Forgive me, JD, but your blog is a gift at times like these, and I hope you won’t mind me borrowing your theme.
I wanted to let you all know that quite a lot of the last two days is a complete blank to me, because I had that thing up there: transient global amnesia* – at least, that’s the temporary diagnosis until the neurologist gets his turn with me**. It’s a very interesting and amusing disorder, if it’s not you that’s experiencing it. You should look it up on the Interamanetweb thingy and check it out!
Seems I got out of the shower on Wednesday morning and came downstairs to find OH, and I was panicking and saying things over and over and over again. Things like ‘why is my hair wet’ and ‘why is there toffee?’ and ‘I can’t remember anything!’ and ‘is it nearly Christmas?’. Understandably he was a bit rattled and called an ambulance which took me to the hospital where I was parked on the Acute Assessment Unit. Once there, I continued to ask the same questions over and over again till everyone was ready to tear their hair out – though they were all very patient with me, bless them. Even the other patients in the ward forgave me and smiled at me when I started to come out of it … or maybe that was relief rather than forgiveness?
That piece of paper up there is the list of answers which OH wrote out for me after he’d endured some hours of this, and it was incredibly helpful. To both of us.
So, because my brain is still rather fuzzy, this is a very short post, just to let you all know why I haven’t been able to visit and answer comments.
Hopefully, normal service will be resumed soon, and during the next few days, I will do my best to catch up with the ABC Wednesday comments. Meanwhile, thank you for your patience.
Um. Have I had my tea yet?
* I’ve taken the unusual step of editing this post, because I discovered I’d remembered the name of this thing wrong. Which is quite amusing really, when you think about it!
** I’m now waiting for a consult with a neurologist, a gastroenterologist, and some guy who wants to slice my shoulder open.
Jay I hate to say it but sounds like a mild stroke. Do take care of yourself. My mum had something similar and was just fine. Aspirin was prescribed. Very mysterious and a little frightening. She got her words all muddled but English being what it is,we could understand her scrambled sentences. By the time we got her to emergency she was right as rain. Hugs and well wishes. Let us know how you get on.
Baino´s last blog ..The Fuckwit and la Femme Fablious
My goodness, Jay. This sounds frightening. I hope they get it all worked out for you.
I’m rather impressed that in the middle of all this you managed to write a post!
I’m thinking of you today. Best Wishes!
Colleen´s last blog ..You Capture: Color
Baino – Thanks! A stroke was the first thing I thought of. Apparently I mentioned it quite a lot. LOL! And that’s why it says ‘they know about Jean and Peter’ in the note. My aunt had a stroke, and my uncle had an aneurysm. But they did truckloads of tests and the consultant said quite definitely that it was neither a stroke nor an aneurysm – they checked for everything they could think of, including pernicious anaemia. It’s a mystery!
Colleen – Thank you! Yes, it was – and is – scary. I’ll feel happier when I have the neuro appointment.
I wouldn’t have been able to post last night, when I first came home, but I feel I need to get back to normal.
Ugh…hope it wasn’t a stroke. Get well!
Whoa! That’s really scary! Hope it turns out to be big fat NOTHING.
feefifoto´s last blog ..No Bullies Allowed
Oh, my GOD, Jay!
How terrifying! Seriously. Although I’m always thrilled when someone borrows my “I Do Things” phrase, I’m so sorry to hear it was for something as scary and serious as this.
Boy, it does sound like a stroke, but I’m sure your doctors know what they’re doing.
I can’t get over it. Wow. So glad you’re OK.
JD at I Do Things´s last blog ..I Blew the Nostril in Jamaica so you don’t have to
Holy crap, Jay! When you commented just a minute ago, I was definitely worried about you and had to rush over here…
My dad had something similar years ago, but he was just fine. He described it as being unable to understand anyone; like everything was being said backwards to him. Apparently his speech was temporarily screwed up, but after just a few minutes it passed. He got all kinds of tests at the hospital but they didn’t even keep him overnight and told him it was a TIA. He is fine and like I said, it happened years ago.
But holy crapoly, that must have been scarey! Take care.
Maureen´s last blog ..Crash!
I was going to make some smartarse comment, but instead I shall just wish you the best – sounds very scary.
Don’t Bug Me!´s last blog ..Macro Monday
My goodness, Jay. This sounds very terrifying and MUCH like a stroke. I am glad you are OKAY right now. I know you are seeing a neurologist, a gastroenterologist, and some guy who wants to slice your shoulder open….but what about a CARDIOLOGIST? You might want to see a heart doctor!
Wishing you the very best and some ANSWERS!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Everyone Needs A Little Evelyn!
Neutron – They really don’t think so – and not a brain tumour either, thank God! Thanks for the good thoughts – and nice to see you blogging again!
Feefifoto – Yep, scary it was, and scary to come home and go and shower, too! But yes, I seem to be OK, thanks!
JD – Aw, you are sweet! Thanks!
Yes, they were pretty sure it wasn’t a stroke, and I saw about five different doctors, one of them a consultant. And three medical students who were thrilled to bits because they’d never seen a case before. LOL!
And thanks for lettting me borrow your phrase! I’ll probably do it again now, you know that, don’t you?
Maureen – Thankfully, the only problem I had with speech was forgetting the first part of what they said before I had time to reply! What they said made sense, and I could answer properly; though it felt as if I might not be able to, I could.
Very scary to have your speech and comprehension screwed up! I’m glad your Dad got over it with no lasting effects!
DBM – Thanks – it was scary! But feel free to make smart-arse comments!
Meleah – Terrifying it was, but thankfully it isn’t thought likely that it was a stroke. And I have seen a cardio and my heart checked out fine. Thank heavens! Thanks for the good thoughts!
(((Jay)))! Do take care, and keep posting as best as you can. It’s cathartic, and you have dear friends who love you and will want to know all is well! Love, Petra
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petra michelle´s last blog ..Jerome David Salinger (January 1, 1919-January 27, 2010)
Oh my Jay, how scary for you and OH. I hope that your doctors will find out what caused the temporary amnesia and prevent it from ever happening again. Try to rest and avoid stress if you can. Best wishes! Pat
Pat´s last blog .."B" is for Birds
See several docs, ‘cept the shoulder surgeon…I should(er) keep him at arms length (you’ll pardon the pun). Did you possible have a small stroke, a seizure…I am praying for you and I know that this will all come to rights mainly because you are able to laugh about it…I love you, Blogging Buddy…stay well!
hugs
Sandi
sandi mcbride´s last blog ..Goodby to those January Blues…
Oh hon… Im so thankful that you got help so soon.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers for sure.
Here’s where I would like to jump in for a moment. You shouldve linked to this post — as to me it is BEAUTIFUL that you had someone with you enough to know that was not your normal state and BEAUTIFUl that we have technology to take care of something like this swiftly.
Beside… having a few more commenters wouldve been fun!
Please take care
Claudia
Claudia@DipityRoad´s last blog ..Friday ~~Finding Beauty 1/29/10
Well, you scared the living whatsits out of me! I hope they will find out what it is (nothing is worse than not knowing) and that you will never have to deal with it again.
Take care!
Mara´s last blog ..Desserts
Hi Jay, Wow! That was nasty (!) but I am very glad to see you are recovering so quickly and so well.
Have experienced a couple of friends suffering TIA (transient ischemic amnesia) attacks in the past, but with a little medication and rest, they both recovered completely within a very short time – and continue to run rings around me for memory(!). Mine is a slower form of memory loss. Most days I am fine but there are annoying, bewildering moments and sometimes even hours, when I can’t for the life of me remember the name of a close family member or friend, or even where I am on coming out of the supermarket (!) and will wander – seemingly purposefully but trying not to panic – until suddenly (like a switch going back on) I’ll remember the way back home! Very strange. Especially as I know what’s happening and can order myself to keep calm…
Anyway, take care Jay. It’s so good that you have OH to keep an eye on you and good luck with the neurologist, gastroenterologist and shoulder slicing guy!
Geri Atric´s last blog ..FLITTING THOUGHTS
How awful Jay – I do hope you are back to normal(?) soon. Take care!
kate´s last blog ..Electric Shocks!!!
Synapse to recharge- getting old is such a b…
be calm calmness overides it all….
sandy´s last blog .."Listen fellows , no real need to get pushy"
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Petra – I will certainly do my best to keep posting! It’s at a minimum right now because I’m still very tired and don’t feel right, but I will get back to doing the rounds. Thanks so much for the hugs and sympathy!
Pat – Thanks! Yes, I hope they find the cause, though it’s a fact that they might not. It’s something I’ll have to live with, if so. At the moment, I’m afraid to go anywhere by myself!
Sandi – Aw, thank you, sweetie. No, though the first thing everyone thought was ‘stroke’, they say not. They were quite definite about it, too. No stroke, no aneurism. A seizure? I guess that’s one thing the neuro will look into, but the best guess is the TGA thing. One can only hope that’s all it is!
Claudia – You’re absolutely right. It was a beautiful thing to have OH and my boys and their girls – and my lovely friends – all rooting for me and providing endless support. Thanks for that!
Mara – Thanks.
Scared the living wotsits out of me and OH too! And the boys! In fact everyone who knows and loves me. Yes, I hope they find out what the problem is and fix it! I’ll try to remember to let you all know what the neuro says.
Geri – Well, I can now well imagine how difficult that must be for you. I’m sorry you have that to deal with.
Thanks for the good thoughts! Yes, thank God I had OH to help me and provide support and reassurance! He’s a good man.
Kate – Thanks, Kate! I hope so too. Must rest, I suppose, though it’s hard to relax.
Sandy – This will take a bit of recharging!!
Oh my, what a scary thing for you and all involved, but totally FASCINATING! I had never heard that term before, and I have just googled it and read up; this is something that I will investigate further; such things captivate me.
As you know, I’ve been having some neurological problems of my own, and no cause has yet been determined. Maybe you and I will be pioneers in neuroscience, and they’ll discover we’re having blog-related neuro events!
Take care, and come back when you can.
ethelmaepotter´s last blog ..Crazy
Oh Dear Jay, I am so sorry you have gone through this. How incredibly scary this must have been and is.
Please take care, and follow the doctors orders.
T´s last blog ..Cat Trapping
Oh great. How am I supposed to joke about my senior moments with you after that ?! Even the title of my last post seems that I’m taking the pi**.
Seriously though..glad you’ve “come out the other side” and I hope that’s the end of it.
Now there’s just the small matter of that 300 quid I loaned you on Thursday….?
Silverback´s last blog ..Lest We Forget – Challenger 1986.
That sounds very scary and disorienting. I hope they get you back to normal soon.
BTW, I was at work when I looked at the photo with the muscle and thought it might not be a bicep, so I had my ex (and business partner) to look at it. He’s a career changer and used to be a veterinarian, so I knew he’d be able to id the muscle. But when he looked at it he commented that it can be hard to draw parallels because they are constructed so differently than we are.
secret agent woman´s last blog ..Silly Wabbit
Ethel Mae Potter – Indeed it is fascinating! And I would have been even more fascinated if it wasn’t me going through it, too.
Yes, you and I might one day end up as cases that are discussed among students! Well, mine is anyway, since there was a group of students from a nearby teaching hospital on a placement here, who kept coming back and asking me reams of questions and making copious notes. Apparently. I remember them coming once … LOL!
T – Thanks – yes it was! And is.
I would follow doctor’s orders, except they didn’t give me any! And of course, when I was discharged (before OH got there, since they needed my ‘emergency admissions’ bed) I wasn’t capable of thinking about the right questions to ask. *Sigh*
They’d probably have said ‘rest up and don’t try using the computer’. Tee hee.
Silverback – Hahahahahaha! Dream on, my friend! Good try, though!
I’m happy for people to laugh, make fun, write blogs about memory loss, whatever. In one sense it is incredibly funny – but yes, it is also very scary and disorienting too. If we go to Italy (as we hope to this Spring) I’m going to have to wear a label when I go out, like Paddington Bear. ‘Please take care of this woman. If found, please return to … ‘ Only in Italian.
LOL!
Secret Agent Woman – Thanks, yes it was! Still is, actually, since I don’t yet know what caused it!
Yes, it’s true that canine musculature is very different to our own. Well, most of the major muscles are the same, but with a different shape because of the fact that dogs walk on four legs instead of two, and some are therefore arranged differently too. And it’s such a long time (thirty-plus years) since I worked in that field that I’ve forgotten an awful lot. In fact, I think you were right, and it is the deltoid.
Oh my! That sounds very scary. My dad had a mild stroke and he couldn’t form words, tried writing it down and couldn’t form words that way either. It passed very quickly, but it doesn’t sound quite the same as you. I hope it turns out to be nothing that will happen again.
babs – beetle´s last blog ..It’s all gone!
Frightening experience. When things like this happen the first thought is always the best known, worst diagnosis (I know I did it myself before eventially being diagnosed with pernitious enemia) but your doctors have ruled that out so that is a good thing. Wishing you well and I hope you don’t have any more incidents and it was just the heat of the shower or lack of hydration, otherwise OH will have to keep writing you notes. The brain is a marvelously adaptive organ but ultimately mysterious, you are fortunate to have one with a sense of humour. Mmm the way I wrote that sounds as though it is a seperate entitly, and that is an entirely different philosophical question.
Joy´s last blog ..Sunny Days and Green Fields
Okay, well, I am glad you saw a heart doctor and that you did NOT have a stroke, but Im still worried about what IS wrong? Sending MORE prayers and positive vibes!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Stepping Up To The Plate – And, Wherein I Am Awesome
Babs- No, thank heavens, it doesn’t sound the same, although I am a little dyslexic following this experience, and still having a little trouble with things like following a conversation and thinking what I’m going to say when someone’s finished talking. Also concentration on reading is poor right now. Still, if this is a migraine type thing, that would figure, too.
Joy- Thanks, yes, pernicious anaemia was one of the things they mentioned, but after the blood test they stopped mentioning it so I presume that wasn’t it! An aunt and my grandmother both had it, so again, there’s family history.
Love the comment about the brain being a separate entity! Sure felt that way on Thursday!
Meleah- Thanks! I can use those!
Yes, I’m a tad concerned, myself, but I do have that neuro appointment coming. Hopefully some answers, too!
That does sound frightening. I hope they figure it out and that it’s not serious.
P.S. That note makes me think of the movie Memento. Have you seen it?
Ruth Hull Chatlien´s last blog ..A Chance to Save Children
Jay,
Have you considered that it may have been a side effect of your blogname? After all, ‘Depp’ is Bavarian for ‘a complete idiot’
Wishing you a full recovery,
forgetfully yours (from Germany)
Stu Savory,
suffering from Eunoia
Eunoia´s last blog ..Geocaching : Equipment list
Jay – really sorry to hear about this and I do hope that it is transient and not hanging around for any length of time. Good luck with the tests and I do hope that all will be well.
60goingon16´s last blog ..The unexpected pleasure of . . .
Ruth – No, I haven’t seen that movie. Should I?
Thanks for the good thoughts. I appreciate them.
Eunoia – Ahahaha! Yes, indeed – I did know that. I heard it from the mouth of Johnny Depp himself, when he was interviewed on The Actors’ Studio. Thanks for the good wishes! And also for popping in and commenting. I would comment on yours – love the bulldog picture! – but you’ve closed commenting. I understand why, but it’s a shame.
60goingon16 – Thank you – I do appreciate the good wishes! I’ll let you all know what they say.
How terribly scary! I hope you didn’t think I was being funny when I wrote about not having a short term memory; it was just a coincidence. I didn’t realise you could have things like you had. (Actually I think our posts have coincided on topics on several occasions: maybe we are twin sisters separated at birth.)
I do hope you don’t have a recurrence and that the doctor can sort you out.
liz´s last blog ..What’s George barking at?
Liz – Oh, Liz, of course not! Anyone who struggles to remember things might say they have no memory – and I’m sure I have done, too. An experience like this happens to a tiny fraction of the population, so luckily, not many people will ever know what it’s like to literally have no short term memory to speak of. The rest of you should carry on as you were. You aren’t going to offend me.
Yes, it’s funny how often we post similar stuff. We should meet up for lunch one day and compare notes. LOL!
Fuckerthefuck! That is quite worrying. Hope they find out what it was and that you never have to suffer from that weird defect again. And what’s that about your shoulder being sliced open (again?)? What the …!!!???
carolina´s last blog ..Who knows