Central apnea, does commonly happen when asleep...or just falling to sleep. I don't think what you have going is anxiety at all. If you have other autonomic dysfunction, then you may have some central apnea as well. The pulmonologist can do a sleep study to see if you stop breathing at all...this would confirm it.

It's your other symptoms that didn't sound like apnea...but clearly there is some sort of abnormality. I feel confident the pulmonologist will be able to tell you exactly what is going on and offer ways to help relieve your symptoms.

What do you think about the daytime "forgetting" to breathe is about? Is that apnea during the day?

I have never heard of it happening in daytime.

The difficulties of breathing that typically occur with autonomic dysfunction are usually secondary to heart and/or BP related problems. Like shortness of breath in exercise because the BP drops and heart rate increases...which in turn cause shortness of breath.

Your pulmonologist should be able to determine if your breathing is autonomic related to other cardiac problems...or a problem of it's own.

Do you notice any other symptoms when you are short of breath...like your heart racing or lightheaded?? Have you taken your BP and heart rate when you are experiencing symptoms??