by Lynda Lampert

Created on: September 03, 2009

You're in the middle of a car accident, blood pouring down your face . . . then you wake up in the hospital, remembering nothing of the accident or the entire day before. You know who you are, but you cannot remember yesterday or last week or maybe last year. You are scared.

Or maybe your spouse has just died. Strangely, you don't remember how you got to the hospital or where you were just a few minutes ago. You recognize your family and you can follow commands, but you are lost, adrift with no memory of your past. You don't remember what the doctor said to you. You have no recollection of where you are or why you are there.

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, you may have experienced what experts call transient global amnesia. This is a disorder that is often brought about by severe emotional distress, immersion in hot or cold water, or strenuous activity. There is also some evidence that it relates to migraine headaches.

The most prominent symptom of transient global amnesia is acute and sudden memory loss lasting no more than twenty four hours. You still retain you sense of self and the ability to function cognitively, such as following simple commands and recognizing everyday objects. Once head injury and seizure activity are ruled out, a diagnosis of this disorder may be made. This memory loss does not include symptoms of other brain injuries such as paralysis or the inability to speak. Nausea, vomiting, and emotional upheaval may also be noted.

Afterward, your memory will return intact. These episodes are rare and usually short lived, but they are obviously disturbing. Six hours seems to be the duration of most episodes, and there is no lasting effect afterward. To be safe, seek an exam from a qualified neurologist. They may want to perform an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record any abnormalities in brain waves. Head CT scans and MRIs may also help find any structural abnormalities and rule out such things as stroke, seizures, and epilepsy. The danger of this disorder is in what it maybe. It is a diagnosis only when the more dangerous causes have been ruled out.

Transient global amnesia is not a common diagnosis. The causes of it are speculative and largely unknown. If you feel that you have experienced this disorder, seek care from your primary doctor or from a neurologist. It is important to rule out other brain injuries before assuming the diagnosis of this relatively harmless, but disturbing, form of brain dysfunction.

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