Most people have to go on the operating table at least once in their lives, sometimes to save their lives, but sometimes not only (for example, when a woman is indicated for a cesarean section).

There is only one thing left for us to do - come to terms with this thought and trust the competence of doctors. Because the longer a person waits to make a decision, the more complicated his problem becomes.

Few people are able to manage their emotions so well that they do not feel afraid of surgery at all. It's normal to feel nervous. How to overcome anxiety and prepare yourself mentally? Some tips are in our article.

Talk to doctors

If a person is scheduled for surgical intervention and not on an emergency basis, there is always a chance to understand how to calm down before the operation so that on the important day you can come to the medical facility in full combat readiness, being optimistic. It is no secret that in recovery it is the patient’s mood that plays almost the key role.

Patients may be worried about different fears: rational, associated with real risks; irrational, for which there is no basis.

For example, people may worry that:

• The operation will be performed by incompetent specialists.
• Unforeseen difficulties will arise.
• During the operation there is a risk of becoming infected with something.
• The surgeon will leave an object in the patient.
• There will be postoperative pain.

To dispel these doubts, it is very important to first communicate with the surgeon and anesthesiologist to ask all your questions. In most cases, doctors must carry out not only a series of medical examinations and tests, but also consultation with the patient on the upcoming operation. For example, you could ask:

• How exactly the risk of complications is minimized;
• what difficulties are possible and what you can do to avoid them;
• what modern medical inventions make it possible to perform surgery with a minimum of risks and high efficiency;
• how anesthesia is administered before (or rather, what type of anesthesia is used);
• how a person feels during and after;
• what pain relief medications will be used;
• How many such operations has the surgeon already performed? Usually, after answering “Ten” it becomes much easier.

If necessary, you can talk to another surgeon from another hospital to compare answers and put your mind at ease.

The doctor must tell you what can be done before the operation and what absolutely cannot be done: what tests to take, what to eat and drink (or not to eat at all), what specific procedures and preparations to carry out.

It is very important to strictly follow what the doctor said. And, for example, if you can’t eat in the evening, you shouldn’t wake up at night and, out of nerves, gnaw on cookies in the kitchen until the morning.

Someone might find it helpful to be able to complain about their fears and cry on someone’s reliable shoulder. But you absolutely cannot feel sorry for someone - as soon as a person sees emotions in the eyes of others, this is transmitted to him, and even a strong spirit can become unstuck.

Voice your expectations: ask you not to regret, but to maintain faith in a positive outcome.

Try, if the situation allows it, to think about the future - when everything is left behind.

For believers, this is also a very important moment. It is useful to visit your church and tell the priest about what an important event ahead, ask to pray for you.

You need to pray not only for yourself - prayer for the surgeon (and other participants in the process) is also important.

Often patients, especially if the doctor has not provided them with enough information, try to fill in the gaps on their own. Usually, this is done by reading articles on the Internet, forums, and watching videos of similar operations. This can be done, but it is important to consider your character and not overdo it. Still, there may be materials on the Internet written by not very competent authors, on forums there are too many emotions, not objectivity, and video recordings... Such a sight is not for every eye.

If a person is suspicious and emotional, it is better to abstain. It is optimal to strive to receive information first-hand – from a doctor.

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, 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 most often such a pathological fear may 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 will talk in a calm and confident voice not only about the operation itself, but also 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 say so to a loved one: “Listen to me, support me, hug me, tell me that everything will be fine.” These seemingly simple psychological techniques in life they are capable of creating miracles.

Many people seek peace in church. Even if you are not a believer, or you rarely go to church, go and light some candles God's saints, ask for help. Sincere Prayer, even with his words he 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, the doctors terrify him, medical instruments, view of the operating room, as a result he is overexcited, his heart rate is rapid, bullets, his blood pressure may jump. 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 schemes carrying out premedication.

General anesthesia is prescribed to the patient if during the operation it is impossible to use local anesthesia for complete pain relief. Hundreds of thousands of people go through this procedure every day. It will help to reduce the likelihood of complications, both during and after surgery. competent preparation to anesthesia. The patient is required to strictly follow the recommendations that will help him prepare for the upcoming test physically and psychologically.

In many cases, surgical intervention can be done without general anesthesia impossible. Despite its relevance and necessity, such anesthesia still remains not entirely subject to human will. Medicine cannot give a 100% guarantee that this artificial sleep will not have negative influence. An honest and open dialogue between the patient and the anesthesiologist is important when planning an operation, which should be prepared in advance.

Back in the middle of the last century, anesthesia before surgery was associated with a risk to the patient’s life. Today, thanks to a huge leap in the development of all branches of medicine, as well as due to the use of advanced technologies, there is no longer any need to talk about mortality due to anesthesia. However, there remains a small possibility of a threat to the health of the human brain (mental impairment is possible).

Almost everyone who has to go through this procedure experiences fear, sometimes turning into panic. But, since there is no alternative to such anesthesia, it is necessary to use all available possibilities to achieve maximum safety. To do this, before anesthesia, it is important to prepare your body in accordance with established rules and individual requirements of the attending physician. If you do everything as the anesthesiologist advises, you can reduce the likelihood of complications.

The advantages of general anesthesia include such factors as the patient’s lack of sensitivity to the surgical procedures being performed, and the patient’s absolute immobility, allowing surgeons to work with concentration and without tension. In addition, a person under general anesthesia is completely relaxed, which allows doctors to work even with hard-to-reach vessels and tissues, without wasting time. Another advantage is that the patient’s consciousness is turned off during the operation, and therefore there is no fear.

In some cases, anesthesia is accompanied by such side effects, such as attention disorder, nausea, vomiting, disorientation, pain and dry throat, headaches.

These unpleasant sensations are temporary, and their intensity and duration can be adjusted if you prepare for the upcoming operation as required by the doctor, for example, by not eating or drinking water for several hours before the procedure.

Preparing for surgery

It is important to properly prepare for surgery under general anesthesia. Depending on the complexity of the upcoming surgical intervention, the general health of the patient and many other factors, the preparation time can vary from 2 weeks to six months. During this time, the patient sometimes develops a persistent fear of surgery and anesthesia, which is fueled by stories from other patients or anonymous testimonies read in the tabloid press.

The anesthesiologist, together with the surgeon who will operate on the patient, should have an informative conversation with precise instructions on what you can eat and drink a month before the operation, a week before it and on the day of it. In addition, the patient must be examined by other specialized doctors who study his state of health and also give him useful tips by adjusting, for example, smoking, weight, lifestyle, sleep.

Even before a short and simple operation under general anesthesia, at least next study patient's health status:

• blood test (general);
• urine test (general);
• blood clotting test;
• general analysis urine.

It is important to tell the truth about how you feel. If the patient was properly preparing for surgery, but a few days before the operation he noticed an increase in temperature or an exacerbation chronic illness, for example, gastritis, the attending physician should know this! If the patient is not feeling well, the operation must be postponed.

Fear of surgery under anesthesia

Feeling afraid of anesthesia or a surgeon’s scalpel is normal and should not be ashamed. To reduce feelings of anxiety, you can seek help from a psychologist. In many developed countries Each patient must be consulted by such a specialist before surgery, and if necessary, consultations can be multiple. In our country, few clinics and hospitals can boast of such an opportunity, so patients themselves sometimes have to ask their doctor for a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist for a conversation.

It is believed that the patient’s psyche is traumatized already in the clinic, when the doctor recommends surgical treatment to his patient. Even then, fear begins to occupy a dominant position in a person’s consciousness. Anyone undergoing surgery needs the sensitivity of the medical staff.

Every patient without exception should be reassured and encouraged. If the patient shows a particularly intense feeling of fear (cries often, talks about death, sleeps and eats poorly), he needs urgent consultation with a psychologist. In the preoperative period, most patients are in dire need of preparation for surgery, not only medicinally, but also psychologically. There are several areas of mental support for patients:

• training of children and elderly people;
• preparation for emergency surgery;
• preparation for planned surgery.

Fear is a strong emotion, which in this case plays a negative role, preventing the patient from adjusting to a favorable outcome of the operation.

Since the consequences of anesthesia depend not only on the anesthesiologist, but also on the patient, you should carefully consider your own emotional experiences and promptly see a specialist to restore mental balance. You can be afraid of anesthesia or the outcome of surgery, but at the same time live a full life, without poisoning it either for yourself or your loved ones. To do this, you should prepare for the operation psychologically and physically, controlling not only what you can eat or drink, but also what you can and should think about.

Psychological attitude

First of all, you should give up ostentatious bravado and admit to yourself: “Yes, I’m afraid of anesthesia.” Every patient who is about to undergo major surgery experiences fear. This is a normal state, since a person is accustomed to controlling the work of his own body, and the thought that he will be helpless inspires fear and anxiety. In addition, there is fear for the consequences of anesthesia and the success of the operation itself. Such anxiety is normal if it is not constantly present and does not disrupt the patient’s usual rhythm of life.

To psychologically prepare for an operation under anesthesia, while experiencing fear, you can do auto-training, yoga, and meditation. It is enough to master the technique of proper relaxation and breathing in order to feel peace of mind and peace. Breathing exercises and a positive attitude will help overcome fear and panic.

Physical training

In addition to the psychological aspect, body preparation is important:

• about all accepted medicines(even about 1 aspirin tablet) the anesthesiologist and the attending surgeon should know;
• you should tell your doctors about your recent previous diseases and allergic reactions;
• You cannot hide diseases suffered in the past that are popularly considered indecent (syphilis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis);
• you should not eat or drink 6 hours before surgery;
• It is advisable to quit smoking 6 weeks before the appointed date;
• Removable dentures and piercings must be removed from the oral cavity;
• you need to remove contact lenses and hearing aids (if any);
• Decorative varnish is removed from the surface of the nails.

A week before surgery, you should eat foods that help cleanse the intestines of toxins and gases. If you prepare correctly, the body will tolerate anesthesia easily and without complications. A competent approach and following the instructions will help you not be afraid of the upcoming procedure and will allow you to restore strength after the operation.

Almost all people have a fear of surgery. It should not be embarrassed, since fear is a natural psychological reaction of a person, which includes his defense mechanisms during surgery.

The need for any operation is determined by the surgeon, but the final decision is made only by the patient. However, many patients do not have many options, especially when their lives are at risk.

To overcome your fear of surgery, you need to understand that this is often the only possible way treatment. That is, medication methods will not bring a positive result. Therefore, before going to the surgeon’s table, you should be absolutely sure of the following things:

• in the competence of the attending physician;
• in a positive treatment outcome;
• few side effects;
• in the presence of internal strength for a successful recovery after surgery.

At the same time, you should approach the choice of a doctor most carefully, since the outcome of the operation depends on his knowledge and precision of his hands. In addition, if the doctor’s team includes qualified personnel, then at each stage of intervention in the internal organs the quality of the treatment provided increases. At the same time, the patient will be surrounded by attention and care, which not only improves his psychological condition, but also helps to calm down.

Remedies will help overcome the fear of surgical treatment mass media(Internet, TV shows, newspapers). They inform the patient about the progress of this treatment and the number of positive and negative reviews about it. In this case, it is necessary to use specialized sources of information, since with their help you can study in detail the operation and the progress of its implementation. Receiving information from “yellow sources” should be completely excluded.

Moreover, we must not forget about taking tests, since their results may contain contraindications for the operation. Of course, such information may repel a person from surgical treatment, but at the same time it can protect his life and health. Any doctor equipped with the most information about his patient will be able to most successfully carry out the required treatment. But if you can’t overcome your fear, you can turn to a medical psychologist for help. He will be able to find the necessary parting words.

Patients' internal mood

Many people, when turning to medical institutions for help, do not think that they can hear the words of the treating specialists about the need for surgical intervention.

Such information becomes shocking, since a person’s instinct of self-preservation sharply worsens. This allows any person to protect themselves from various mechanical penetrations into internal organs and from possible undesirable consequences. At the same time, very often the feeling of fear of surgery manifests itself much more acutely than the fear of the disease itself. Finding yourself in such a situation, it is very important to tune in to a successful outcome.

In order to have the required attitude, you need to fulfill some wishes, which any surgeon can tell you about. The first of these wishes should be the collection of the maximum amount of information not only about the operation, but also about the consequences of refusing it. In addition, you must be sure of the successful completion of treatment procedures. If the probability of a positive outcome is 50% or more, then you cannot refuse them.

Before the operation you need to familiarize yourself with modern techniques its implementation, the availability of high-quality equipment and the degree of qualification medical personnel. The presence of unique devices in the hospital will help not only to cheer up the patient, but also to reduce the risk of unfavorable completion of treatment. We must not forget about alternative methods that can help a person avoid surgery and cure the disease.

When choosing a treatment method, the simplicity and duration of further rehabilitation should be taken into account. One of the most important methods conviction is the realization that there is no other method of healing at this point in time.

The patient can also be supported by self-esteem, which should be based on confidence in the positive outcome of treatment and in the absence of side effects. This feeling in most cases reduces not only the recovery period, but also reduces the number of complications.

Besides, positive emotions human organs allow the internal organs of a person to be in a relaxed state, which allows doctors to more effectively cope with the task assigned to them.

Before undergoing surgery, any person is first admitted to the hospital. This happens a few days before it takes place. At the same time, you can’t give in bad mood, transmitted from neighbors in the ward. All people are individual and react completely differently to the same painful sensations. The patient's attention is focused only on negative reviews, completely ignoring positive results. In this case, an audio player with relaxing music will be a reliable assistant.