The the voices of the theatre staff came back to me, and I was pulled violently back into my body, I started to feel pain in my throat as they pulled out the tube. I felt 'heavy' being back inside my body, and wanted to go back to where I'd been. I had a headache for two days afterwards and a feeling that I didn't really belong in this world, but that it was my duty to stay.  The world seemed so grey, so heavy, almost 'dead' compared to my experience. It took me some days to get used to it all again! It was as if I'd been away for ages.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     Uncertain

Anesthesia during a routine op. While coming round I stopped breathing and had to be given oxygen.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes

The sudden change of feelings and the sense that time was dislocated. I was not dead but I was out of my body.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes

My throat closed up and I couldn't breath.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           Explained above.,

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No.

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

Yes, I was aware of my body lying there but didn't see it as I was looking elsewhere.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Surprise then utter bliss. Complete indifference to what was happening to my body. Confusion and disappointment at coming back.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           No.  The voices of the staff faded away, but there was no sound.  I seemed to 'mind read' the words I heard and spoke.

LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?    No

Did you see a light?           No

The opposite. I saw a blackness, but it was welcoming and not frightening.  The way you like the dark if you have a migraine.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes

Someone was behind me, guiding me, but I never saw them.  They were neither male or female, it was just 'someone'.  I cannot describe the voice as it was not audible. I 'mind read' their words.

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? No

I felt no power.  Others had the power, I felt as if I was 'following orders' and was very happy to do so.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes

Described above.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes

Everything was different, but the same.  The 'here' and 'now' are one place.  The same with time.  It's all the same.  There's no linear time.  No space as we know it.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Yes

There's a time for everything.  A role for everyone.  A reason for everything.  The purpose of life is not just our own happiness.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             Uncertain

Big open doorway, comforting soothing blackness beyond. No fear.  I was going towards it, but came back.

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       Yes

I didn't want to return to my body, but was forced.

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

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       I have the same liberal beliefs as before.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Uncertain

I think about the experience quite often and wonder if there is a logical explanation for it or not.  I don't know if I would like to find out it's only a a physiological response to anesthesia.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

The doctors said it's just a symptom of the anesthesia.  Some friends were obviously nervous about it, didn't like to talk about death etc!  My daughter was scared too.  No one seems to feel like I do about it all.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Disappointment at being back on earth!  This gradually changed to appreciation of life, which I'd always felt.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Best-bliss of being out of the body.  Worst - being dragged back.

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

Not since but BEFORE, when I was seven.  During a tonsils operation, I could see the doctors and nurses working on my body as I hovered near the ceiling.  I recalled that they wore green clothes (which they only wore in the theatre and which of course I'd never seen before).

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

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    If the person had had any similar experiences BEFORE the one they're relating.