Joyce Y NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

Before the birth of my son, I had pre-eclampsia (now called pregnancy induced hypertension PIH) and was on bed rest for a couple weeks (the due date was March 3). February 16, 1979, I was admitted to the hospital because of the PIH.  I went into labor early morning of the 18th. I know I was given an injection of MgSO4 during labor. (I don't know if I was given more than one magnesium sulfate injection.) My son was born about 9:30 that night. Several hours later, I remember fumbling around for my call bell but couldn't find it. I knew something was very wrong. I weakly called out, "Help me, someone help me." I had a roommate (this was before the days of husbands being present all the time and rooms were semi-private.) My roommate asked me if I needed help and I said yes. I remember saying, "Oh, Mom." What I remember next was being somewhere near the ceiling in the corner of the room at the end by head of the bed. I saw nurses beside the bed, taking my blood pressure. I have no recollection of what else they were doing. I distinctly remember looking down at them working on me. The next thing I remember is waking up with a blood pressure cuff around my arm and complaining it was too tight. The nurse explained she had left it on so she didn't have to put it on and off each time they took my BP since they were taking it very frequently. I was later told they wanted to put me in the Intensive Care Unit but the unit was full. I later asked the doctor what happened and he didn't have a ready answer, except that the MgSO4 might have caused my blood pressure to bottom out. I did not tell him about my OBE.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Uncertain      My blood pressure dropped significantly

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    I don't know.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    Normal consciousness and alertness

            I don't know.

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  No      

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            No      

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Uncertain

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I don't recall any specific emotions.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No      

Did you see a light?           No      

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No      

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Uncertain      I did ask the nurses what happened and I read my medical record a year or so later.

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?           No           

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   No      

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain      I was just at the ceiling level but had no thought or desire of going outside the room. It just seemed as if I was observing the activity around the bed and my body.

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     No      

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     It was probably about 20 years later that I told some friends about my experience when we were discussing OBEs and NDEs. They were somewhat sceptical about such experiences at the beginning of the conversation, but seemed to believe me when I told them what I had experienced.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    Yes            Only a general knowledge of some claiming to have had OBEs or NDEs, but I questioned their validity. My own experience changed my mind but I don't think it had any bearing on the actual experience itself.

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    I knew what happened was real but didn't feel like I wanted to tell anyone about it. I don't know if it was because I thought no one would believe me, but I just didn't feel compelled to share about it.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            None that I can think of.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    I know what I saw and experienced. It was not a dream. Now that OBEs and NDEs are more talked about, I feel more validated and am not afraid to share about the experience.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            No           

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No                 

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes    

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   Perhaps there could be more distinction between OBE and NDE. During my OBE, I did not feel like I was dying. There was nothing to make me afraid or joyful. I just know I was observing from outside my body. It seems that there can be OBE without NDE.