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NDE was a result of surgery for a maxillary sinus uplift that preceded dental implants. The surgery consists of opening the gum line and exposing bone structure and grafting bone or a bone substitute. I had the same surgery on the left side ten years earlier under general anesthesia without complications. I have an abnormally low resting heart rate at 42-48 BPM and have been as low as 38 BPM. Anesthesia lowers the heart rate even further. I informed the anesthesiologist about my condition. The anesthesia was fed into my arm via an IV catheter. Shortly after the start of the procedure, I felt my legs go numb and then I couldn't move them. The paralysis crept up my body and into my chest, which constricted. The paralysis then proceeded up in to my neck and throat; I stopped breathing and started to panic. I tried to yell out but could not utter a word. I felt that I was being nailed inside a coffin. My body stiffened, I relaxed, and left my body. I could see myself outstretched and was floating above myself. Lucky, an alert dental technician saw my distress. The IV tubes were yanked out of my arm. I was resuscitated, came round and then passed out. The anesthesiologist met with my wife and verified that there was an incident that required resuscitation. After the incident, I became violently sick and remained that way for a couple of days. A feeling of detachment stayed with me for about 6 months. I felt as if I was in another dimension.
Background Information:
Gender: Male
Date NDE Occurred: September 2008 NDE Elements:
At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death'
How do you consider the content of your experience? Frightening
The experience included: Out of body experience
Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I clearly left my body and existed outside it
How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal As above.
At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I really do not know. I was aware of my surroundings and myself during the detachment and floating above myself.
Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual
Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning Altered space as I left my body and floated above myself.
Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid
Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. The vision was from a different plane and quite clear. I could see myself and others from a different plane.
Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out
Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No
Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them
Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No
Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin
Did you see an unearthly light? No
Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm I felt on another dimension as I left my body. I also felt on anotehr dimension for sdome time after the incident.
What emotions did you feel during the experience? At first terror as if being nailed inside a coffin alive. I was screaming inside of myself without making a sound. Then after a brief struggle with myself, I relaxed and left my body.
Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness
Did you have a feeling of joy? incredible joy
Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world
Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe
Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control
Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from the world's future
Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will God, Spiritual and Religion:
What was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal
Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No
What is your religion now? Liberal
Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No
Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin
Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:
During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No
Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes For a while after the experience I felt detached from relationships. I view life now as being too short and unpredictable to be pressured by certain people or events. My relationship with my wife changed for the better. My relationship with work has deteriorated due to increased pressure. As I think about the experience now, I feel it is time to improve my relationships. After the NDE:
Was the experience difficult to express in words? No
Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes I became detached and seemed to be in another dimension for about 6 months after the incident. Things became clear. What seemed to be important before no longer mattered. I am able to ‘visualize’ and have sensitivities that I did not have before the event.
Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The out of body experience and detached feelings afterwards.
Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Approximately one month afterwards. They reacted with curiosity about the out of body experience and how it made me feel.
Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No
What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I felt that I was given a second chance. The reality is that life is fleeting and I realized the importance of living life to the very best, both personally and in relationships. Death is imminent and the experience I had was just a prelude.
What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I still live the incident as a reality and as if it happened yesterday. Mine was not a pleasant experience and perhaps that is because I was not ready to go. There is hardly a week that goes by when I do not think about it.
At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No
I underwent twilight anesthesia procedure using Deprovera for oral surgery. I have a very low heart rate at 39-42 beats per minute. Too much or the wrong anesthesia will lower my heart rate even more and kill me. I warned the anesthesiologist about this condition. While he was busy giving instructions and watching the monitors rather than me, I had a reaction. Paralysis crept from my lower chest up through my esophagus, my throat, neck and my head. I started becoming distressed and suffered extreme shortness of breath. After a short period, I could no longer breathe. I tried to yell out, to scream but had no voice, no sound. It was like being in a coffin, buried and alive, with no one hearing me. I stopped breathing completely and could no longer move. I was at the point of straining trying to call out. Finally, an assistant heard a faint whisper come out of me ‘not breathing’. He still did not understand and the anesthesiologist was not paying attention. I then left my body and saw my physical body go limp. I was at the point of not returning. The technician who tried to catch my whisper saw what was happening. The anesthesia mask was ripped off my face, the IV was taken out and I was intubated. I came back in a panic, clawing and grabbing at everything. I was surprised how close I came and I immediately recalled being outside of my body watching myself go limp. The evening before the experience, I had a dream about two long dead friends who said ‘we are waiting for you’. I guess that they will have to wait a while longer. Up until two days ago, I had a strange feeling of being sad and melancholy. I am not a person who is greatly spiritual. I go to church, but I am a critical thinker. I am educated with two Masters Degrees. However, I know that something unusual happened and I definitely do not feel the same.
Date NDE Occurred: 'August 13, 2008' NDE Elements:
At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-relatedAllergic reaction 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death' 'Undergoing anesthesia, I had a reaction that paralyzed me. I quite breathing, tried to scream out, but could not, after some time, I saw my own body go from a paralysis state to being limp and unresponsive. I was resuscitated back to a breathing state an
How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Less consciousness and alertness than normal As above.
At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Before seeing my body go limp, I was very aware that I was on the edge of dying. After the limp body experience, I was aware of a panic stage in recovery. A week later, the anesthesiologist verified that the reaction and my condition was very real.
Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast
Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning Time seemed out of place somehow.
Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. It was hazy, but then, I was going under anesthesia. I had enough depth and perception that I saw myself go limp.
Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I heard voices but am uncertain if my hearing was any more acute or not.
The experience included: Presence of deceased persons
Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes See above comments about two long dead friends. They told me that they were waiting for me and I felt that they were.
Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No
The experience included: Strong emotional tone
What emotions did you feel during the experience? At first panic because I was aware of what was happening. Then, when I went limp, I felt myself giving up. For a brief moment when I started to go limp a calmness came over me.
Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control I now feel that dying is mostly in stages, if not instant, like a heart attack or auto accident. I am just learning to cope with the experience as it has been less than 10 days since the incident. I have had feelings of remorse, sadness and melancholy since the incident. I keep thinking about it and cannot shake off the thought that it is going to repeat itself.
Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain I feel different, which my wife commented on this evening. I told her that since the experience, I did not feel confident about my longevity and need to get things in order. After the NDE:
Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No
Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Seeing my body going from paralysis to limp and being aware that it was happening. I felt myself giving up, surrendering. Upon revival, I was in a state of panic, gasping for air under an oxygen mask and grabbing everything around me.
Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Within an hour of being revived I told my wife and her friend who drove me back home, a 2 hour trip.
Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I had a dream the evening prior to the incident about two long dead friends, husband and wife, 'were waiting for me'. It probably heightened my anxiety going into the procedure.
What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I knew it happened and why and it was verifiable. I became exhausted. People told me days afterwards that I looked exhausted, tired and somewhere else. I remained in that state until two days ago (7-8 days).
What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real See above comments. It was medically verifiable.
Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? This was real. I was at the stage of going limp and giving up. I constantly think about it.
I was given an anesthetic agent for a surgical procedure, to which I had a violent reaction. This was the same agent that killed Mich'l Jackson, Diprivan or Propofol. My heart rate when resting is very low and I could feel it drop lower, much lower. I became paralyzed up to my throat. I could not move nor speak. I felt that I was being nailed inside a coffin, alive. I stiffened up and stopped breathing. I was whispering, barely audibly, trying to alert someone to the fact that I could not breathe. Then I relaxed, felt like I was floating and left my body. I could see myself lying back in the surgical chair. A technician who saw my distress ripped off the anesthesia mask and I was resuscitated. I fought before relaxing and at the relaxation stage, I was giving up. At that point, I saw myself from above. I became violently ill that night and all of the next day. Then I started feeling a void and things have never felt the same since. At times, it feels like I am on a different plane of existence. The scary part is that I am due for another procedure on October 18th (in another week) and if this happens again, I feel it will be final. Right now I am getting things in order, just in case.
Date NDE Occurred: September 2009 NDE Elements:
At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related. Allergic reaction 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death' I was having surgery and had a violent allergic reaction.
At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? At the point of floating. I knew that I was dying.
Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning I was in an altered state to start. I could not judge time. Space was different as I seemed to be a part of it.
Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. My vision was slightly foggy but that could have been as a result of the anesthesia.
Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. There was no sound except from within me. I could hear myself screaming inside of myself. Sounds around me where more like whispers.
Did you see an unearthly light? Uncertain I did not see a sheer whiteness or bright lights. I thought that the scene seemed much brighter than normal.
Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm I felt another dimension or strange detachment and still do at times.
What emotions did you feel during the experience? Panic at first, like being nailed inside a coffin alive. I was clawing to get out but could not. I felt the paralysis and started screaming inside of myself as I could not scream verbally. I stiffened and my muscles became rigid. Then, as I started losing consciousness, I relaxed and felt I was floating. I felt more relaxed and I saw myself. I felt a calmness as I was floating away. But up until that moment I just felt sheer panic.
Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control It felt like I was on a different plane, like I experienced some void or detachment. I still feel this from time to time. Sometimes, I feel that the event was incomplete. For a while afterwards I did not care about surrounding things. I also feel that should this event occur again it will draw to an ultimate conclusion.
Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Uncertain I am a liberal and have spiritual beliefs that I merge with scientific evidence. One would probably call that agnostic. As of late, I have been preparing myself, through adult confirmation classes, for confirmation into the church.
Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain I am a liberal and have spiritual beliefs that I merge with scientific evidence. One would probably call that agnostic. As of late, I have been preparing myself, through adult confirmation classes, for confirmation into the church.
During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes As described above, I felt on a different plane or in a different dimension after the event and still have some of that feeling.
Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes The feeling of detachment seems to distance me in my relationships. After the NDE:
Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes I felt I was on a different plane, in a different dimension and felt detached for a long time afterwards. I really did not care about my surroundings; I had a feeling of ambivalence. I still have those feelings. I work with animals and since the event, I have noticed and feel that the animals have a special affinity to me. I can walk through our medical center and the animals waiting there gravitate to me. I sometimes feel like a St. Francis with the animals, but of course not that saintly.
Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Leaving my body and the subsequent feeling of being on a different plane or in a void.
Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I have only shared the feeling of being on a different plane, a void and the feeling of detachment. People have noticed and remarked about the animals, but that may also be due to my nature in general.
What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I viewed the reality with a strange detachment. It was a unique experience.
What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real It was real and the physiological response to the anesthesia was verified by the anesthesiologist and surgeon. I have done some research on the steps to death and feel that my experience replicates these other experiences as follows: 1) A life threatening event that shuts down body functioning. 2) An awareness of surroundings and the event taking place. 3) Panic, but being unable to do anything about it. 4) Paralysis and stiffening of muscle. 5) Relaxation. 6) Out of body with the ability to see oneself.
Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? I am going back to Mexico within a week of writing this. I do not have a comfortable feeling about the procedure. I have the feeling that I need to get things in order.
Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? A little more on the aftermath, of life after a NDE.
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