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Sleep Apnea then Discharge

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What can I do:
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Bonds 25:
Falling asleep or drifting off has always been a big deal in the Nuclear Power Industry whether its medical related or not. Example...

NRC - "Why were you inattentive while guarding the LHRA boundary into containment?"

You - "I have sleep apnea and it sometimes makes me very tired"

NRC - "LHRA violation"

If you do get "welcomed" back into the Nuclear Power Industry, may I suggest getting a prescription for Provigil. Not only was it designed for people with sleep apnea, it can also be prescribed to individuals who work shift (which I assume you will being doing as an EO). I've been taking it for 11 years while working shift.

What can I do:
I know people at the plant that I was going to with Sleep Apnea(2 of them are SROs and one is an RO). The whole problem I had with the way it was handled, is that I didn't return to work after starting treatment. I have a Bi-PAP machine and provigil. They can't say with certainty that I'm more than capable of doing the training. My case is very odd. I only ever have that issue in a classroom type setting. The entire two years at my automotive job (both computer work and hands on) I had no issues. However when I was in college I experienced it a lot. I just didn't have familiarity with sleep apnea. I just thought I was naturally tired and studied a lot more to compensate for anything I missed during class.

TVA:
1: You obviously cannot do the job. You should be terminated

2: Not an NRC concern.

3: I think you are shading the truth

Marlin:
I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea almost 20 years ago. I was a site manager at the time and Mondays doing payroll was a struggle not because I felt tired but because it was a struggle to stay awake it was like something was trying to turn me off like a switch. My wife heard about sleep apnea from someone and talked me into doing the sleep tests. Glad she did, after a month of using it I finally felt tired not the tension to stay awake not sure how to explain it any other way. I started to dream again something I had not realized I had not done for a while. This can be a very serious condition don't take it lightly. My blood oxygen fell to %75 percent at one point during the test normal is %95 and you are put on O2 if you fall below %85 at many hospitals. Many deaths that had been diagnosed as heart failure were in fact due to complications from sleet apnea.

On the employment side you must be able to perform the required job especially when public safety is part of your responsibility, there is no set aside for handicaps. It is the licensee'responsibility to ensure compliance with regulations it is yours to demonstrate compliance with the companies expectations. If you are using your CPAP religiously there is no reason you cannot do that provided that is the only reason you cannot stay alert at work.

Good luck and take care of yourself.

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