Question 1

What is OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)?

Accepted Answer

OSA is where your airway becomes partially or fully restricted while you are sleeping.  This is usually due to physiological conditions but can also be worsened by alcohol consumption or other factors as simple as the position in which you sleep.   Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious medical condition that affects your overall health.  If left untreated, it can lead to more serious health issues such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes and/or other quality of life reducing conditions such as sexual dysfunction.   The good news, is that when properly diagnosed, OSA is very treatable.  We can not only help you get the test you need to determine if you have OSA, but we can also help you get effective therapy/treatment for the condition by referring you to reliable providers so that you can begin to get the rest you need to live the life you want. Start Here.

Question 2

What is a Fantastic Sleep "At-Home Sleep Test (Study)""

Accepted Answer

Sleep testing has been around for decades and has traditionally taken place in Sleep Labs.  You would schedule an appointment to go to the lab at night (which people often find unsafe and/or uncomfortable and/or inconvenient), are hooked up to testing equipment which takes about 30-40 minutes, and then asked to sleep in a lab room in an unfamiliar environment.  The patient is often awakened early in the morning (between 4 AM and 6 AM) and then sent home.   The Fantastic Sleep "At-Home Sleep Test (Study)" is a portable device, delivered to your home, that you wear two nights* (minimum of 5 hours).  It records 10 key data points throughout the night, such as your sleep position, duration of sleep, heart rate, breaths, snores, apnea events, apnea types, hypopneas, oxygen saturation, and oxygen desaturation index.  From these data points we can determine if you have OSA, another condition, or if you need further testing.   99.9% of patients who take a Fantastic Sleep "A-HST" receive a definitive diagnosis as to whether or not they have OSA.  Not only that, but we can do MORE than just sleep testing in that we can help refer you to providers that can assist with solutions/therapy.  We look forward to helping all of our patients get a lifetime of Fantastic Sleep! Start Here.  *Industry standard for the most complete and accurate results, but insurance does not always cover two nights, in which case, the study would only be a one night study unless you chose cash pay for a second night.

Question 3

What is Insomnia Testing?

Accepted Answer

Insomnia testing is a newer form of testing that helps determine, by objective data points, if a person has insomnia AND to distinguish if that insomnia is merely a symptom of another illness (like OSA or stress) or if insomnia is the actual underlying diagnosis/condition.    In other words, do you have insomnia because you have insomnia, or do you have insomnia because you have something else.  If you have something else causing your insomnia then you need that underlying condition to be identified and treated.  If not, then you are still at risk of the health conditions associated with whatever that underlying condition might be.   Again, we offer an at-home insomnia test where this can be done in the comfort and privacy of your home.  You still get the same accurate objective results that can lead to a definitive diagnosis and effective treatment.   If you are on any type of medication to help you go to sleep because you were told you had insomnia, but were never tested, then we highly recommend you talk to your doctor about getting this test done and getting definitive objective testing data and results.

Question 4

What are the dangers of OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)?

Accepted Answer

The dangers of OSA mostly stem from the cumulative effects of 1) not getting proper sleep (a full night's rest of complete cycles of sleep) and/or 2) the continued oxygen deprivation your body experiences on a nightly basis.   While there is a lot about sleep that is still unknown, doctors and scientists do know that proper sleep is vital for the body's daily recovery and long-term health.   Although a doctor may prescribe a sleep test and subsequent therapy, if you test positive, to help you "feel" better, more rested and awake when you get up for the day, and less fatigue throughout the day; the true benefit of treatment is that it lowers some serious health risks such as stroke and heart disease.  OSA can be a major contributor to both of those conditions as well as a host of other conditions like obesity and sexual dysfunction.   Anyone who tests positive for OSA, no matter how severe or mild it may be, should seek treatment for the condition.

Question 5

What's the most effective treatment for OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)?

Accepted Answer

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is the gold-standard treatment for OSA.  While there are other treatment options available depending upon your severity, nothing is proven as consistently effective for all severties of OSA as CPAP therapy.   The technology in CPAP therapy has come a long way.  The devices can begin helping treat your condition from the very first use, and provide a user experience light years more comfortable than just a decade ago.   We can refer you to the best providers that match your insurance that offer only the best, latest, and greatest CPAP therapies.  We would love the opportunity to help you find a good provider that can help you get the treatment you need so that you can get the rest that you need to live the life you want. Start Here

Question 6

Do Dental Devices help resolve OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)?

Accepted Answer

MAD (Mandibular Adjustment Device) or "dental devices" can effectively alleviate mild to moderate OSA; however, they are not the most effective treatment for all severities of OSA and are not recommended for severe OSA by themselves (more effective if used in conjunction with CPAP for severe OSA).   We do recommend (and refer patients to) Dr. Drake's Sleep Solutions for any who are unable to tolerate CPAP therapy after all of our counseling and support (extremely rare).  If you would like to see if that's the best option for you then simply click here.   If you insist on a dental device then please beware of what you are purchasing.  Dental devices typically need to be adjusted for fit.  While there are cheaper ones that can be purchased off the internet and self-adjusted, patients are typically best off if they get their dental device from a dentist who will provide the necessary follow up and adjustments. Dr. Drake's Sleep Solutions is the best around the San Antonio Metro area and they provide outstanding service and results.  Every form of treatment has their own unique benefits and drawbacks. Some of the drawbacks of dental devices are cost (not typically covered by insurance), comfort (if not fit/adjusted properly it can result in jaw pain), and increased drool. For CPAP the biggest reported drawback is having to adjust to wearing the mask and also the needed resupply.   There is also a surgical option; however, it is very costly, not always covered by insurance, and does not have a proven lasting track record of effectiveness like CPAP therapy.   (If you are presently using a dental device for OSA and would like to do an at-home sleep test to determine if the dental device is effectively treating your OSA then contact us and ask us how you can get that test done for FREE!)

Question 7

What makes Fantastic Sleep different from other sleep companies?

Accepted Answer

Our Service is what truly sets us apart.  Many doctors offices have switched over to us because we provide the absolute best service to the Practitioner AND Patient. 1) We typically contact patients for scheduling within 24 hours of receiving an order from a physician (as opposed to you having to wait a week or two). 2) Our staff is friendly, professional, courteous and helpful. 3) We offer free pick up at the office for the home sleep test unit as well as providing concierge service (delivered to your home) for a nominal convenience/delivery fee. 4) Your test is scored (reviewed for accuracy) by a Registered Polysomnographer, not scored by computer only. 5) Your test is reviewed by a Board Certified Sleep Physician who will provide recommendations of treatment for your doctor. 6) Our turnaround time is amongst the fastest in the industry (most patients have their results within a week from turning in the testing device). 7) We don't just drop you after the test is done - we will help to find you a treatment provider in network with your insurance that can help you get the therapy you need (many people with other companies would traditionally "fall through the cracks" at this point but we work to make sure that doesn't happen). As you can see, there are many reasons that physicians consistently choose Fantastic Sleep over other companies and why our patients routinely refer us to family, friends, and coworkers.

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