You just never really know!

Ya, you just never know! I found myself in the hospital, Saturday, with no idea how I got there! Except for some core knowledge, I had a complete wipe/reset of short term and long term memory! 100% of long term is expected to return, am 99% there! Saturday, as recovering, was a bit rough! Complete logic working, you know something is desperately wrong! My first recollection was being aware I was undergoing an mri or cat scan! They did both, so I was told! At the time, the obvious feelings were ‘stroke’! I didn’t know which child was who, had no idea I had a parrot! I have no memory of this void! The best way to describe the day was like watching a movie where they start using a strobe light. I was there, completely alert, never blacked out, but I have little memory of it!
The good news, no stroke! They believe I had a transient global amnesia (TGA) episode!- fancy term, = we are guessing! A few possible causes, dehydration, stress, migraine! I do know my stress level has been extremely high for several months, didn’t realize we came with a reset button! I was told the temp hit 90 that day, I was moving lumber, and my family said I looked like I was close to heatstroke! A migraine, no pain, is the most likely culprit! It is basically a misfiring of the brain’s electrical pathways that wipes memory. Fortunately, there is backup for long term! I have had several ocular migraines over the years, so as said, strong possibility! Also, good news, rarely reoccurs!
Since there is nothing but time for healing, I was released the next day. I work out of the house now, so I didn’t take any time off.
As said, you never know what a day will bring!
Edit: to add Scott’s link-Thank you!
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/transient-global-amnesia/symptoms-causes/syc-20378531

Wow, I can’t imagine having blank spots in my memory! Glad you are on the mend, and that everything has showed back up in the memory banks and that it’s not likely to recur. Take it easy and heal up!

Whoa, David! Never heard of TGA, a very good thing it was apparently not a stroke-type event. Your post reads and sounds like "you" so the recovery must be nearly complete. Googled this link for those interested: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/transient-global-amnesia/symptoms-causes/syc-20378531

The body is capable of some weird actions. Nearly three years ago I had an almost 3-day bout of double vision. MRI/CAT scans yielded no clues, it reversed during sleep the second night. Exhaustive follow-up testing yielded no direct clues. So I take a baby aspirin every day and have orders to report to the ER if recurrent. Most likely a one-time event!

You are so right David, each day is usually just like the last one until suddenly it isn’t (that’s a bit of Aussie wombat lore for you!). This may be the good Lord’s way of warning you that you’re not 18 anymore, so you rest up and no more moving lumber for you mister! I wish you a speedy recovery ❤️

Woah! I didn't know this could happen. I am glad you are doing better. Has some of your short-term memory started coming back? When you saw your parrot, did you feel like you remembered at that point? I am guessing some short-term information must remain, or you probably wouldn't be on the forum...That's pretty amazing and scary! I am so glad all it wasn't a s stroke.

Best wishes for a continuation of recovering memories! They are in fact the only thing we have to prove what we did yesterday so that we do not need to repeat it day after day.
I have on-going problems with knowing my hydration state. I have found that I need to inform people around me that if I stop sweating, push water my way. I have not been faced with anything like a transient global amnesia (TGA) episode or like serious event. I cannot imagine what it must have been like. Great that you had others around you that got you to the ER fast.

Very happy that you are on the mend good friend!

noodles123 said:

Woah! I didn't know this could happen. I am glad you are doing better. Has some of your short-term memory started coming back? When you saw your parrot, did you feel like you remembered at that point? I am guessing some short-term information must remain, or you probably wouldn't be on the forum...That's pretty amazing and scary! I am so glad all it wasn't a s stroke.

Click to expand...

By late afternoon, l knew my JoJo! Knew someone lived with me, didn’t know it was one of my daughters. The shortest of the short term is the most volatile, and I have some vague shadows!
Running errands on Monday was tough, saw that I did them on Saturday!
Driving required real focus, but this is normal with many life events that reset your self confidence! You double process all your actions!
During all of this, family was with me, thank God! In the early stages of my reloading memories, I didn’t have a grasp of the timeline–years, not hours! In the earliest points, I thought I was out in Illinois, with my oldest, but l knew this was not possible, but the reasons were missing! She passed 8 years ago!
Late afternoon, verbal clues from listening to the family talk back and forth sped up the process. Funny though, you are fully aware of the missing time and items! My youngest said something to my wife about her prenatal care, I was bumped that I was never told about the soon to be baby! I kept my mouth shut about the hurt, because I knew there was no logical reason for them to keep this from me! Later that night, those missing memories returned!
Fortunately, I run algorithms in my day to day thinking as a way of life, I have always analyzed every thought, feeling, or emotion, that I have! Somewhat like a watcher in the background! This makes the missing items obvious!
The neurologist found this quite exciting, and was right on with the recovery process! I am at a slight risk for the stroke word for a bit, only because!

SailBoat said:

I have on-going problems with knowing my hydration state. I have found that I need to inform people around me that if I stop sweating, push water my way. Great that you had others around you that got you to the ER fast.

Very happy that you are on the mend good friend!

Click to expand...

Thank you!
Ya, the hydration issue! I have no concept of thirst and have to force myself to drink! I used to go days without water, just a couple cups of coffee! When I moved to Florida, I thought I was the perfect camel! Never sweat, never thirsty!
But then my once a month migraines became twice a week! Especially because I was a distance runner! A radio show on hydration made my mistakes obvious! The philosophy was, don’t count ounces, if your pee is yellow, you must drink more! Now, at the most, migraines maybe once a year!
Again, Thank You!

David, this must have been so terrifying! I am so sorry this happened to you, but so grateful it wasn't a stroke. How lucky it is that you process your days the way you do, I find that so interesting. I'm happy it turned out to be an aid in your recovery as well.

Please take care of yourself, and don't overdo! You are a special gem and you are needed both at home and right here on the forum, my Friend.

David, this is all new to me but with your description from your reference frame and Scott’s link I have a very clear picture of how scary Saturday and the days following must have been for you. I’m glad you had close family members to help recover your memories and so glad to hear this was more than likely a one time event. As Terry mentioned, you are very special to all of us. Hugs and well wishes, keep feeling better and please keep us updated.