Is it illegal to drive when you have sleep apnea?

I just had a sleep study done last night. When the nurse wolk me up this morning at 6:00 A.M. she said that she did not see any sleep apnea when I was asleep until 2:00 A.M. She said from two until six in the morning they let the computer analyz the rest of my sleep. So I left the hospital not worried. This afternoon I called my doctor to schedule a follow up for monday. She said I am glad you called because I got the first two pages of you test results back and it says it is illegal for you to drive without treatment for sleep apnea. My question is has anybody ever heard that it is illegal to drive with sleep apnea? Also dose anyone know what the treatment is for sleep apnea? please help

Whether or not it is illegal to drive if you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea is different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction -- call you local Department of Motor Vehicles to find out. You'll also need to find out when the restrictions can be lifted, because sleep apnea is treatable. Usually, in jurisdictions in which untreated sleep apnea can cause you to lose your license, a doctor's diagnosis showing successful treatment of your sleep apnea should restore normal driving privileges. Again, check with your local DMV.

There are several treatments for sleep apnea, depending on how badly it is affecting you, and several other factors. If it is mild, you can try home remedies: don't sleep on your back; try sleeping on your side, lose weight, cut back on the use of sleeping pills, etc.

For more severe cases (which it sounds like you have), there are several options. You can use a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. A CPAP is a machine which requires you to wear a mask over your nose and mouth while you sleep (akin to a fighter pilot's mask). The CPAP then delivers a constant air pressure to your nose, helping to keep your airway open. There are also several surgeries available to treat sleep apnea:

* Somnoplasty: A minimally invasive procedure to reduce the soft tissue in the upper airway.
* Nasal surgery: Correction of nasal obstructions such as a deviated septum.
* Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): A procedure that removes soft tissue on the back of the throat and palate, increasing the width of the airway at the throat opening.
* Mandibular maxillar advancement surgery: Invasive surgery to correct certain facial abnormalities or throat obstructions that contribute to sleep apnea.

Which treatment is right for you is a decision to be made between you and your doctor.

Good luck!