REM sleep caused sleep apnea, common?

I don't have positional apnea where my airway closes when I relax. I have R.E.M. sleep apnea - I (unknowingly of course) hold my breath when I start to dream causing my oxygen level in my blood to drop into the low 60's. I would never enter into a dream sleep because I kept becoming hypoxic and would wake up gasping before I ever could dream. The doctors said it severe and extreme as well as rare and usually caused from brain trauma, medication or loss of oxygen, hmmmm. I am now on a CPAP at 13 pressure with 2.5 lpm supplemental oxygen. If I don't use my CPAP I wake up gasping or I dream I can't breath, at least I can dream now ... My question is, does anyone else have this type of sleep apnea? Has anyone had this type go away with weight loss? Is there any evidence it might go away or get better? Thank you for your time, the doctors can't really answer my questions. They are more familiar with the positional type ( relaxation apnea ) and not enough is know about REM apnea.

I think your in the Phoenix area, I would suggest you see a Pulmonary doctor as soon as you can. THe group I have been going to know all about sleep apnea and REM. Doctor Moeheka and Doctor Conomos are the doctors in Scottsdale I was referred to. Their #'s are 480-614-2000, get a professional's opinion. CaroleM

Your story is the closest thing to what I'v been going through. Did your heart start racing? Did your body pump you up with adrenaline? For several years, my doctor told me I was having "nocturnal panic attacks".  He put me on Paxil and I gained 30lbs!! It never helped. He said "it could take up to 6 months, sometimes a full year before it works. I knew it was something else.  I also thought my doctor thought I was Looney Toones because I became a frequent flier in his office.  I finally suggested sleep apnea. He sent me for the tests and I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (average of 11 episodes per hour). It's the worst during my REM Sleep. He never discussed my results, he just ordered the cpap for me. I've been on the cpap for a few months and I haven't any any issues. I'm guessing it was causing my oxygen saturation level to get low enough to cause the wild heart palpitations. My doctor thanked me for pushing the envelope. He said he never would have thought of sleep apnea. I had been afraid to sleep because I would fear another attack. I've been told this is still not severe enough to be considered a co-morbidity. (Aetna POS).