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Oops - I lost a whole day and found myself in hospital!

(60 Posts)
grannyactivist Sun 27-Feb-22 12:59:32

I don’t quite know where it went yet, but I’m piecing it together. Apparently I have TGA - Transient Global Amnesia, probably brought on by stress.

Recently I have had even more than my usual heavy load of stress - and the outcome is that I lost yesterday and found myself in the hospital last night chatting to some very nice doctors with no memory of anything leading up to my being there. It’s a very discombobulating experience and has left me physically exhausted and very emotional.

The Wonderful Man has had the scare of his life and is treating me like china - and I’m letting him, so I know I’m not quite myself. Apparently I couldn’t get hold of him yesterday (he was on the allotment) so I called my son who immediately drove over, collected TWM from the allotment - and then followed a discussion between them about where they should take me. TWM said that under normal circumstances they would have asked me! ?

I’ve now been discharged into the care of my GP who is going to see me this week and go through the results of the CT scan that I have no memory of having had. They found ‘calcification’, which has nothing to do with the TGA, but will need further monitoring.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

Iam64 Wed 02-Mar-22 08:12:37

Just seen this grannyactivist. I hope you’re recuperating, resting and feeling better.
There was a thread recently by a poster whose grandson, aged I think about 19, was admitted to hospital and had the same diagnosis as you, he went on to fully recover

As others have said - rest up x

Callistemon21 Tue 01-Mar-22 23:33:18

?

grannyactivist Tue 01-Mar-22 23:30:24

Yum! I also like crab sandwiches from the delicatessen - let battle commence! ?

Callistemon21 Tue 01-Mar-22 23:09:01

They like crab sandwiches from the delicatessen in Dartmouth. Expensive tastes!

grannyactivist Tue 01-Mar-22 23:05:25

Where I live I think the gulls must have been trained by the SAS Calli, I’m now a dab hand at the art of defensive ice cream consumption. I’ve had a lot of experience. ?

Callistemon21 Tue 01-Mar-22 23:02:10

In a couple of days I’m also going away for a while to clear my head and have a complete rest. Ten days in Dartmouth should do the trick I hope.
Do watch out for the Demon Dartmouth Seagulls, grannyactivist. They will swoop and take the food from your hand!

Otherwise have a lovely, relaxing time.

grannyactivist Tue 01-Mar-22 22:54:59

Whitewave your first paragraph fits exactly with what happened to me. It’s apparently quite unusual for an episode of TGA to last as long as 24 hours.

I discovered this evening that my family are shielding me from anything worrying, as much as they can; my granddaughter had a bad fall earlier today and fractured her wrist, but I was only told about it once she was treated and back home.

In a couple of days I’m also going away for a while to clear my head and have a complete rest. Ten days in Dartmouth should do the trick I hope.

I’ll send you all a postcard, via GN of course. ?

Hels001 Tue 01-Mar-22 08:14:10

Sending lots of love. Rest and rest some more. flowers xxx

Whitewavemark2 Tue 01-Mar-22 07:08:19

I’m a bit late to this thread, but exactly the same thing happened to me in my 50s. I lost a complete day, but also the weeks/ days leading up to were also very hazy.

Stress/anxiety no doubt. The doctor sent me for counselling which helped a huge amount as it gave me the tools to say “no” and recognise my limitations.

I also had a holiday which helped, but forgot to pack any underwear! Head still fuzzy - but within the two weeks of complete rest, I was in a much better place. Never looked back.

grannyactivist Mon 28-Feb-22 23:06:17

Thanks to those of you who shared your own stories, it’s helpful knowing how others coped in similar situations.

Thanks too for all your kind comments which I have taken to heart. The Wonderful Man has taken charge of my work phone and is also reading then forwarding/deleting my emails so that I don’t get drawn in to work situations. We’re also going away for a few days soon - on a mini break at a hotel, rather than self-catering as we normally do. Not sure I know how to be pampered, but I’ll give it a go. ?

grannyactivist Sun 27-Feb-22 23:11:37

I’m in bed now and still feeling quite emotional. After I pushed him, my husband finally allowed me to listen to just one of the voicemail messages I left him yesterday and it’s quite obvious that I was terrified. Happily I have no memory of it, but I was very sick yesterday (apparently due to shock) and my ribs are still quite sore.

My sons and their families visited me this afternoon and, being great fans of ‘Finding Nemo’, they asked if it was too soon to start calling me Granny Dory! ?

Redhead56 Sun 27-Feb-22 23:06:43

Look after yourself as you look after everyone else.

mokryna Sun 27-Feb-22 22:35:17

Take things easy and look after yourself. flowers.

HurdyGurdy Sun 27-Feb-22 21:59:52

Goodness - I'd never heard of this before, but it seems relatively common, from reading the comments. What a frightening thing to happen.

grannyactivist I hope you are making the most of being cherished and cared for, and that you are back to your usual self before long.

luluaugust Sun 27-Feb-22 21:48:36

A frightening experience, do let the family take care of you for a bit flowers

Streaky Sun 27-Feb-22 21:42:24

I had a three hour memory loss a few years ago. We were returning by train from visiting our daughter and three month old twins. Last thing I remembered was leaving her house to catch a bus and then two trains to get home, next thing I remember was getting off the train at our home town, about three hours later. According to DH I didn’t know where I was, didn’t remember the twins being born, kept asking him the same questions over and over again, and apparently getting very upset because I thought I was losing my marbles! I was relieved when it was eventually diagnosed and the consultant said it would probably not happen again. But I don’t recall being under any stress before this happened.

Callistemon21 Sun 27-Feb-22 21:31:56

How frightening, grannyactivist
I hope it's a one-off occurrence as others have said and perhaps caused by the stress you have had recently. Nature's way of getting your mind to rest for a while, perhaps? ?

Thank goodness you didn't tell them all you didn't like them really ?

Antonia Sun 27-Feb-22 21:18:10

It must have been a very frightening experience for you. I hope you can recover as soon as possible. Please take care. xx

annodomini Sun 27-Feb-22 21:14:16

GA, I'm so sorry to hear about this worrying experience. I knew someone who also had this complete lapse of memory during which she apparently behaved as normal, but when she 'came to' had no idea of what she had done. These things happen for a reason and it was clear from your most recent post that you were under monumental stress. I hope that you are recovering and able to take things easy. flowers

dogsmother Sun 27-Feb-22 21:02:19

Oh dear natures way ………ease up a little, stress is taking it’s toll so give in a little xxx

MayBee70 Sun 27-Feb-22 20:06:32

Not on the same level as this but years ago I left a marriage guidance counselling session having been told by the counsellor the ‘your marriage is over’ and I had to stop driving and pull over to the side of the road as I couldn’t remember what side of the road I should be driving on. Grannyactivist: you’ve spent your life looking after other people, it’s time you looked after yourself. Please take care xx

nexus63 Sun 27-Feb-22 19:53:52

3 weeks before christmas i had a gp appointment at 4.30 on a wednesday, i had a small cyst on my breast and having had 2 lots of cancer over the past 3 years was worried, i remember standing outside the doctors, then nothing till the saturday, i woke up to find out i was on the infectious diseases ward, turned out i had cellulitis that turned septic, doctors said another few hours and i would have died, i came home on christmas eve and pieced together what happened from neighbours who found me walking about and called an ambulance, that missing time has really frightened me as i live on my own, i keep thinking what if. i hope they find out what was the cause of your missing day, good luck and take care.

cornergran Sun 27-Feb-22 19:14:05

Reading this thread shows you are certainly not alone grannyactivist but goodness, how scary. As others have said, your body is telling you something so best listen. Time to allow yourself the same love and care you offer others. Rest well,

grannyactivist Sun 27-Feb-22 19:12:06

Thank you all for your good wishes. ?

My family have rallied round today and attempted to ‘fill in the gaps’ in my memory. Apparently I was able to repeatedly phone my son - and each time I got through I told him exactly the same as before, so that in the end he got his wife to FaceTime me so that he could drive to me without my constant interruptions. He then retrieved my husband and together they drove me to the hospital, where fortunately, due to my complete confusion, the staff allowed my husband to stay with me.

My daughter-in-law laughingly (and I’m sure delightedly) told me today that during my conversation with her yesterday I was telling her how lovely she is and how much I love her; when my son asked where I live I told him I live with my ‘wonderful husband’ and I told the doctor who treated me that although I couldn’t see her face I’m sure she must have a ‘very lovely smile’. I’m very pleased to learn that even though I’d ‘lost’ my mind I didn’t lose touch with what’s important. ?

sodapop Sun 27-Feb-22 16:43:05

That's frightening Grannyactivist hope you are feeling better now. As others have said this is as the name suggests a transient thing which hopefully you will not experience again. Time to relax now and let the wonderful man and your family take care of you. thanks