Near death, explained

[icymist]

New science is shedding light on what really happens during out-of-body experiences -- with shocking results.
Mario Beauregard


Mopic via Shutterstock

This article was adapted from the new book "Brain Wars", from Harper One.

In 1991, Atlanta-based singer and songwriter Pam Reynolds felt extremely dizzy, lost her ability to speak, and had difficulty moving her body. A CAT scan showed that she had a giant artery aneurysm—a grossly swollen blood vessel in the wall of her basilar artery, close to the brain stem. If it burst, which could happen at any moment, it would kill her. But the standard surgery to drain and repair it might kill her too.

With no other options, Pam turned to a last, desperate measure offered by neurosurgeon Robert Spetzler at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Spetzler was a specialist and pioneer in hypothermic cardiac arrest—a daring surgical procedure nicknamed “Operation Standstill.” Spetzler would bring Pam’s body down to a temperature so low that she was essentially dead. Her brain would not function, but it would be able to survive longer without oxygen at this temperature. The low temperature would also soften the swollen blood vessels, allowing them to be operated on with less risk of bursting. When the procedure was complete, the surgical team would bring her back to a normal temperature before irreversible damage set in.

Essentially, Pam agreed to die in order to save her life—and in the process had what is perhaps the most famous case of independent corroboration of out of body experience (OBE) perceptions on record. This case is especially important because cardiologist Michael Sabom was able to obtain verification from medical personnel regarding crucial details of the surgical intervention that Pam reported. Here’s what happened.

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/21/near_death_explained/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

[hollysmom]

1. I have many friends who claim to have had near death experiences,

and out of body experience, yet when I died, I just remember being very tired and going to sleep. I have no idea what happened in the room. I wanted to ask them why they were bringing in the crash cart and I remember the alarms going off in the room and my brother sitting next to me crying I wanted to talk to them,. but figured I needed a nap and I would talk to them later. Never did, Just closed my eyes and went to sleep. Did laziness make me miss that out of body experience? It happened 3 times, I never got to talk to anyone, it was just too hard and I really just wanted to go to sleep.

Edited: I said claim because I did not know any of them at their respective experience time, so I take their word as a remembered experience.

[hollysmom]

5. I remember very clearly

There was waking up because the alarms went off and seeing my blood pressure drop to 0 and seeing my brother sitting there crying. I wanted to talk to him but just felt so tired. I closed my eyes and went to sleep. What is there to forget. Why would I have an out of body experience if I remember going to sleep and making a decision to do it? Maybe people with out of body experiences made it up. Maybe both are true. Why should I be doubted and others accepted?

Look, I understand that people who are alive but under anesthesia remember hearing words in an operating room. But they are still alive. I saw myself die, but for some reason just assumed I would wake up. I saw the crash cart, heard the people yelling, but it was just so annoying when I was trying to sleep and they would not let me sleep on my side, I remember being pushed on my back I fought them, but was just too tired.
I was not passed out or knocked out. I was dead. The doctor said I didn't wake up for 3 days because they had to flush the medications out of my blood stream that caused the problem, but I had died 3 times and had to be resuscitated and medicated to reverse the problem, I remember waking up and the alarms going off 2 times, the first time I was was sitting up and awake having just walked into the emergency room.

Note: the problem was I had been put on blood pressure medication and told to take the pills twice a day every day. That was fine while I was stressed at work, but when I went on vacation I kept taking the pills and I did not monitor my blood pressure like I do today. Apparently my blood pressure was normal away from work and I kept lowering it, so there was a build up in my blood of unneeded medication. I am happy that it waited until i was to go back to work because the doctor was in her office and told me to go to the ER as soon as I described the dizziness, I was awake and not at home where I would have just gone to sleep. As a warning to people who are just put on blood pressure, monitor to make sure you have the right dose. I have heard from a lot of people who seemed to die quietly in their house or sleep after starting blood pressure medication.

[hollysmom]

7. I m not a person looking for fight, but in saying I don't remember you are dismissing what I said.

This way you get to keep your beliefs without having to consider my experience as complete. There is nothing I can say or do that would convince you that I did not have an out of body experience because your bias is that I did.

The difference between me and people I have talked to that have had near death experiences is that mine was a dead death. No heart beat. I can believe that people who were near death have had out of body, I just have more of an issue that people who were dead did. I will add that I felt a great peace and this experience has removed my fear of death. I hope this is a comfort to people.

I do remember some things that have happened when I was under anesthesia though, like one doctor making jokes about me while I was under and could be considered out of body, I called him on it when I came for follow up and it was true. I also remember hearing a racket when I just got out of the operating room, the woman next to me had died under anesthesia and they were trying to resuscitate her, I heard the noise for a long time and finally I realized I could just wake up and tell them to shut up. I didn't realize the emergency, just general noise. They were shocked I woke up and took me out of the recovery room quickly while I was supposed to stay under for more than than the few minutes I was in recovery. I was supposed to have her anesthesiologist, but there was something not right about him and I told the doctor I would leave the hospital if that guy was to put me under. So I paid 500 more for anesthesiologist out of the plan and I lived. The next woman went in for a nose job and she died for no discernible reason. I don't know what was wrong with that guy, but something about him just said no, not him.

Peace - and always ask to meet the anesthesiologist before an operation.

[magical thyme]

9. it was not my intention to dismiss what you wrote

apparently I did not then, and I do not now, understand your point. Pardon my stupidity. It will be removed.

[orleans]

2. thanks for this link

i'm gonna check out the book. i've read about the story with the woman seeing the shoe on the window ledge and i believe these nde happen but i've never known anyone personally who had one (including two people who were clinically dead and then were revived).

[arikara]

3. I had a NDE

Something happened during a surgery and I went into the light. I spent time with my younger brother who had died in a car crash 5 years earlier. Although I didn't want to leave, he told me I had to go back because my daughter needed me. So I did, and when I woke up the doctors and nurses were visibly relieved.

It left me with the knowledge that death is not the end of things it is only a transition, and that I will see my loved ones again. I am a happier and better person for the experience, and I am very much looking forward to going into the light when I can stay there.

[SheilaT]

8. The stories that we now label as Near Death Experiences

have been around for a very long time.

In the early 1960's I read any number of books on paranormal phenomena, and what are now called NDE's were well reported in those books. And no, I don't recall titles and authors because I read them a good fifty years ago.

While I have not myself had any such experience, I have never doubted the veracity of such reports.

[cantbeserious]

10. Thank You For Sharing

eom

[WCLinolVir]

11. I have had an NDE as a child. Mine was not typical.

But I find that many of them are not. There was no white light, and I did not see any dead relatives. I did see the man who saved me pull me from the ocean and try mouth to mouth. At least I assume he did. I was up pretty high and suddenly was just sucked back into this body through the solar plexus. Without will. But it is an experience I have never forgotten and changed my life of course. The feelings, are indescribable. I think that we all have different experiences due to our evolving souls that spend time here on earth. I know without a doubt that whoever I may be in this life, it is hard to compare to the immensity of my true soul. I was 5 years old. I wrote something that I will post to explain. I have to find it.