I Have Transient Global Amnesia
I recently had an attack of Transient Global Amnesia something I had never heard of before. I went to bed one night with a bit of a headache and 'woke up' late the following afternoon in hospital with family members around me.
It is thought that my attack was bought on by my phobia of the dentist, although I had thought I was being very brave and was dealing with my treatment.
Apparantly I got up in the morning, dressed, got a taxi to the railway station, caught the train to the correct station, walked to the dentist and had the treatment I was booked in for. The dentist did say that I seemed a bit disorientated and couldn't recall when or where my holidays were. However when it came to pay I couldn't remember my PIN number so said I would go to the bank and get the cash which I did, but it would seem that when I left the bank I must have realised there was a problem and I telephoned my friend who said I was having hysterics as I didn't know why I was where I was, she told me to get a taxi home and I must have followed her advice as somehow, in a town I didn't know well managed to get a taxi. The taxi driver got me home but realised there was a problem and went for a neighbour, my NEW neighbour who must have thought what have I moved in next door to!! She managed to persuade me to let her in the house, I didn't know her and she wasn't getting in. She was wonderful, using my mobile to phone my partner, daughters and the doctor, and then taking me to the hospital.
After I 'woke up' I was told that I had telephoned my daughters and partner many times not realising I had already done so saying that I was in hospital but didn't know why I was there. I was horrified when I looked in my purse and saw so much money having at that time no idea where it came from, a train ticket, and an invoice and a void card receipt for the dentist. I was also very hungry as as far as we could tell I hadn't eaten or drunk anything probably for about 24 hours.
Trying to look back on it all I have renewed faith in human nature as everyone who came in contact with me ensured I was safe, and I try to think that maybe it was my body protecting itself when my stress and anxiety levels became too much for me to cope with. My daughter also says that after looking at the invoice from the dentist that it was probably the best thing to do to have an attack of amnesia!!!
It is thought that my attack was bought on by my phobia of the dentist, although I had thought I was being very brave and was dealing with my treatment.
Apparantly I got up in the morning, dressed, got a taxi to the railway station, caught the train to the correct station, walked to the dentist and had the treatment I was booked in for. The dentist did say that I seemed a bit disorientated and couldn't recall when or where my holidays were. However when it came to pay I couldn't remember my PIN number so said I would go to the bank and get the cash which I did, but it would seem that when I left the bank I must have realised there was a problem and I telephoned my friend who said I was having hysterics as I didn't know why I was where I was, she told me to get a taxi home and I must have followed her advice as somehow, in a town I didn't know well managed to get a taxi. The taxi driver got me home but realised there was a problem and went for a neighbour, my NEW neighbour who must have thought what have I moved in next door to!! She managed to persuade me to let her in the house, I didn't know her and she wasn't getting in. She was wonderful, using my mobile to phone my partner, daughters and the doctor, and then taking me to the hospital.
After I 'woke up' I was told that I had telephoned my daughters and partner many times not realising I had already done so saying that I was in hospital but didn't know why I was there. I was horrified when I looked in my purse and saw so much money having at that time no idea where it came from, a train ticket, and an invoice and a void card receipt for the dentist. I was also very hungry as as far as we could tell I hadn't eaten or drunk anything probably for about 24 hours.
Trying to look back on it all I have renewed faith in human nature as everyone who came in contact with me ensured I was safe, and I try to think that maybe it was my body protecting itself when my stress and anxiety levels became too much for me to cope with. My daughter also says that after looking at the invoice from the dentist that it was probably the best thing to do to have an attack of amnesia!!!