Hello, I usually post on the Traumatic Brain Injury/Post-Concussion Syndrome forum as I'm recovering from a brain injury...however something weird has been happening lately that has to do with sleeping, waking up and memory/amnesia. Let me explain.

About a week and a half ago, I went to sleep like I normally do. About an hour later I woke up with complete amnesia. I didn't know my name, mom's name, son's name, where I was...nothing. I lay in bed for about 15 minutes and finally started recalling everything. This happened for about 3 nights straight. It even happens when I take naps. It's been a week and a half and it's starting to happen again.

Could this be Sleep Apnea?

I tried to get my neurologist to send me for a sleep study but it's a new neurologist for me and he wants to do an MRI, EEG and blood work first.

Sleep apnea is an interruption of/in breathing during sleep. There are three forms of sleep apnea: Central (having to do with the brain's signal to breathe) Obstructive (having to do with physical obstructions to breathing e.g. snoring) and Complex/Mixed (a combination of the two)

I don't find amnesia mentioned anyplace as a symptom of apnea.

People with apnea often snore and/or awake in a start; is that happening?

Have you checked any medications you may be taking for side effects involving memory?

These times that you awoke and lay in bed for several minutes - were you able to move or did it seem like you were paralyzed?

How long has it been between your injury and these episodes manifesting?

I just found this; does it sound similar to what you're experiencing?
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Sleep-Dis...a-Awakened.htm

See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transie...leptic_amnesia

(just a couple of wild guesses)

Doc

People with apnea often snore and/or awake in a start; is that happening?
No snoring. I've heard that some people with Sleep Apnea do not snore. Especially those with Central Sleep Apnea as it has something to do with the brain stem being damaged. I'm usually startled when it happens.

Have you checked any medications you may be taking for side effects involving memory?

The only medicine I take that effects memory is Xanax. But I only take as needed and these episodes were happening before I started taking it.

These times that you awoke and lay in bed for several minutes - were you able to move or did it seem like you were paralyzed?

I'm able to move when it happens..I actually sit up real fast in a panic.

How long has it been between your injury and these episodes manifesting?
My injury happened in June/2011 and this started in October. It doesn't happen every night, just once in awhile...but when it does happen, it's very scary.

I just found this; does it sound similar to what you're experiencing?
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Sleep-Dis...a-Awakened.htm

Very similar to what I've been experiencing.

Nick,

You may have to jump through the hoops to get the sleep study you want. It's possible that you've developed a central apnea, but that usually occurs more regularly (several times a night, every night) than just once in a while. I think it's more likely (and I'm not a doctor) that it may be the epileptic seizure alluded to in that first link, which may also be why the neurologist wants the other tests done - to either confirm or rule out that possibility. It may just be medically prudent to proceed in this order.

Doc