Rue A NDE

Experience Description

I was at The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to have magnetic resonance imaging done. Before they put me through it they had to give me a shot of iodine. I did have to sign a paper saying that they could not guarantee I would live through it. There is no test ahead of time that they can give and they said a very small amount of people die. I took the shot and almost immediately, there was this horrible surge of pressure. It became so much that I just passed out or something. Next, I felt I was floating upward. I did sense that I was leaving my body and I remember thinking, 'I'm dying -- I can't go -- I have too many things to do.' I was terrified -- I remember thinking I just can't die now. There seemed to be such a struggle and then I just started to float. I just remember floating upward and it was easy, I wasn't fighting anymore. I never got past the ceiling and I never looked down. Then I remember someone saying, 'I am here with you.' I remember saying, 'But I am floating away and I am dying.' She replied, 'We are here with you.' Then I opened my eyes and a brown bag was over my face. Many people were looking down on me. I first asked if I died. All they would say was, 'We are here to save lives.'

For about seven years, this stayed with me up front in my mind. About two years later, I looked up the nurse and asked her if I had died. All she said was, 'Not completely because you are here.' She said in her seven years that she had not seen a reaction like that. She wouldn't say anything more.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: June 1990

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain Allergic reaction Life threatening event, but not clinical death Adverse reaction to an injection I was given.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Disturbing

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes Somehow I seemed to know that my body was lying, but yet I felt I was leaving it and I knew this was how one dies.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I felt I was alert the whole time and I remember thinking that this was the process before one dies.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning I don't know how long, but probably not more than ten or fifteen minutes. I sensed it was short.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

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 I was terrified, not in control and wanting this to stop. I could not believe this was happening, but knowing it was. I was so, so, scared. An unbelievable terrifying experience. Then after the struggle, I seemed to float and I wasn't scared anymore. I was floating out of control.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

The experience included: Life review

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control I realized that I had not finished doing things I wanted to for my children. I realized I wasn't as organized as I wanted things to be and no one could see my place and all my personal things. I now have things ready so that if I die they may go through my things. I've got a will and personal books of myself to pass on when I do die.

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Conservative/fundamentalist

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I now know when people say they know they are dying and then floating, I now believe them.

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? No

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Floating.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Everyone seemed to believe me. I don't think it influenced anyone. On one really asked any questions. They just knew people have gone through experiences like mine.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? I would have as a question, 'What did you do or want to do with the information/experience you had?' I wanted to tell everyone, but one has to be careful whom they tell. And the doctor and nurses were no help to me. I wish I knew about this website then!!!!