I've had
contrast during MRI's 7-8 times before so there was no reason to think of having
any problems. I had just gone thru an hour and 40 minutes of NO contrast MRI
. We were getting ready to do the last 20 minutes of WITH contrast. The guy
found my vein, injected the contrast and started to push me back under the
table. Immediately I started having a severe reaction. I started screaming,
"pull me out! pull me out! something's wrong!" I knew there was a severe
problem. I've never felt like this. I've handled lots of problems - including
brain surgery like a champ.
They
pulled me out sat me up and put me in another chair. Someone called 911 and
they discussed shooting me with epinephrine and how much. Meanwhile, I couldn't
breathe through my nose and my chest was clamping down. They couldn't find my
pulse or heart beat. I started convulsing and was trying to tell them what
diseases I already had and to be super careful with my neck because of the
syringomyelia. They could paralyze me if they turned my head wrong. Just my
hands and arms were flopping around. I was crying at first because they were in
my face asking me if I was itching. That's a first stage allergic reaction. I
was in the severe stage. The Office Mgr lady recognized it. Too bad the stupid
dr. didn't.
Finally I
start seeing a tunneling view of my vision. It's darkening around the sides of
my vision. There's a clarity in my mind of what this means. I can hear these
people still asking me questions. I ask for a Kleenex because I can't breathe
out of my nose. Someone hands me one. I blow my nose and then it no longer
matters. It's getting darker and darker around the sides. I'm in a dark tunnel.
I can't hear them like before. All of a sudden the lady grabs my face and is in
the center of the tunnel (she got right in my face as she saw me slipping away
shouted at me) I wanted to explain I was sorry and didn't want to scare them,
that it wasn't their fault, don't worry, I'm not afraid. I'm a believer in
Jesus and know where I'm going and it's safe. All I can get out is a whisper,
"Ma'am, I'm sorry, I'm dying now." She is screaming something about me not
dying and something about if they'd given me the epinephrine. I guess they had
because just as it's getting darker and darker I'm ripped backwards into pain
and my body convulsing and noise and an ambulance, fire trucks, yelling, etc. I
guess the epi worked. I'm back. NOW I'm scared because I was on my way out and
I was heading out without anyone I loved there to say good bye. I started
crying because it was so sad that I had to go with no one to say good bye to
me. By the time the ambulance got me to the hospital I was perfectly fine. No
need to check into the hospital. But, I've done nothing but sleep since.
Was the
kind of experience difficult to express in words?
Uncertain That I "knew" I was dying. I started seeing tunnel vision...
At the
time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?
Uncertain I was having the most severe reaction you can have to the contrast
to gandolinium contrast used in MRI's. There are three levels and I was at the
rare level. The level that can kill you while the stupid dr was asking me the
questions back at the first level, "Do you itch?". I was dying and this guy was
asking if I was itching. Good thing the Office Mgr. lady was on the ball and
called 911.
At what
time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and
alertness?
Right before the tunnel vision happened and right after the epi worked and I was
"brought back"
How did
your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare
to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?
More consciousness and alertness than normal
If your
highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different
from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:
Everything seemed "crystal clear" like there was no mistaking what was going on.
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.)?
Yes Well, I don't normally have tunnel vision.
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.)?
Uncertain As I was going dying the voices around me either didn't
matter to me and I tuned them out or my body just shut them out. Not sure
Did you
experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?
No
What
emotions did you feel during the experience?
DURING the exact moments I didn't feel any emotion. I wasn't afraid
because of my faith, but I also wasn't excited. I just "was".
Did you
pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?
Uncertain
My vision had started to tunnel, I hadn't started to pass thru it yet when the
epi started working. My thoughts are that had I gone any further, then I would
have left the body and started "walking" thru the tunnel. Maybe I was just so
aware at the beginning that I noticed it with my eyes before my soul separated
from my body and started walking. I know this is scientific and you only want
what I DID experience, but I will say that had I walked I KNOW I would have saw
Him. I just didn't get to that part. *Him is Jesus Christ, of course*
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?
No
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?
Uncertain Things seemed to be in slow-motion while seeing the tunnel. Like
I was barely just starting to see it and given just a few more moments I would
have been walking, but it was incredibly slow motion like. I had the feeling
that the vision is slo-mo and then the walking would have been speeded up. It's
strange to tell how I know this. I've always had weird experiences but try not
to think about them because they seem to clash with my faith.
Did you
have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?
Uncertain The only special knowledge was that I knew, without a doubt, was
that I was dying.
Did you
reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?
No
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?
Uncertain I don't know yet. I feel "different". I don't WANT anything like
that unless it comes from God. I do know that something is different, but if
it's something freaky I WON'T be talking about it or sharing it. I'm not "SideShow
Jen."
Have
you shared this experience with others?
Uncertain I've told my husband and some of my online friends that I almost
died. I've told my oldest brother that I almost died and saw the tunnel, etc.
That's about it. My oldest brother I'll tell everything if the time comes. My
DH and friends don't need to be bothered with weirdness. My brother is goofy
like me and will get a kick out this stuff.
Did you
have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?
Uncertain Meaning? From watching tv? Everyone's seen stuff like that
before. I haven't done any research or anything. I only Google'd this site
because of what happened to me last Friday freaked me out and I wanted to see if
anyone else has gone through what I have. I'm guessing that's a big YES!
How did
you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it
happened:
Experience was definitely real It just happened a few days ago. I can tell
you years from now that I will still believe that it is definitely real.
Were
there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or
significant to you?
It showed me
how truly awful it would be to die alone.
How do
you currently view the reality of your experience:
Experience was definitely real Real...again it just happened a few days
ago.
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?
Yes
It's drawing me
closer to God.
Following the
experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or
substances which reproduced any part of the experience?
No
Is
there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?
Nothing,
thank you.
Did the
questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and
comprehensively describe your experience?
Yes
