TGA
Community
Who are We?
The photo in the above header with the 6 middle-aged people is a file photo. The following summaries are provided by some of our real-life TGA Community Members to give you insight into how varied our community members are. More summaries will be added in the future.
Richard Holl
Brief Family History
-
Age at TGA 57
-
Current Age 63
-
Married for 38 years
-
2 boys
-
2 girls
-
2 daughter-in-laws
-
1 granddaughter
-
Retired
​
A Summary of My TGA
-
​TGA May 2013
-
28 hours
-
2 nights/3 days hospitalization
-
Classic repetition of same 4 questions
-
Intercourse was my trigger
-
Came to in 1974
-
No memories of past events 6 months prior to TGA
-
No migraines, stress or immersion
-
Several weeks of brain fog
-
Short-term memory issues continue
-
Depression has lessened
-
Anxiety depends upon situations
-
Bright lights and loud noises are bothersome
-
Acquired many new habits and tendencies
Fred Niemeier
Brief Family History
-
My wife of 53 years knows to watch for triggers
-
Current age in February 2019 is 75
-
4 children: 2 boys and 2 girls
-
7 grandchildren
-
In good health and only med I take is a minimal dose to control Cholesterol which is under 200
-
Blood pressure 120/80 which is good
-
I am active, exercise, cut grass, etc. and play tennis 3 days a week for 2 hours per session
-
Retired Engineer for 10 years
-
No issues while working and under much more stress than now
A Summary of My TGA
-
I have had 2 events: One on May 4, 2014, & the second on May 6, 2018
-
The first one lasted about 2 hours around 6 PM and then fog cleared up
-
No hospitalization required but confusion during that time
-
Even the following day when examined by my PCP I could not spell certain words backward
-
I was asked to spell the word "world" which I could do
-
I then was asked to spell it backward and I could not do that
-
No long term effects and no indicators of what caused the event other than stress from a busy day of events on a Sunday
-
Follow up brain MRI showed
-
This one was much worse and similar to yours may have been brought on by intercourse
-
I had been under a lot of stress trying to catch up with items after being away from home for 5 months
-
Had numerous PC issues, internet issues, outdoor yard activities, etc. to resolve
-
Woke up in the AM, had breakfast and went into my home office only to discover my PC, printer, etc. missing
-
I could not recall that I had taken the items in for repair the previous day
-
Kept asking my wife where they were even suggesting that someone may have stolen them
-
Very confused and again repetitively asking the same questions
-
Went to the ER for evaluation
-
Knew where I was but could not recall some questions the ER Dr asked me to remember 5 minutes earlier
-
Did brain MRI and other tests which were negative
-
The event lasted about 3 hours and then the fog cleared up
-
Kept in the hospital 1 day for observation
-
I still have some short-term memory issues, but can clearly remember prior years
-
Have not needed to take any anxiety med since the last episode but occasionally take a minimal dose while working under stress
-
I am hard self-driven and this anxiety may have been a contributor
-
No depression but prescribed anti-anxiety med to take if under stress
-
Sounds like I got off easy compared to others in the community
-
I hope this helps
Christrose (Rosie) Sumner
Brief Family History
-
Age at TGA 62
-
Age at 2nd TGA 67
-
Married once, Independent over 30 years
-
2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law
-
1 grandson
-
1 granddaughter
-
Retired business professional
A Summary of My 2 TGA's
-
TGA # 1 - February 2013
-
8 hours, probably
-
No hospitalization
-
Classic repetition of the same questions
-
No identified trigger; was solo kayaking on Argentinian lake, in new walking sandals, sunset, relatively calm water
-
Came to in the present
-
No memories of events 2 -3 hours prior to TGA
-
No migraines, stress or immersion
-
No brain fog
-
Short-term memory since fine
-
Depression - none
-
Anxiety - not noticeable
-
Bright lights and loud noises are bothersome
-
TGA #2 - Midsummer morning 2018
-
8 hours probably
-
Hospitalization overnight for observation and to get MRI
-
Classic repetition of the same questions
-
No identified trigger (had bought walking sandals day before)
-
Came to in the present
-
No memories of events the night before TGA
-
No remembered or known migraines, stress or immersion
-
Brain a little foggy after
-
Short-term memory since mostly fine, possibly slight deterioration
-
Depression - not clinical, but 'down' a bit and a bit more often
-
Saddened by event and particulars of what I forgot during the event (beloved granddaughter, son's promotion)
-
Anxiety - not noticeable
-
Maybe slightly less adventurous
-
Bright lights and loud noises are bothersome
-
The idea of lots of people and chatter is daunting
Ken _________ (requested no last name but willing to share his summary)
Brief Family History
-
Male, current (Feb 2019) age 79
-
Age at first TGA: 45
-
Age at most severe TGA: 52
-
Married
-
Retired since 2017
TGA Summary
-
Number of TGA episodes to date: 28
-
Most serious TGA: January 1992
-
Not hospitalized
-
Not diagnosed as TGA until second (1992) episode
-
Triggers: sex (25%), physical or mental stress (25%), none (50%)
-
Vary widely in severity
-
Typically last 6-12 hours, depending on severity
-
Currently have about one a year
-
First clue is (false) déjà vu feeling
-
Major symptom is inability to create new memories
-
Bad headache occurs with serious episodes
-
Since 1992, have always recognized as TGA
-
Always very troubling, but no serious permanent damage
-
Have gradually gotten more cautious, but may be age-related
-
Now have short-term memory problems, but may be due to age
-
Finasteride (Rx for enlarged prostate) appears to reduce severity/frequency
​