Calling All ATS Members -- Senior Member Needs Help

OK Guys I need some help. Please read the story I'm about to write. This story is 100% true and it happened yesterday.

Something really strange happened to one of my best friends yesterday. I got a phone call with some scary news at about 9pm yesterday. One of my best friends who's currently living in Pennsylvania was found in an open field completely unconscious. He was found by some people and immediately sent to the Hospital. When he finally came to in the hospital after a couple of hours he had no recollection of what happened to him. Now hold on folks because this is where the story gets strange.......... he had no recollection of the past 3-4 months of his life. I mean nothing. He had no idea where he was, what happened to him.... nothing. It's as if the last 4 months of his life were erased.

The Dr's at the hospital did tests on him and everything and you know what they found? Absolutely nothing. They said there was nothing physically wrong with him. Finally he was released from the hospital and his brother took him home and he fell asleep. Now this afternoon after being worried all day I finally spoke to my friend to try and get some answers. He says the last thing he remembers was being back home in Puerto Rico leaving a class at the University we go to with some friends. After that he says the next thing he remembers is a white light and then waking up at the hospital. He told me he has no idea what happened to him, or how he ended up in that field.

But here's where the story gets even weirder. I asked him if he noticed anything strange about himself. He said that his arms felt heavy and his head felt like it was being pressured. Other than that he was feeling normal.

I was told by his brother that he had a similar episode like this one when he was a child. I�m worried about this and I�m looking for help from the members of this community.

Questions:
1) Has anyone heard of something similar happening to someone you know? Have you heard of this before?
2) If you have heard of it tell me your story
3) I know many members here are research specialists so if any of you can come up with articles or anything that can shed some light into this I will greatly appreciate it.
4) Any theories? I don't care how ridiculous you may think it sounds..... I want to hear it.

Anyways guys I would like to thank you in advance and hope together we can figure out the mystery of what happened to my friend, because frankly... I�m worried.


Ocelot

UPDATE: I have gotten some more details and apparently I was mistaken on where he was found. He wasn't found in a field. He was found sitting down on a rock completely unresponsive covered in dry leaves. Sorry for the mistake since I just received updated info from one of my friends.

[edit on 28-10-2004 by Ocelot]

[edit on 29-10-2004 by Ocelot]

There must be some kind of evidence of him being SOMEWHERE for the last few months.

There are several different things that can cause temperary black outs, drugs, seizures,etc.

Stroke.. trauma/attack... seizure...epilepsy... events in the brain that can have one lose conciousness. Usually damage in the brain or a mental disorder cause memory loss. You're posting this in the medical section so I'd guess you're not leaning towards an abduction theory.

Multiple Personality Disorder is also a possibility - zap out and "someone else" is in charge. People who have reportedly had MPD almost always have memory loss. Any history of mental illness? High stress?

Edit: Oh ya.. brain injury would explain the arm and head symptoms also.

[edit on 28-10-2004 by RedBalloon]

Has amnesia been ruled out?

A few questions may help understand the situation a little better. Did you see or talk to your buddy during those four months? Or did he disappear from view in your circle of mutual friends?

What kind of tests were done? Anything like a brain scan? Causes of memory loss are numerous.

I was wondering if maybe he was mugged or had a breakdown. Sometimes severe psychological trauma can lead to a repression of memories beginning at the time of the event.

Has anyone tried to retrace his steps over the last couple of months? ATM receipts, school, work, people in the neighborhood.

It would be frightening to lose so much time and not have an explanation for it. I hope all works out with your friend.

Bleys-

Has he ever been treated for a psychiatric condition?

It sounds almost like dissociative amnesia or a fugue.

Originally posted by Gools
What kind of tests were done? Anything like a brain scan? Causes of memory loss are numerous.

Yeah I was told they tested every single thing and he was normal. Nothing out of the ordinary. Only thing the Dr's found were some puncture marks in one of his arms. (no he doesn't do any drugs of any kind)

Have you talked to him in these past couple months that he doesn't remember, on the phone maybe?

I was thinking that if you had, try to bring up something that you guys talked about and see if you can ring any bells.

Originally posted by Amuk
There must be some kind of evidence of him being SOMEWHERE for the last few months.

There are several different things that can cause temperary black outs, drugs, seizures,etc.

Well his brother and his brother's girlfriend live like 5 minutes from his Apartment and they see each other every day. Plus I talk to him on the phone like every two weeks. Last time I spoke to him before this happened was last week and he was fine.

Everyone is sidestepping the obvious, this sounds like some kind of abduction to me.

[edit on 28-10-2004 by kinglizard]

Originally posted by Gools
A few questions may help understand the situation a little better. Did you see or talk to your buddy during those four months? Or did he disappear from view in your circle of mutual friends?

Yeah I talked to him almost every day on MSN and on the phone like every two weeks. So we've been in constant contact.

Frankly, it sounds like a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack.)

These are "non-strokes" and may affect short term memory and may cause stroke-like symptoms in limbs. They can be very serious. I'd have him talk to his doctor and get more evaluations. If it is TIA, he's at higher risk than usual for a real stroke:
www.aafp.org...

(here's the "Plain English" version):
www.ninds.nih.gov...

And more:
www.emedicine.com...

I'd encourage him to take an aspirin a day and get to the doc, muy pronto!

Originally posted by kinglizard
Everyone is sidestepping the obvious, this sounds like some kind of abduction to me.

The thought crossed my mind but I've read widely on the abduction phenomena and I've know that abductes forget the events but I've never heard of a case of them lossing 4 months worth of memories. Only a couple of hours of "missing time" but not 4 months.

So you did talk to him within the last three months that he can not recall?

Did he mention anything out of the ordinary?

Has he met new people?

Has he made new friends?

Has he made any enemies?

Originally posted by Thatoneguy
So you did talk to him within the last three months that he can not recall?

Did he mention anything out of the ordinary?

Has he met new people?

Has he made new friends?

Has he made any enemies?

1) Yes he doesn't recall absolutely nothing
2) Now that you mention it he did tell me something weird happened to him like 3 weeks ago. He said he was alone in his apartments and he saw shadows out of the corners of his eyes and he felt what he described as an "evil presence" in his room. He was really freaked out by it. He said when it happened he just went to bed and slept because it freaked him out.
3) Yes he's met new people
4) I dont think he's made many new friends. He keeps to himself most of the time
5) He's the nicest guy you'll ever meet. I've never known him having an enemy in his life.

I'm terribly sorry to hear of what has happened to your friend,
very sad for both his family and yourself.

Question you stated PR...
Did he have any enemies?? Known??

Santeria??

Did anyone notice any out of character behaviour or even subtle changes starting 4-5 months ago?

Anything at all?

Originally posted by LL1
I'm terribly sorry to hear of what has happened to your friend,
very sad for both his family and yourself.

Question you stated PR...
Did he have any enemies?? Known??

Santeria??

Thanx LL1.

I've never known him to have any enemies. He's way too nice a guy.

About Santeria I really don't know. I could ask him next time I talk to him but I really couldn't say.

Okay he keeps to himself. I know how that is.

In his own words he says felt an evil presence.

Is he involved in any magic practices of any kind?