I've been doing some searches on a possible link between lyme and TGA. We have seen some symptoms with my hubbie over the last several months that could look like he may be a lymie (geez he's one simply by osmosis with three lymies in the house). However, like Freud said, sometimes a cigar is simply a cigar and while we have learned to be lyme sensitive when we see certain symptoms, there's also explanations for these symptoms as well (like being a caregiver for three lymies).
Recently he had two episodes of temporary short term memory loss. The first time he stayed in the hospital overnight and they ran a battery of tests on him (minus lyme of course, because 'we don't have lyme here'). All came back normal - no stroke, no heart issues. The neuro called it 'transient global amnesia' a temporary memory loss that resolves itself with a few hrs to 24 hrs. It is fairly rare for it to reoccur. Well he had another episode yesterday so off to the ER we go...same kind of thing... All tests back normal and his memories reappear in about 6-7 hrs.
We are going to go thru all the 'traditional' stuff with his PCP, neuro, possible a vascular doc, but of course the lyme issue is a strong possibility and an eval with my llmd will follow if these docs are left scratching their heads.
Has anyone been dxed with TGA or do you have any info connecting it with lyme? Everything I am reading on neurolyme just doesn't fit my hubbie's transient amnesia.
cootiegirl
Posted by Greatcod (Member # 7002) on :
Not exactly the same, but many of us have severe short term memeory deficits. Speculating, but it maybe a worst case scenario for that symptom.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Dear Cootie girl,
Scary thing to not be able to remember things.
I have some definite voids in my memory too.
Never heard of transient global amnesia.....kind of sounds like
One of those diagnosis' when the doctors don't know exactly what is going on.
That just describes what is happening, but not the cause.
Do they recommend any therapy for it? Any medications?
As Lyme and/or co-infections can cause swelling or pressure in the brain.
It may be resulting in some memory issues.
Please get your husband tested via Igenex and see a LLMD.
BTW, does he have any other Lyme issues/symptoms?
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by butchieboo (Member # 12063) on :
Cootie girl,
It would'nt be osmosis but proximity that would explain your husbands possible(probable)lyme infection.
You don't really explain your husbands symptoms but I do believe I have experienced what sounds like this symptom...just by what the ducks are calling it....
I was a courier at one time durring my disease. These were routes I had traveled for years. I would pretty much go the same way every day of the week and sometimes on weekends.
Driving down the road all of a suddent NOTHING looked familiar. I did'nt know where I was, nor where I was going.
The geography was unfamiliar to me. A little panic set in and I pulled my vehicle over and parked. In about six to eight minuets this symptom subsided. I would get this problem out of the blue, about two or three times a week.
Antibiotics have stopped this problem.
It is all well and good that you have this checked first by the ducks and such. This is a symptom that could be caused by other things I'm sure.
However, you and I and the guy around the corner know that your hubby probably has lyme disease...for a couple reasons...
not the least of which is just proximity to a houseful of lymies when they were infected.
Hope not....but....
BB
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Hi cootiegirl, I have to agree with everyone else that TBIs could be at the root of TGA.
I have one family member who has been diagnosed with this, she's had 2 episodes - very frightening for the entire family.
During one of the episodes, we were at a reunion/vacation - scary!
She does not have Lyme, but has many symptoms that have made me suspect it. (She won't see an LLMD and since we don't have Lyme here either, her docs don't entertain the idea).
If you find any links between the two, I would love to read about them...
Hope you find the cause soon, Cactus
Posted by cootiegirl (Member # 3216) on :
Hi. thanks all for your insights. I have to agree that TGA certainly sounds like a 'garbage can' dx.That was my initial thought and there's no treatment from what I have read. Great, huh? Just flake out for 6 or 7 hours then resume life......
It's really a no brainer that he probably has lyme because of me and transmission. You are right Geneal, he' definitely an 'honorary lymie' by proximity!!! This poor guy has been caring for 3 lymies for almost 6 years. I know exactly the kind of experience you had with driving - same thing happened to me and it's scary.
The episodes that he's having tho are definitely different than the memory loss and confusion we experience because it is short term memory specific,can't remember colleagues names or what he has just said, he repeats himself and the episode lasts for several hours before clearing up, but then again, you just don't know.
My other thought in all of this might be some kind of weird migraine because he says his head is 'fuzzy' before the episode and afterward.
We are seeing his PCP on Monday (not going to have that doc do any lyme testing here because they don't know what they are doing) and I'm going to call my llmd and have him set up for a lyme workup. The neuro we want to see locally is booked for three months. In the meantime we will be able to see the llmd and maybe even get in to see Dr. K that good ll neuro. Thanks again and if anyone else comes up with more helpful info, let me know! cootiegirl
Posted by ldfighter (Member # 9405) on :
TGA is definitely related to migraines, so it makes sense that lyme could trigger it in susceptible people since lyme affects blood flow to the brain and causes migraines for many. I don't think TGA is always lyme though.
I had a family member with a TGA episode following a severe migraine and air travel. We were told that migraines and/or being at high altitude are both triggers. It seemed very different from typical lyme memory loss, it was as if years were just missing all of a sudden, and she couldn't remember a single thing from minute to minute. It lasted about a day, hospitalized and ran tests, then back to normal. No more episodes, but that may have been because she finally got good migraine prevention treatment. (The TGA was the motivator for that.) No other lyme symptoms for her.
Posted by tickitout (Member # 6982) on :
Hi Cootiegirl...so sorry to hear what you are going through. You stated in your last post:
My other thought in all of this might be some kind of weird migraine because he says his head is 'fuzzy' before the episode and afterward.
Is it possible he could have seizures with the fuzzy feeling?
This happened to me however I ended up in ICU for about a week. My husband said I didn't reconize him or my children. It was very frightening for them because they didn't know what the out come would be.
I don't remember a thing which scared me that when I think I could have stayed that way.
Just a thought. Was he ever evaluated for seizure disorder?
My prayers are with you. God Bless
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :