Sudden unexplained bouts of memory loss. Going on for 2+ years.
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Right, so for over 2 years now, I've been having these bazaar sudden bouts of memory loss. They start with a dizzy feeling, followed by confusion and having no memory of what I was doing / where I was going / what day it is / what I HAVE been doing etc etc.
I'm a 31 year old, otherwise healthy male. I've had multiple test done including: blood tests, MRI x3 (all done WITHOUT contrast dye. More on that later...), EEG x2, 48 hour heart monitor and so far all have come back normal.
The first MRI did show I had an 'arachnoid cyst' but apparently it's harmless. The second MRI was an fMRI which was fine, and the third MRI was to compare it to the first to see if the cyst had grown any bigger, which, thankfully, it hadn't.
The attacks have recently changed, seemingly. At first, they would be quite long. Lasting anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes, and I could usually remember what I did DURING the attack. I still remember the first attack I had, looking through old phone messages remembering none of what I had read or sent.
More recent attacks however are shorter, usually only a few minutes if that, and I can never remember what happened during. I make notes for work and sometimes I'll come back after having an attack and have no memory of writing the notes that are on the page.
The attacks usually come in bursts. I'll be fine for a week or two and then I'll have them a few days in a row or even multiple times in a day. The longest I've gone between attacks is 4 weeks.
I've been on epilepsy medication and anti-depressants (citalopram) but neither seemed to make a difference.
So I guess my main questions are:
Could this be Anxiety/Depression related?
I have always been an anxious person (even more so since I've been having these attacks, due to fear of not knowing and being scared it might be serious) and I was going through a bout of depression at the time of my first attack
Could the MRIs have missed something?
As mentioned earlier, the MRIs were all done WITHOUT use of a contrast dye, which would make tumours etc show up more clearly.
Could it be a sleep thing?
I have had trouble sleeping in the past, although I've been sleeping better recently and the attacks keep coming.
Thanks for reading, and if anyone knows anything or has gone through anything similar, I'd love to hear it.
0 likes, 2 replies
caroline70988 MrS88
Posted
Hi hun , well may i ask were they said the cyst is?? i would deman dye im gbs patient have other health issues i had dye few times my lungs kept getting sick pneumonia sick all the time along with other issues . Think i would insist you tell your doctor you think its time to do that . Have u had ct scan and x ray done ? why did they put u on medication . Its strange thing if there not sure why ur having these issues . axiety can do so many things chemical enbalance i have sever both . Do you go to gym at all might release the stress axiety . i have cyst inside my left breast and one on my close think it was liver bladder so there keeping eye out on me think its ur right . Let us know you get new
MrS88 caroline70988
Posted
Hi, thanks for the reply.
Honestly I'm not sure where the cyst is. They just told me it's unlikely to be the cause.
I'll be seeing my neurologist again in a little over a week so I'll be sure to ask for one more MRI with the contrast dye.
I haven't had a CT Scan or X Ray done. Not sure why. Perhaps they didn't think it was necessary after the MRI?
Not sure why they immediately put me on epilepsy meds to be honest. Maybe to rule it out? See if it made a difference? Who knows...
I had another attack today. One minute I was getting on with work, I remember getting the weird dizzy feeling, and the next thing I remember is being in the kitchen drinking a glass of water. No memory of anything in between. Scary. I was alright for the rest of the day though.
If this does turn out to be anxiety related, I will certainly look in to going to the gym and getting more exercise!