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July 11, 2006
Happy Days are Here Again
Things have gone well with the family situation. Instead of a brain aneurysm, it looks now that my dad has an episode of transient global amnesia.
Background: Transient global amnesia (TGA) has been a well-described phenomenon for more than 40 years. Clinically, it manifests with a paroxysmal, transient loss of memory function. Immediate recall ability is preserved, as is remote memory; however, patients experience striking loss of memory for recent events and an impaired ability to retain new information. In some cases, the degree of retrograde memory loss is mild.Many patients are anxious or agitated and may repeatedly ask questions concerning transpiring events. On mental status examination, language function is preserved, which indicates a preservation of semantic and syntax memory. Attention is spared, visual-spatial skills are intact, and social skills are retained. Symptoms typically last less than 24 hours. As the syndrome resolves, the amnesia improves, but the patient may be left with a distinct lapse of recollection for events during the attack.
Pathophysiology: The precise pathophysiology of TGA is not clear. On positron emission tomography (PET) and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI), blood flow to specific brain areas that involve memory appears to be disrupted transiently during TGA. This includes the thalamus and/or mesial temporal structures (in particular the amygdala and hippocampus).
It doesn't seem likely to recur, and so everyone is keeping their fingers crossed. If all goes well, my parents might even be home by tomorrow night! (Guess I better clean the kitchen...)
And...that cable line has been repaired, connecting me with the larger world. I had NO idea how dependent I was on the internet/television/phone until I had to stop cold turkey. So even after having to wait for a FULL THREE HOURS after their "window" closed, I was delighted when the technician finally arrived and made miracles happen.
Of course, now the catch-up begins.
Photos are from the 4th of July, when Janie learned to spit watermelon seeds.
Comments
Welcome back! So glad to hear things are on the upswing, especially with your dad's condition. Continuing to keep you all in my thoughts.
Posted by: ada at July 11, 2006 09:57 PM
I love that you're such a prolific blogger that a one day hiatus actually requires an announcement of your return! Welcome back!
Posted by: Mr. B.A. at July 11, 2006 11:19 PM
Good news! Glad to hear it.
Posted by: maryment at July 12, 2006 09:20 AM
Very happy to hear things are going to be okay with your dad. ...And of course, that your cable connection is fixed!
Posted by: amy at July 12, 2006 09:32 AM
