“Does anxiety affect anesthesia?”
I have chronic anxiety. I will have surgery under general anesthesia. Does anxiety affect anesthesia?
2 Answers
No, it’d only affects the patients comfort on arriving in the OR.
Most patients have some anxiety preoperatively. If you already have been diagnosed then it could be heightened and appropriately, as an operation is an uncommon event. If you are taking something for your anxiety, continue it even on the day of surgery. Tell the anesthesiologist that you took your normal dose. You can have supplemental medicine IV for anxiety on the day of surgery. Once you are asleep, it is not an issue. Again, as most patients have heightened anxiety around surgery, it is not an insurmountable issue.
Barbara Watanabe MD
Barbara Watanabe MD
