It's Tuesday! (Transient Global Amnesia)

As heard on WNYC's RadioLab: http://www.radiolab.org/2011/oct/04/

On August 24, 2010 (Tuesday!!) my mom called at 10:50am saying she didn't recognize her surroundings or know the date. I had spoken to her at 10:00am and she was perfectly normal. While scary at first, as soon as she was checked into the ER, it was apparent she hadn't had a stroke or anything more serious and was quickly diagnosed with suffering from Transient Global Amnesia.

This video is a small snippet of the looping conversation we had for around 9.5 hours. She was a great sport and in good spirits. She was not in any pain.

Transient Global Amnesia (TGA) generally lasts from 1 - 24 hours (and in my mom's case she recovered fully in around 26 hours) and have no aftereffects. Full memory is recovered (though she cannot remember having the amnesia) and it likely will not occur again.

Cat Scans, an MRI, MRA and various other tests were done and she did not suffer a stroke or any other trauma.

If you would like to learn more about TGA, click the link below.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/transient-global-amnesia/DS01022

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Transient
• Global
• Amnesia

[schadara]

@chicostine Hi, can you upload the full 9.5 hour conversation?

[chicostine]

@schadara Ha, I do not have a video of the full (technically 29 hours) conversation. Just this and the one titled "Transient Global Amnesia 2".

[johnnywybenga2]

This is hard to watch. After my first TGA (age 60) the neurologist said it would be rare if it ever happened again. I had three in about 18 months, once at home and twice while teaching a class. Another neurologist diagnosed it as a migraine event, put me on Propranalol (Inderal) and no recurrences and very few migraines since.

[chicostine]

@johnnywybenga2 So glad to hear that you've found a working solution! It's been nearly a year now since my mom's episode and (knock on wood) no incidents since that time. It's definitely a relief.

[CoPilot247]

I know i shouldnt laugh I think this is really funny, you are such a good sport explaining it over and over again without being frustrated....

[chicostine]

@CoPilot247 It's ok, she laughs too when she watches it. We were fortunate that she didn't have any lasting effects from the episode (and no recurrences since) so we are grateful to be able to see the humor in what could have been a very scary situation.

[KingOfPain35]

Thumbs up, if RadioLab brought you here.

[Chronox5]

@philogos0 Same thing happened to me in Amsterdam. Apparently it's rare to develop a loop after marijuana intoxication. I asked my friends the same question over and over again and constantly checked my watch. For most of the time I was aware that I was stuck on repeat. When the loop was the shortest I remember seeing somebody's face, spinning around on the dance floor and then hearing a laugh over and over again. You're right it was definitely not an enjoyable experience.

[philogos0]

this happened to me. pot brownies; never again.

[jgunn03]

Yep, heard about it on RadioLab.

[gnrfans2003]

My Mom had the same thing happen, twice...has your mom had another episode?

[rudolpma]

Christin, just listened to the radiolab interview and watched this, it really almost made me tear up how well composed you are, very very strong.  I lost my mother when I was 19 so seeing the whole image just brought back that need for strength. My hats off to you.

[g15554]

omg... last Wednesday this happened to my dad!! this video of your mom is crazy because ii almost had exactly the same type of conversation with my dad. he kept asking what the date was over and over and over. he made full recovery as well but has no memory of the day in the hospital. thanks for posting.

[wildflower12]

Wow Christin, you have a lot of patience! It must have been very difficult to see your mother like this. It has been over a year now, how is she doing?

[thetruemorg]

bad while it is going on it is awesome she only had it for a while. i have seen demensia do that but over an hour never so quickly repeating of the same conversation. thanks for posting this.