This next story happened during my participation in a medical research study on Nov. 14/01. I had no intention to be the subject of an article in a medical journal, but based on what happened the principal investigator was so amazed that had to share the information. As part of this study, I had come to the hospital and was given various small doses of a drug called isoproterenol that increases the heart rate. I was lying on a bed and was told to just relax and at various internals the nurse would administer small incremental amounts through intravenous and there would be no communication during that time.
I did as I was told and closed my eyes so as to be completely relaxed and was not paying attention when received the doses. I think it was about 30 minutes to complete this part of the study. After I was done, the nurse asked me how I felt and said was fine, as I didn’t remember feeling anything at all. She did not reveal to me what she saw had happened on her monitor, so I just finished there and left.
I do not remember how long after, but was contacted to come and meet with the head of the research department, as he wanted to speak with me about the study. I do not remember now if I was told beforehand what happened or not. I came back to the same hospital and met the investigator and he told me what happened when I was administered the drug and he asked me what I did in order to achieve this dramatic change, where instead of my heart rate going up, it went down dramatically, compared to 93 other women who participated. I was amazed to hear that. I said that as I relaxed into a meditation and felt like I went to an “other world/other realm,” and was so deeply relaxed and removed from any recognition of where my body was and did not feel any increase in heart rate at all. The doctor said he regretted not having me hooked up to an EKG at the time it happened to be able to see more what had happened.
He asked me to come back again to have the test administered but ths time without meditating and be given the doses again and see what happens. I agreed and came back following the instructions was given.
The same procedure was done, as the first time. I lied down in the hospital bed and had a IV in my arm and then all was done in silence not to taint the results of the study. The nurse started to administer the drug into the IV in small increasing increments each after a certain interval of time. I kept my eyes open, and did not go into a meditation, so was fully aware of what was happening. What was most amazing to me, is the difference between the 2 times this was done because I experienced it in 2 different ways. Had I not meditated the 1st time, I would not have known it was possible to override the drug and get my heart rate to go down instead of up. Then, on this 2nd round, I did experience the increase in heart rate that is the nature of taking this drug. It was definitely a WOW affect for me, to know that my brain was so powerful and that means anyone else can do the same, if they put their “mind to it!”
This could definitely be a helpful thing for those who deal with chronic pain management and even perhaps be taught what to do, as it would take some coaching/training to get people in the “zone” to understand how to make this work. If I could do it, anyone can!!! It is just a matter of telling your brain what you want it to do. I know I am making it seems simplistic, but it is not all that, only if you can give it the full attention & intention. It does take some time & work, but doesn’t everything that you want to do that have good/positive results involve your effort. It would be nice if could just sit back, relax and say to someone else to do it for us, but it doesn’t work that way. There also the satisfaction you get that accomplished something, whereas if someone else did it, does not really do anything for you.
I hope you got something out of these few examples from my life of how much capacity our brain has to overcome things. It is quite amazing and I’m sure there are many more stories out there of others, too, so if you’d like to share your experiences, please do so in the comments section below.
To be continued next month….
My r-Awesome Life 