"What are you feeling right now?" Permission to talk about any concerns or fears is amazing! Lots of people who are about to undergo surgery feel like they need to keep their fears inside. Letting them speak about anything on their mind can go a long way in providing comfort.
Perioperative anxiety is found to be correlated with increased autonomic fluctuations and increased requirement of anesthetic, elevated incidence of nausea and vomiting, and augmented pain during postoperative period [4,5,6].
Fear of anesthesia is extremely common! In fact, according to one 2016 study, 88% of patients experience anxiety at the thought of anesthesia. Women are five times more likely to experience anxiety than men, although men are certainly not immune from this phobia.
We are thinking of you and praying for a full, speedy recovery soon. All our best wishes with you. You've been on my mind. I hope this gets you through your day.
May your spirit be lifted as you take this time to heal. My wish is that you, my friend, recover fully so you can be yourself again. You are wanted and needed. Praying for strength of body, mind, and spirit for you during your recovery time.
Please lay your loving hands on them, grant them mercy, and take away their pain with your healing power. Almighty God, we cast our cares onto you as we are commanded in 1 Peter 5:7. In the name of Jesus, please grant our healing prayer. Amen."
Prayer to Pray Before Surgery
Dear God, today, I am facing a surgery that makes me feel anxious and afraid. I ask for Your protection as I enter the surgery room and the doctors work on my body. Please guide the surgeon's hand as they perform the task that is set before them.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Bless and heal me today through this surgery. Whether You bring me through these ailments to restore me upright on this earth, or take me through to You, I trust You… today, and always. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
The most common reasons are: Fear of the unknown. Worrying about the surgery not working. Fear of the anesthetic.
If you're wondering what's going on, it's called disinhibition: a temporary loss of inhibitions caused by an outside stimuli. “They get disinhibition,” said anesthesiologist Dr. Josh Ferguson. “Like if you were to drink alcohol or some other medication, but this makes them forget that they're saying that.”
Many patients report that undergoing general anesthesia is a surreal experience—and practically no one remembers anything between when the medication is administered and waking up in the recovery room. Once the medication hits your bloodstream, the effects will kick in quickly.
Failure to arouse and delayed awakening are the most common early neurologic problems following general anesthesia. True prolonged postoperative coma is relatively uncommon, with estimates ranging from 0.005 to 0.08 percent following general surgery, but with higher rates reported after cardiac surgery.
Despite the medications commonly used in anesthesia allow recovery in a few minutes, a delay in waking up from anesthesia, called delayed emergence, may occur. This phenomenon is associated with delays in the operating room, and an overall increase in costs.
Delayed emergence from general anesthesia (GA) is a relatively common occurrence in the operating room. It is often caused by the effect of drugs administered during the surgery. It can also be caused by other etiologies such as metabolic and electrolyte disturbances.
Prayer for a Friend before Surgery
But Lord, I trust that You are sovereign. You are in control of this situation. My friend's life is in Your hands. I ask that You surround me with Your peace that I may not worry and that You also touch my friend with Your powerful healing hands.
Shut out the pain, the worry and fear and wrap them up within your soft, gentle love. Bless the efforts of the surgeons who have worked to bring life and healing to his/her body. Please protect and keep him/her in your rest and care.
The prayer of protection. The prayer of transformation. The prayer of restoration.