I wonder if anyone can help me.
Over the last year, my step-mother has been suffering from frequent and serious bouts of memory loss and we have no idea what condition she might be suffering from. She is 64 years of age, and had never suffered from any psychiatric disorders before. About a year ago, she started having spells where she would become completely vacant and trance-like for two or three minutes and would not be able to tell where she was or even recognise close relatives. She'd come out of the hypnotic state a few minutes later and would have no recollection of it happening. These spells are now happening once every few weeks.
These spells coincided with the onset of memory loss. This has become progressively worse as well. Whole chapeters of her recent life have become completely erased from her memory. She and my dad can go away for weekends and by the following week, she's forgotten it. She couldn't even recall the death of my grandmother, which happened a few months ago. Last night, she had an important meeting with her boss at work, and by this morning she couldn't remember a single thing about it.
As I say, the bouts of memory loss have coincided with her having the trance-like spells, i.e. within the last twelve months. Ask her about anything that happened in her life more than twelve months ago, and she has no problem recalling it.
My dad has taken her to two specialists, but neither of them have been able to diagnose her condition. The second one felt fairly confident that she wasn't suffering from dementia.
The thing is, she has been drinking heavily for many years (very heavily - like half a bottle of sprits every night), and I am wondering if this is a cause.
She still goes to work and lives a relatively normal life, but the condition is becoming progressively worse. I'm not sure if she will be able to hold down her job for long.
I'd be grateful if anyone has any advice of suggestions.
Over the last year, my step-mother has been suffering from frequent and serious bouts of memory loss and we have no idea what condition she might be suffering from. She is 64 years of age, and had never suffered from any psychiatric disorders before. About a year ago, she started having spells where she would become completely vacant and trance-like for two or three minutes and would not be able to tell where she was or even recognise close relatives. She'd come out of the hypnotic state a few minutes later and would have no recollection of it happening. These spells are now happening once every few weeks.
These spells coincided with the onset of memory loss. This has become progressively worse as well. Whole chapeters of her recent life have become completely erased from her memory. She and my dad can go away for weekends and by the following week, she's forgotten it. She couldn't even recall the death of my grandmother, which happened a few months ago. Last night, she had an important meeting with her boss at work, and by this morning she couldn't remember a single thing about it.
As I say, the bouts of memory loss have coincided with her having the trance-like spells, i.e. within the last twelve months. Ask her about anything that happened in her life more than twelve months ago, and she has no problem recalling it.
My dad has taken her to two specialists, but neither of them have been able to diagnose her condition. The second one felt fairly confident that she wasn't suffering from dementia.
The thing is, she has been drinking heavily for many years (very heavily - like half a bottle of sprits every night), and I am wondering if this is a cause.
She still goes to work and lives a relatively normal life, but the condition is becoming progressively worse. I'm not sure if she will be able to hold down her job for long.
I'd be grateful if anyone has any advice of suggestions.
