Hi. My name is Matt, and I recently suffered my 4th major concussion in less than two years. While the first three didn't carry huge side effects (some dizziness, nausea, etc), the symptoms following this last one are starting to worry me. The concussion happened about 3 weeks ago. Over the past few weeks, I have started to experience memory lapses or "lost time." Case in point...last week I apparently got out of bed, got dressed, walked to a corner store in a rain storm, and bought a bottle of water. I don't remember any of it. I suddenly just realized that I was soaking wet and had a bottle of water and receipt...but no recollection of any of it.

Has anyone else experienced these "time lapses" following a concussion? If so, do they subside with time? Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Matt

Hi Matt

Welcome to the forum. Very nice and competent people will help you here.

First, read the vitamins stickie at the top. Good nutrition is really important for healing your injured brain from the inside out.

I would also add to either reduce caffeine to not more than 100 mg a day or reduce it to get off it completely. Don't drink alcohol during your recovery and really just try to rest and zone out with audiobooks or anything else you can to let your brain heal

I can't remember your other questions right now, so I will post this and other members will weigh in too.

Sincerley

poetrymom

Thanks for responding so quickly. Much of what you said makes me feel better (at least in the lifestyle aspects of my recovery). I don't drink coffee or take in any caffeine. I rarely drink alcohol (none since the injury), and I have always maintained a healthy lifestyle.

The problem is that these concussions are an unfortunate result of another medical problem that has still not been diagnosed. About two years ago, my pulse and bp started falling to dangerously low levels. As a result of the sudden drops in blood pressure, I simply pass out. Unfortunately, during four of these episodes, I have hit my head really hard...knocking myself unconscious three times, taking a total of 20 staples in my head, and this last time, falling down my stairs and busting open my eye and forehead.

While I hate the dizziness and nausea, I can live with that. The cognitive dysfunction is what now has my attention. I have never "lost time" before, and it is a frightening thing.

I take a strong daily regiment of vitamins, but will read what you suggested. My only other question from my post was, in other people's experience, how long should I expect the cognitive dysfunction to last.

Thanks again for your reply and your kind words

Matt

Matt,

There is a saying with head injuries; If you have seen one head injury, you have seen ONE head injury. There is no way to compare head injuries nor predict how long a symptoms may last.

Are you being treated/followed by a doctor for your concussions ? I wonder if you are having TIA's (Transient Ischemic Attacks) sometimes called mini-strokes. They can cause memory lapses.

Are your drops in BP sudden then you regain your BP ? A vasovagal syncope disorder can have many triggers.

As disturbing as your cognitive symptoms are, I am more concerned about your loss of consciousness risks. I suffered petit mal seizures in high school. I also have lapses in memory. Any of these can create risks that are more serious than not remembering going to the corner store.

What kind of diagnostic tests have you had ?

Mark

First...thanks so much for responding and for your advice. To answer your questions:

My blood pressure does rise after the fainting spells, but still not back to a "normal level." They have me on Midodrine to help elevate it, but my typical bp (even with the Midodrine ) is ~65/45.

I have been seen in the past by neurologists for the previous concussions and have an appointment this week with a neurologist for this most recent. The ER docs after this past incident ran a CT scan and x-rays, but could not run an MRI due to the pacemaker that was implanted last summer after my pulse kept falling into the 25-30 range. The latest CT scan did reveal a hairline skull fracture after the last fall.

As for diagnostic tests...I have had my fair share. I will list the ones that I can remember
EKG
Echocardiogram
Valsava maneuver test
Tilt table
Stress tests
Autonomic reflex test
Electrocardiograph
Some type of nuclear imaging test
Extensive bloodwork
EEG
MRI (pre pace maker)
PET Scan

Those are the ones that I remember. I have been to both Mayo and the Cleveland Clinic, and the doctors are all stumped.

Can you think of any tests that might be relevant so that I can ask the neurologist when I see him?

I really do appreciate your reply...and I will gladly take any advice that I can get at this point

Thanks again!

Matt

When I first saw the title of your post, I thought yes, that happened to me! It was after my second concussion. I would be driving my car, check my blind spot, see that no one was there, and then go ahead and merge only to find a very big vehicle right there. I didn't feel like it was a problem with my Peripheral vision, because I got super paranoid about it and was very careful. It just seems like maybe I was operating in some altered reality or that time just moved more slowly for me but not for everyone else.

That said, your situation is different and more frightening. You should call your neurologist right away. I just think losing that much time is potentially dangerous too.

That said, I know that driving with an impaired brain is dangerous, and I did stop driving for a while after that. Unfortunately, driving eventually led to my third concussion. Also, I've had four concussions too! Not the club I wanted to join!

I've had a few "lost time" episodes. Well, practically every day if you want to get technical.

For example, I once thought I had lost a half hour; all my clocks seemed to have backed up 30 minutes. Then I realized it was the next day- Tuesday had suddenly become Wednesday. I hadn't lost a half-hour; I had gained 23-1/2 hours!

I have no idea what I did during that lost day. Hope I don't start finding weird things I don't own in my house. I don't believe I'm kidding!

I went to get my hair cut about 6 months after my accident. I went to a new place and the women started to chat with me and asked how I was doing. She had apparently cut my hair 2 months previous and I did not remember anything. It was rather embarrasing. I often can't remember what I was just doing or am suppose to do. I find if I am stressed or tired it is worse. No one can hurry me out the door or anywhere, I really have to take my time and stay calm and try not to put too many things in my mind or all is lost. I use to multi task prior to the accident, no longer ( I have become just like a man in the that respect - lol). It is quite the process to figure out what you can and can't do and what effects everything has. I try to keep my life as simple as possible and use lists and timers as much as possible to keep me on track. I have left the stove on twice, I now set timers or do not go out of the kitchen until I have finished everything and turned off everything.

Thanks again to all that have responded. It is comforting to know that there are others who understand my situation.

I am trying to get as much rest as possible. I am not allowed to drive at the moment, and I have been able to work from home since the accident. The problem (aside from the health issues) is that I work in Finance...where I am responsible for other people's money. They aren't going to keep letting me work from home forever...and unfortunately cognitive function is the single most important aspect of my job.

I hate this feeling that I am going to be forced to choose between my health and my career...or worse...that there won't be a choice. For those of you who have had memory lapses or have also lost time...have you found that these symptoms lessen with time?