Kelly S Anesthesia

Experience Description

I had been in labor for 24 hours after being induced. Eventually, the nurses came in and said we were in a dire situation because of our vital signs. The only one I really remember is that they said the baby’s heart rate was dangerously high. They informed me that both of our lives were in danger.

When I was wheeled into the operating room, a curtain was placed across my chest, and my arms were tied out to the sides like a cross. I could not see anything happening on the other side of the curtain. I could only see my boyfriend and the anesthesiologist on my side.

I was supposed to remain awake, with the epidural providing the anesthesia, but I actually felt them cut into me. I said, “Ouch!” My last waking memory was of someone asking whether I had felt that and the anesthesiologist saying, “Night night.”

The out-of-body experience was very wild. I found myself in the upper corner of the room, on the opposite side from where my head was positioned. I could not see myself or my boyfriend because of the curtain and the group of doctors and nurses working on me.

From the angle where I was, I could see about 75 percent of the anesthesiologist sitting on a stool and watching the medication. I could also see the backs of the doctors and nurses who were working on me. There was a nurse handling the instruments on a tray and passing them back and forth. The tray was positioned to the right of my feet, fairly close to the anesthesiologist. On my left, there were several nurses assisting in other ways. The doctor and either a nurse or another doctor were actively working on me.

Another thing I remember very clearly is how extremely cold it was. I felt as cold as I had ever been. The room itself was extremely well lit, but the area where I was, and the space behind me, was dim to dark.

I remember being mildly confused and wondering how I could be seeing the back side of the surgery from high up in the room. At no point did I think that I might have died. The experience was very brief. I was definitely “back in my body” before the baby was completely out.

Afterward, I was never told whether they had lost me during the surgery. I slept for 12 hours before I even knew whether I had given birth to a boy or a girl, or whether the baby had survived. They could not wake me.

I had also been battling a lung infection, and about a week later I returned to the hospital in poor condition and stayed for several nights.

Since then, I have had general anesthesia multiple times, as well as other types of twilight sedation, and I have never even dreamed during those procedures, much less had another experience like this one.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 03/12/1996

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
I had to have an emergency C-section after 24 hours of labor. Both of our lives were at risk. I was also battling a lung illness that brought me back to the hospital a week later.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Neither pleasant NOR distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? I clearly left my body and existed outside it
Some of it was verified through my boyfriend who was in the surgery room. But since he was sitting by my head, next to the curtain, he could only verify minimal amounts.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? It seemed very brief, so the entire experience.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness? Normal consciousness and alertness

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Were your senses more vivid than usual? No

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience It seemed exactly the same, except I could not have been where I was viewing from.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Now that you mention it, I have no recollection of sound during the experience.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

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

Did you see or feel surrounded by a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Confusion

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? No

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? No

Did you suddenly understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain
Behind me, I was aware of cabinets in the surgery room, but at the same time it felt as if it was dark and not really those cabinets.

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

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Unaffiliated - Agnostic

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated - Agnostic

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
I had not believed, and to a degree still don't, in an afterlife. My belief at the time was that you just cease to exist when you die. This experience has been the only thing ever that has made me question if there is more after death.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)? No

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? No

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

During your experience, did you gain information about love? No

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? No changes in my life
There really weren't any until 25-30 years later. I didn't think about it a lot with the busyness of life until I reached my 40s. Now that I am contemplating death more as I get older, I think about that out-of-body experience more and what it might mean.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience? I remember the experience as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience
I remembered the experience and considered it for a few years. Then I shelved thinking about it until recently. But the memory is still clear.

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? That it was so cold and dark behind me. It didn't seem creepy at the time, but looking back it kind of does.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I'm not sure, but fairly quickly, within weeks.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Uncertain
I can't remember if I did or not. It was before the age of the internet for me, so I'm not sure if I had information about NDEs.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
It felt different than a dream. It was just like I was awake, but I wasn't.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I experienced it. Whatever 'it' was. It wasn't a dream.

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

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

Anything else to add? No