Memory disorder sends man into woods. — This is an odd ailment. Might make for an interesting excuse someday.
Five days later, after a battery of tests, Dad’s doctor assured him: No Alzheimer’s and no stroke.
The diagnosis: transient global amnesia, or TGA — a short-term inability to process new information, such as reading maps or following directions. It probably was triggered by stress after Dad missed the play and faced heavy traffic on unfamiliar roads.
People with TGA usually function fine in most respects, but may become anxious, ask repetitive questions and — as with Dad — remember everything except how to get from point A to point B.
that guy need an ankle bracelet so his kids can track his ass down the next time this happens
#1 – what a nice, classy comment.
Hopefully if this ever happens to you, your family will let your “ass” stay lost!
People with this tendency to forget should carry around a panic recording device around their neck that will remind them, in their own voice, who they are, where they live and useful numbers to call. It could also be equipped with GPS so that their whereabouts could be ascertained.
#3, apparently you did not read the full article. He had no problem remembering who he was or how to call home, in feact he called home several times. This is strictly a problem with remembering how to get from point A to point B.
Damn.
My Mom had something similar, years ago. Scared the crap out of my brother & I.
One example, of many: Mom was trying to drive to my brother’s house – which she had done several times before – and “got lost”.
Mom called my brother from a phone booth, saying she couldn’t figure out how to get on the freeway. He could hear the sounds of freeway traffic – and from asking her a couple questions – confirmed she was in sight of the freeway. She didn’t know how to get back on the freeway from which she had just exited…. and wanted him to explain it to her.
Mom was upset that she had gotten “flustered”, but didn’t think she needed to see a Doctor.
She collapsed at home – a month later – and the doctor’s found a benign growth between her skull and brain. It was above her right eye, and had been gradually “lobotomizing” her as it expanded – pushing inward on her frontal lobe.
I can’t say enough good things about modern medicine – allowing me to talk to her the day after “brain surgery”, and giving us our Mom back.
Interesting that it did not affect her memory. She can remember the things she did – she just can’t understandwhy she would have done them.
Finally!
a clear diagnosis of what i have…
so is there a pill i can take to make it better?