine and medication but it does not seem to be working. His doctor is saying his disease is getting worse because his road job schedule doesn't allow him to sleep constantly the same hours (normal road board schedule) and he should quit his job. His doctor says he needs a 9 to 5 job or 6 to 3 or some scheduled job like that. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
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I am just a steering wheel holder like most here, during my night run I listen alot of podcast about the Ketogenic diet ( and other things) here is a link to the Charlie Foundation : https://charliefoundation.org/keto-for-parkinsons/
Another study : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/mds.27390
John Hopkins Medical Center is at the forefront in using a Ketogenic Diet to treat epilepsy and other afflictions in the brain. Here is hoping that your friend finds manageable health.
 
toilet paper said:
He may qualify for a modified schedule under the American with Disabilities Act. Federal,state,and local laws supersede the contract.
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I would think he would be eligible for some kind of Social Security Disability if the illness eventually keeps him from driving.
Good luck to him..in my thoughts and prayers..
 
Having Parkinson's disease doesn't automatically disqualify you from passing a DOT physical. I know of 2 drivers at ABF who have the disease and still pass their physical. The diet idea is something new and not discussed. I wish the study had a long timeline and more participants. Thanks Pearlyjoe.
 
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I was schooled regarding sllep/health. Agree with original post.. It affects your health massive.. without going into detai, i went from pretty much running days to nights now.. all blood work worse. No weight gain, etc but numbers worse.
 
All these companies put out letters about getting a good nite sleep and staying healthy they will never admit that working employees all nite and most of the morning is destructive
 
ED FORCE ONE said:
All these companies put out letters about getting a good nite sleep and staying healthy they will never admit that working employees all nite and most of the morning is destructive
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ABF puts out notices that 'it is the employees responsible to be rested' but they never say how to be rested or that the best rest is sleeping at night (you are absolutely correct). I can't speak for others but I sleep better, and longer, when I sleep at night. And that is what my friend with Parkinson's is having to do. He is taking some time off to try and get a handle on his health condition. We are hoping some time off with regular sleep will help him control the Parkinson's symptoms.
 
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I ran UE for 12 plus yrs before retiring. Now I've always believed the off hours between tours was never enough. That said when they went from 8 to 10 that was a move in the right direction. But after running nights for so long and now know what the lack of quality sleep does to a person, I would have no problem voting for a change to a two tier rest system. ten for those working daylight hours and 12 for those working overnight hours. Just MHO
 
wheelman1857 said:
I ran UE for 12 plus yrs before retiring. Now I've always believed the off hours between tours was never enough. That said when they went from 8 to 10 that was a move in the right direction. But after running nights for so long and now know what the lack of quality sleep does to a person, I would have no problem voting for a change to a two tier rest system. ten for those working daylight hours and 12 for those working overnight hours. Just MHO
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My son-in-law has been driving for Schneider for about 9 years and refuses to take an LTL job because he doesn't want to drive at night. He was offered a job at OD a couple of years ago and turned it down because they drive at night. He won't even consider ABF because he has seen me drive at night since he married my daughter (over 11 years). He doesn't think much of ABF work schedules.
 
Homesick said:
I have a close friend who has Parkinsons disease and is having a problem getting it under control. His doctor has put him on a cpap machine and medication but it does not seem to be working. His doctor is saying his disease is getting worse because his road job schedule doesn't allow him to sleep constantly the same hours (normal road board schedule) and he should quit his job. His doctor says he needs a 9 to 5 job or 6 to 3 or some scheduled job like that. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
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Having witnessed the degeneration of multiple family members over multiple generations, I recommend living in the most healthy manner possible. If driving is not a part of that practice then, so be it. Getting proper rest, maintaining a proper diet, involving oneself in the most progressive therapies, pharmaceutical and physical therapy, far outweigh the perceived need to continue a career in driving.

Good luck to your friend and may he focus on the big picture.
 
Our current work rules/contract is about 30 years outdated. The road driver call on 8, run on 10 hour rule is nuts. It was designed for drivers, bunkhouse situations.. I know terminals are different but bids running on 6 hour windows is nuts too. Be rested to run at start of window, yet not called for 6 hours later plus your work, etc.. Looking at 18 hours no rest. But as with most things, this company lacks in this department.. But im going to imagine they are compaing our numbers to other LTl, yet dont want to operate as such.
 
iam4us said:
Our current work rules/contract is about 30 years outdated. The road driver call on 8, run on 10 hour rule is nuts. It was designed for drivers, bunkhouse situations.. I know terminals are different but bids running on 6 hour windows is nuts too. Be rested to run at start of window, yet not called for 6 hours later plus your work, etc.. Looking at 18 hours no rest. But as with most things, this company lacks in this department.. But im going to imagine they are compaing our numbers to other LTl, yet dont want to operate as such.
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Ya how many 9am office workers wake up at 3am
 
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