You will hardly find a person who goes to the hospital with pleasure and joy, unless he is a doctor who loves his job.
For people, a hospital is associated with negative emotions, pain, discomfort, and sometimes hopelessness. That is why we are so resistant to going to medical institutions, and in most cases we go there only in critical situations, when we cannot cope with the problem on our own, and we simply do not have the strength to endure. And so, if we go to a consultation and to a therapist with a calm mood, then we are very afraid of the surgeon.
Almost ninety-five percent of people experience fear before surgery, and the remaining five are those patients who go to surgeons in an unconscious state.
But, no matter how scary it may be, in some cases, surgical intervention is the only way to get rid of the disease, and sometimes to save a life or give it to your baby (we are talking about a caesarean section).
Don't feel embarrassed for being afraid. After all, it is human nature to experience emotions: joy, anxiety. This is fine. Fear is primarily a protective reaction of the body. And sometimes it is very difficult to overcome it on your own. And because of this, a sick person may categorically refuse surgical intervention, and more often than not, such pathological fear can have negative consequences for him. Unfortunately, time may be lost and the disease cannot be stopped.
How to prepare
Anxiety and worry are not the best companions for a person before an upcoming operation. Therefore, it is important for a patient who is about to undergo a planned surgical intervention to calm down and tune in to the positive course and result of the upcoming process.
How to calm down before surgery? First of all, get all the information about her. After all, what worries us most:
- what this operation is;
- how long will it last;
- what a person experiences (pain, discomfort) during and after;
- how competent the surgeon and anesthesiologist are;
- what complications may arise during and after the operation.
Also today, when television and the Internet are overwhelmed by a wave of negative information, our brain tenaciously stores all medical errors, but at the same time forgets how many lives the same doctors saved. Therefore, the fear of contracting any infection sometimes overshadows common sense. This also includes the concern that the doctor will be negligent and will definitely forget something about the person.
To dispel these doubts, as well as to get answers to all your questions regarding the upcoming operation, you need to feel free to talk about this topic with your doctor. An experienced surgeon, in a calm and confident voice, will talk not only about the operation itself and the possible consequences, but will also give qualified recommendations on how to properly prepare for the operation, and, if necessary, prescribe sedatives or an injection.
Also, for your peace of mind, you can get advice regarding the operation recommended for you from a surgeon from another clinic. This way you will receive confirmation that your doctor has acted correctly.
We hope these simple steps have eliminated a good deal of your fear.
But we won’t dwell on this. We continue to prepare for the operation and ensure a positive attitude, which means a successful outcome.
And so, the next moment, no matter how scary it may be, you must strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations. If the doctor has prescribed sedatives, then take them only in the strictly prescribed dosage. It is also important to understand that a sedative injection is a serious manipulation that can only be performed by a doctor in a hospital setting, since its consequences can be very unpredictable, especially in old age.
You should pass all the necessary tests so that before taking you to the table, the doctor sees the overall picture of your condition. This is necessary to determine the complexity of the operation, the degree of risks and possible complications, to select the method of anesthesia and its drugs.
The support of loved ones plays a very important role. You shouldn't give it up. Even if you can’t bear it when people feel sorry for you or, on the contrary, you want to cry into your vest. After all, they say correctly: “Everything ingenious is simple.” In this case, you just need to tell your family and friends what kind of support you need. Don't take your emotions out on family and friends. If you need a distraction, then say: “I have an acute lack of positive emotions, let’s go ride bicycles, or jump from a parachute” and in the same spirit, new emotions will allow you to relax and forget about anxiety, as well as memories of pleasant moments will add confidence in the results of treatment. Well, if you need to cry and hear words of reassurance, then tell your loved one: “Listen to me, support me, hug me, tell me that everything will be fine.” These seemingly simple psychological techniques in life can work wonders.
Many people seek peace in church. Even if you are not a believer, or you rarely go to church, go, light candles for God’s saints, and ask for help. Sincere prayer, even in its own words, calms.
It is also useful to distract yourself with pleasant and useful activities in the days before surgery.
Premedication before surgery
Premedication is the name given to drug preparation of a patient before an upcoming operation and anesthesia. It consists in the introduction of special drugs. This manipulation is also used before painful examination methods and in dentistry. The purpose of premedication is to reduce the patient’s anxiety and fear, adjust indicators, and prevent unwanted reactions. This manipulation has a sedative effect. After all, the patient immediately before the operation experiences incredible fear, he is terrified by the doctors, medical instruments, and the sight of the operating room; as a result, he is overexcited, his heart rate is rapid, his blood pressure may rise. This condition makes the work of the anesthesiologist difficult. Therefore, the patient is given a sedative injection.
With the help of premedication, they enhance the analgesic effect, both during general anesthesia and local anesthesia, and prevent the appearance of unwanted reflexes.
Premedication is prescribed and administered only by an anesthesiologist, taking into account the patient’s individual characteristics. It can be early and performed the day before surgery, or preoperative - directly on the operating table.
It must be said that young children absolutely do not need it, they do not understand what they have to go through and therefore do not experience such excitement. The anesthesiologist just needs to give him an injection of sleeping pills, the baby falls asleep in a few minutes and is transferred to the operating room.
But it is not advisable to administer sleeping pills to older people, especially at night. They are given a sedative injection.
Early premedication methods include taking tablets, intravenous and intramuscular injections, and suppositories.
On the operating table, the anesthesiologist uses various premedication schemes.
A regular trip to the doctor is very stressful for many, not to mention surgery. Fear of surgery is a protective reaction of the body, and represents the fear of something unknown ahead. At the same time, people cannot accurately express what specifically scares them: the operation itself, the rehabilitation period, the hospital walls, or something else. Having already received a referral for a surgical procedure, almost all patients ask the question: how to overcome the fear of surgery?
Reasons for fear of surgery
- One of the main reasons for preoperative phobia is complete uncertainty. The patient knows his diagnosis, knows approximately what will be done for him, and that’s where all the information ends. Not every surgeon will explain to the patient what is happening in his body, how the operation will take place, what specific actions he will perform, how many days the body’s recovery will take. The main task of a surgeon is to perform his work professionally, and a psychotherapist should calm all mental anxieties.
- The absolutely opposite reason for fear of surgery is the patient’s excessive awareness of both his illness and the methods of treating it. Nowadays, you can find a lot of information on the Internet about any disease and methods of getting rid of it. You should not always trust the articles you read; each case is individual and requires a professional assessment by the attending physician. Having read about how surgery should be performed, how anesthesia is administered and other points, patients begin to panic about the operation.
- The third reason for fear is anesthesia. Some patients are afraid that the anesthesia will have a bad effect and they will feel pain, others are afraid of the possible negative consequences of anesthesia. Surely many have heard the popular belief that one dose of anesthesia shortens a person’s life by several years. Well, another group of people who are afraid of surgical intervention is the fear of not waking up at all after anesthesia.
It is unlikely that doctors will be able to remember at least one person who would not be afraid of surgery. The only difference is that many are trying to overcome their phobia and undergo this stage of treatment, while others, on the contrary, experience real panic attacks at the mere mention of surgical intervention. There are often cases in medical practice when patients voluntarily refuse surgery due to their panic fear.
How to overcome fear
Each person is given the right to choose whether to agree to surgery or not. If we are talking about a small cosmetic procedure, say, removing burn marks, then the patient’s life is not in danger if it is refused. But most often, surgical intervention is performed for medical reasons and refusal to do so can lead to serious complications. If a patient simply needs surgery, for example, removal of a malignant tumor, but because of fear of the upcoming procedure, the patient refuses surgical treatment, he must write in his own hand a refusal of the proposed treatment. Thus, doctors relieve themselves of responsibility for the unfavorable outcome of the disease.
Having weighed all the pros and cons, the patient understands that he simply needs the operation, but what to do if horror constrains the whole body? Psychologists give a number of recommendations on how to get rid of the fear of surgery.
Get distracted
Typically, the fear of surgery reaches its peak the day before the procedure. In order not to completely go crazy, you need to try to distract yourself. Watch an interesting movie in the evening, read your favorite book, in a word, let your thoughts be occupied with anything, but not tomorrow.
Pray
Skeptics will, of course, grin and skip this paragraph. But for some, prayer brings emotional peace, and with its help, many people actually manage to get rid of the fear of surgery. It is not necessary to go to church or remember the exact text of the prayer; you can simply mentally turn to God and ask for a good outcome of the procedure.
Really assess the situation
Calmly think about what exactly are you afraid of? If the reason is anesthesia, try talking to an anesthesiologist. Tell us about your fear, and a competent specialist will reassure you by telling you how anesthesia will be applied. According to statistics, only one person out of several hundred thousand dies from improper anesthesia, and every tenth person dies from burst appendicitis.
Think positively
If you can’t get rid of thoughts about the upcoming operation, try to turn your thoughts into a more positive direction. For example, a woman cannot have children for many years, and the upcoming surgical intervention gives her a chance to become a mother. Think about your future baby and the fear of surgery will subside a little.
Don't escalate the situation
How can you not be afraid of surgery if your roommates spend the entire evening telling horror stories about surgeons who forget a scalpel or a roll of cotton wool in a patient’s body? Ask to change the topic of conversation or watch a movie on your laptop using headphones. You should not use the computer to search for “failed transactions over the past few years” and the like.
Take a sedative
Do not forget that you can take any sedatives only after consulting your doctor! Only he will tell you what you can drink and what you can’t. In any case, a decoction of mint, chamomile, motherwort or other medicinal herbs will not hurt.
Preparing for surgery
To overcome the fear of surgery, the patient must be calm and confident in the professionalism of the operating surgeon. The patient must understand that surgery is the only way to recover from the disease, and the sooner it takes place, the better. You need to prepare for the upcoming procedure not only morally, but also from a practical point of view. Choose a clinic that employs competent specialists, because the favorable outcome of the event depends on the professional skills of the doctor. If possible, complete preoperative preparation. Mainly it includes:
- Passing all necessary tests long before surgery;
- Give up bad habits at least a couple of weeks before the procedure;
- Do not go to the bathhouse or do other cosmetic procedures at least a week before surgery;
- Keep a diary of changes in general health, body temperature and blood pressure;
- Monitor your diet. Before surgery, you should not eat fatty and salty foods, carbonated drinks, chocolate and other sweets. It is necessary to give preference to lean meat, vegetables and fruits.
You should not conceal information about other chronic diseases from your attending physician; this can lead to complications both during and after surgery. If some points still alarm you (bad tests, negative reviews about the surgeon), you should not submit to circumstances. Perhaps your fear serves as a signal for some action: change doctor or clinic, retake tests, or treat another disease. Poor health can also serve as a basis for postponing the date of the surgical procedure.
It is quite possible to overcome the fear of upcoming surgery and anesthesia; to do this, you need not to panic, but really weigh everything. Collect information about the practicing surgeon, follow all the doctor’s orders, do not search the Internet for information about unsuccessful operations, in a word, do not become fixated on the upcoming procedure. Thousands of people go on the operating table, afraid as much as you, and in the end everything goes well. If no alternative treatment is available, trust your doctor and put all worries aside.
It’s a pity that you didn’t write your name, it would have been easier to communicate!..
I’ll tell you as a surgeon with 30 years of experience.
In all my work, I have never seen a single patient who was not afraid of surgery. If a person is mentally healthy, then, of course, he is afraid of surgery, afraid of pain, the unknown, afraid of complications, etc., etc. It's completely normal to be afraid of surgery. If someone is not afraid of surgery, then there is clearly something wrong with his head, and he does not need a surgeon, but a psychiatrist...
Here you need to turn on rational thinking. Surgery is the only option you have to get rid of your disease. Surgery is the method by which you will get rid of the disease forever. You have probably been treated with medications and found that they only provide temporary relief. And the operation, especially if done on time, will save you from the enemy who is hiding inside you and waiting to deliver the decisive blow. Believe that your doctor is interested in a favorable outcome of the operation no less, or even more, than you! Since you have known your doctor for a long time, since you trust him, then everything will be fine! When a patient trusts his doctor, everything works out for the best! I have been convinced of this many, many times over all the years of work.
In the meantime, be sure to tell your doctor and anesthesiologist about your fears and worries. All this can be relieved with mild sedatives. Your insomnia and tears in your pillow will only interfere with the normal outcome! This must be eliminated! Preoperative preparation also includes psychological preparation of the patient. So warn your doctor. And at least drink regular Valocordin, 30 drops at night and 1-2 times during the day, 15-20 drops - this should help you.
Don't worry so much! This will not bring you any benefit, and there will be much more harm.
And you had to prepare for the operation, and for any troubles in life, in advance, strengthening your spirit... But now, apparently, the situation is not the same, and there is no special time...
If you believe in God, then ask Him to protect you from everything bad that may happen, ask your guardian angels to be with you and help you cope with fears, pains and all troubles... To those who believe in God , in this regard it is easier... the feeling of protection always helps, in any situation.
However, even if you don’t believe, then ask God to help you. I have seen more than once how prayer from the bottom of my heart worked miracles... Patients were saved who should not have survived according to any laws of medicine. And my personal faith was strengthened precisely by these examples...:)))
In general, hang in there. Trust your doctor and listen less to your roommates and the stories told by “good people” in the department - they will tell you something that will make your hair stand on end - patients’ imagination works great! Remember that each person has his own destiny, and the bad things that happen to others do not necessarily have to happen to you.
And let me tell you that the likelihood of complications after surgery is, on average, about the same as the likelihood of getting hit by a car on the street. But do you go out into the street without tears or fears?..
Hold on, don't be afraid, everything will be fine!
Good afternoon. I was interested in your answer “It’s a pity that you didn’t write your name, it would have been easier to communicate!.. I’ll tell you, as a surgeon with 30 years of experience...” to the question http://www.. Can I discuss this answer with you?
Discuss with an expertReading time 8 minutes
How to get ready for surgery? A routine vaccination or going to the dentist can make a person nervous. Fear of surgery is a normal psychological reaction. The individual does not know what awaits him ahead, what the surgeon’s intervention will be. Before you understand how not to be afraid of surgery, you need to understand what exactly the fear arises from. This could be force majeure, the rehabilitation period, or reluctance to stay in hospital next to other patients. This phobia is difficult, but it can be overcome.
Main reasons for fear
The most common reason for fear before surgery is lack of information.. A person cannot imagine what exactly the intervention in his body will be like. Not all doctors want to share details and descriptions of the disease and mechanisms for eliminating it. Doctors do not always have time to talk with a patient, since there is a queue of patients in the corridors. For some medical specialists, it is difficult to tell the average person what the disease is and why it occurs. All this causes misunderstanding and fear.
People often get the impression that doctors are soulless people. They don’t care about the problems of an individual, they do not always strive to help, they can easily cause harm to health in order to finish their work as quickly as possible. In practice, everything looks different. The medical officer has a plan for receiving patients, he took an oath that he would save people's lives and improve their physiological health. Therefore, such fears are far-fetched and unjustified. If necessary, you can have a heart-to-heart talk with a psychologist or psychotherapist. It is not the doctor's responsibility to talk to the patient.
It happens that a person knows too much information about his disease. Most often, the search comes down to studying information written on the Internet. In practice, to make an accurate diagnosis, the patient needs to undergo a series of tests, which will then be analyzed by several medical specialists. Only after this can you find out what kind of disease the patient has and what treatment methods should be used.
Psychologists also advise you not to watch videos on the public network that show details of the operating process. There are a number of professions in which the sacrament must be preserved. A person’s consciousness may simply not tolerate what he sees, and phobias instantly develop. Medical specialists did not immediately come to carry out operations; their psyches were prepared (they spend more than 6 years at the university, study the structure of organs in detail, and attend autopsies). All this is not at all necessary for the average person to know.
How to get ready for surgery? Fear of surgery is often associated with anesthesia. This is another type of surgical intervention in the body. It causes panic. Some people think that anesthesia may not work; there will be pain that is incompatible with life.
In practice, the process is monitored by an experienced anesthesiologist; he has indicators that determine the readiness of the patient’s body for surgery. Additional fears are associated with the consequences of anesthesia. A small percentage of people believe that it is possible not to wake up after a drug-induced sleep (these are very minimal risks compared to driving a car).
How to get rid of the fear of surgery
The patient has the right to choose to accept or refuse the operation. When a surgical intervention on the body is established by a council of doctors to save a life or improve health, a person must refuse the operation in writing. This way, doctors will not be held responsible in case of an accident or unforeseen circumstances. In most cases, you just need to deal with the causes of fear
. A person may realize that a medical institution has a high level of service, a large number of satisfied clients, and a high level of training of medical specialists. Despite the minimal risks, the patient continues to be haunted by internal anxiety.
To get rid of such a phobia, it is enough to tell yourself about the need to improve your health. Sometimes it is impossible to do without surgical intervention. You need to try to cope with your emotions, write down rational arguments on paper, and re-read them several times.
- Here's what you can do to minimize fear of surgery:
- read prayers,
- get distracted by other things,
- weigh the risks
- think positively
- do not escalate the situation,
Prayer is one of the easiest ways to get rid of a phobia for those who believe in a higher power. For skeptics, this method will not bring much benefit. It is absolutely not necessary to go to church and light candles. It’s enough just to pray, ask for help, health and patience for yourself.
The most unpleasant time is the evening or night before surgery.
How to overcome fear? It is important not to be alone with your own thoughts. It is best to ask your loved ones to come visit, talk about pleasant topics, or go to the cinema or theater. There is no need to withdraw into yourself or dwell on negative thoughts.
A small percentage of the operation is due to force majeure circumstances. It is worth treating this as the structure of the world and nature as a whole. You won't be able to control everything. This fear can only be combated by collecting as much information as possible about the clinic and medical specialists. Please note that only one patient per 250 thousand people dies due to a medical error.. That is, the chances of dying for this reason are reduced to almost zero. The patient has a much higher chance of passing into another world due to the lack of treatment measures for his disease.
Positive thinking can help overcome fear of surgery. You need to try to think only about good things. It is important to force yourself to replay exclusively pleasant memories in your head before going to bed, and not to focus on the upcoming surgical intervention. You can try to visualize how your life will change in a positive direction after the operation.
For example, if a person is about to have his appendicitis removed, then one can imagine going to a restaurant or visiting entertainment venues. During gynecological surgery, it is advisable to think about future childbirth and pregnancy. Under no circumstances should you escalate the situation.
It is advisable not to seek information about force majeure during the operation, how death occurs and for what reasons. You need to tune in to a positive wave.
If none of the above points help, then you can simply drink a sedative. It will stimulate deep sleep and improve the overall physical and mental health of the patient.
Suitable means for taking inside the body are:
- chamomile
- St. John's wort
- fireweed
Please note that before taking such herbs, you must consult your doctor. It happens that the patient has an allergic reaction, or the simultaneous use of several medications is contraindicated.
How not to be afraid of what will happen during and after the operation? The answer is obvious - just relax, forget about the bad, trust the doctors and yourself.
If a person is in the hospital before an upcoming surgical intervention, then you can walk along the floors of the medical facility and talk with other patients. Information about how other people struggled with their fears may be useful; you can ask how patients feel after surgery, whether the experience was worth it. This way, time will pass much faster, and there will be no room for negative thoughts.
Physical preparation for surgery
Before the upcoming surgical intervention, it will also not be superfluous to physically prepare the patient. It is worth adhering to a few simple rules:
- do not drink alcohol several months before surgery,
- try to smoke as little as possible,
- follow the diet prescribed by the doctor,
- do not use perfumes and decorative cosmetics,
- use internally only those medications prescribed by the doctor,
- measure and record your own temperature and pressure every morning.
In order not to be afraid of surgery, you just need to not let fear into your mind. It is important to remember that surgery is performed by a team of doctors and nurses. If there is a reasonable fear that the specialist will not cope with the task, then it is better to seek help from another surgeon. If the tests are unreliable, you can always undergo a re-examination. How not to be afraid of accidents? It is important simply not to focus your attention on this fact. You just need to accept that this happens in the world, but it affects individual lives.
To get rid of fear as soon as possible, experts advise telling your doctor about your phobia. It happens that patients hide facts from their anamnesis. They do not provide information about past sexually transmitted diseases or injuries. Before the date of surgery is scheduled, the patient may realize that he has given false information to the medical professional. In practice, this can lead to negative consequences.
There are fearless people who are ready, without any rational explanation as to why surgery is needed, to go under the knife. Here we are talking about those who are obsessed with plastic surgery and adjusting individual parts of the body. Such people are not afraid of anything. Their fear is often false, since unjustified surgery (without appropriate medical indications) can significantly worsen their health.
Basic rules for preparing for surgery
How not to be afraid of surgery? First of all, you need to acquire psychological health, calm down, try to achieve a state of peace. The patient needs to clearly understand that the operation will have a positive effect on his body and will help him function better. The sooner surgical intervention occurs, the better for the patient.
It is worth preparing not only from a moral point of view, but also from a practical point of view. It is important to choose a clinic where experienced specialists work. This will increase the chances of a favorable outcome of the event. If this is possible, then you need to undergo preoperative preparation.
Preparation consists of the following steps:
- Providing the necessary tests to the attending physician before surgery.
- Quitting bad habits several weeks or months before surgery, depending on your state of health and the complexity of the procedure.
- Changing your diet towards dietary foods.
We must remember that every day thousands of people undergo surgery. In this way they take care of their own health. Those patients who do not know how not to be afraid of surgery should pay attention to the recommendations.
It is important to be attuned to the fact that the doctor has the appropriate competencies to carry out the procedure. The outcome of the treatment will be positive, side effects are practically excluded. You need to believe in yourself and not doubt the presence of internal strength in order to recover safely after surgery.
A few days before surgery, the patient can seek psychological help (such people usually give parting words and set the patient on a positive wave). Additionally, experts advise using an audio player with relaxing music compositions, watching comedies, and reading jokes. The patient will benefit from reading positive reviews about the operations performed, about the clinic itself and the doctors. The most important thing is that there is no need to fantasize and visualize the negative consequences of the operation. Any medical worker first of all strives to help the patient, and not to harm him.
