Experience description:

I am 70 now, but my experience == which was really an �out of body� experience == occurred at age 14 when I had polio myelitis.  Hospitalized at LACGH in 1954 with a high fever (104) and horrid headache.  Suddenly I left my body and was floating outside the hospital several floors up.  I was concerned but not really frightened.  I looked back into my hospital room where I saw myself in my bed.  I made the decision that this �wasn�t right� and suddenly�with the feeling of being turned inside out (literally)� I returned to the confines of my body.  I had planned to be a physician since about age 13 and did become a physician (Internal Medicine) and was in practice for 35 years.  Am now retired.

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

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

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    From beginning to end.

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:            From beginning to end.

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.)?  Uncertain     

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      Do not recall hearing anything.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Curiosity and then fear.

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?          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?   Yes    

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

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?     No      

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes    

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No      

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    I put it out of my mind; but the experience "nagged" at me.  I did not tell my parents about it.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?   

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    I view the experience as evidence that "I" am separate from my body.  That is, that I am a spiritual entity living in and communicating with the physical world with my body.

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