Transient Global Amnesia

My uncle had this one time from being in excruciating pain/stress.

If you have not seen a doctor, you should do so. This may indicate a major health issue.

Tausi wrote: »

Has anyone ever experienced this due to exercise? I have had 2 episodes within a week both the morning after I exercised heavily the previous evening.

Glad you brought this to medical attention and are referred to a neurologist. It’s a weird diagnosis of unclear etiology falling between vascular causes and seizure. Most of the time it is triggered by extreme emotion but as a whole it is rare. Very unusual to have 2 episodes so close together. Please keep us updated.

Hope that you get better and find the root of the problem. Glad that you are seeing a doctor soon.

Transient global amnesia (from the Mayo Clinic)

Overview
Transient global amnesia is a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that can't be attributed to a more common neurological condition, such as epilepsy or stroke. During an episode of transient global amnesia, your recall of recent events simply vanishes, so you can't remember where you are or how you got there. In addition, you may not remember anything about what's happening in the here and now. Consequently, you may keep repeating the same questions because you don't remember the answers you've just been given. You may also draw a blank when asked to remember things that happened a day, a month or even a year ago.

With transient global amnesia, you do remember who you are, and recognize the people you know well. But that doesn't make your memory loss less disturbing.
Fortunately, transient global amnesia is rare, seemingly harmless and unlikely to happen again. Episodes are usually short-lived, and afterward your memory is fine.

Symptoms
Transient global amnesia is identified by its main symptom, which is the inability to form new memories and to recall the recent past. Once that symptom is confirmed, ruling out other possible causes of amnesia is important.
Necessary symptoms for diagnosis
Health care professionals base a diagnosis of transient global amnesia on the following signs and symptoms:
Sudden onset of memory loss, verified by a witness
Retention of personal identity despite memory loss
Normal cognition, such as the ability to recognize and name familiar objects and follow simple directions
Absence of signs indicating damage to a particular area of the brain, such as limb paralysis, involuntary movement or impaired word recognition
Additional symptoms and history on which a diagnosis for transient global amnesia is based:
Duration of no more than 24 hours and generally shorter
Gradual return of memory
No evidence of seizures during the period of amnesia
No history of active epilepsy
Along with these signs and symptoms, a common feature of transient global amnesia includes repetitive questioning, usually of the same question — for example, "What am I doing here?" or "How did we get here?"

When to see a doctor
Seek immediate medical attention for anyone who quickly goes from normal awareness of present reality to confusion about what just happened. If the person experiencing memory loss is too disoriented to call an ambulance, call one yourself.
Although transient global amnesia isn't harmful, there's no easy way to distinguish the condition from the life-threatening illnesses that can also cause sudden memory loss. In fact, sudden amnesia is much more likely to be caused by a stroke or a seizure than by transient global amnesia. A medical evaluation is the only way to determine the cause of sudden memory loss.

Causes
The underlying cause of transient global amnesia is unknown. There appears to be a link between transient global amnesia and a history of migraines, though the underlying factors that contribute to both conditions aren't fully understood.
Some commonly reported events that may trigger transient global amnesia include:
Sudden immersion in cold or hot water
Strenuous physical activity
Sexual intercourse
Medical procedures, such as angiography or endoscopy
Mild head trauma
Acute emotional distress, as might be provoked by bad news, conflict or overwork

Risk factors
Interestingly, high blood pressure and high cholesterol — which are closely linked to strokes — are not risk factors for transient global amnesia. Your sex doesn't seem to affect your risk, either.

The clearest risk factors are:
Age. People age 50 and older have a higher risk of transient global amnesia than do younger people.
History of migraines. If you have migraines, your risk of transient global amnesia is significantly higher than that of someone without migraines.

Complications
Transient global amnesia has no direct complications, but it can cause emotional distress. If you have an episode, the gap in your memory can be unsettling, and you're likely to worry about a recurrence.
Also, a symptom as dramatic as memory loss often indicates a serious underlying disease. Transient global amnesia is an exception, but it can be hard to let go of the fear that you have a tumor or had a stroke.
If you need reassurance, ask your doctor to go over the results of your neurological exam and diagnostic tests with you. A counselor or psychotherapist can help you deal with persistent anxiety. Importantly, transient global amnesia is not a risk factor for stroke.

Prevention
Because the cause of transient global amnesia is unknown and the rate of recurrence is low, no standard approaches for preventing the condition exist. If your episode of transient global amnesia followed a particular activity, such as a strenuous workout or a swim in a chilly lake, talk with your doctor about limiting or avoiding the activity that seemed to trigger your memory loss.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Tausi wrote: »

orangegato wrote: »

Tausi wrote: »

Has anyone ever experienced this due to exercise? I have had 2 episodes within a week both the morning after I exercised heavily the previous evening.

Glad you brought this to medical attention and are referred to a neurologist. It’s a weird diagnosis of unclear etiology falling between vascular causes and seizure. Most of the time it is triggered by extreme emotion but as a whole it is rare. Very unusual to have 2 episodes so close together. Please keep us updated.

@orangegato Sorry for the late update but the professionals never found out what was going on in my head other that it might have been a brain virus🤷‍♀️. I didn’t have any other episodes nor any other symptoms. Just alot of anxiety afterwards because no one could explain why it happened or if it will happen again. It was just one of those odd unexplainable things in life I guess.

Looking back at your comment though and thinking of that time, I was under alot of emotional stress for atleast 3 days preceding the incident. I will just take it as that was the cause.

Thanks for reporting back. I'm glad it hasn't been a persistent problem!