People often tease me about my phone obsession, but I felt pretty smart when I stumbled upon a study revealing that texting before surgery might actually help reduce pain. According to research published in the journal Pain Medicine, patients who texted just before receiving anesthesia required fewer painkillers afterward. Who knew my texting habit could be a pain relief strategy?
Interestingly, it wasn’t just any distraction that worked. The study compared participants who texted to those who played Angry Birds. Guess what? The Angry Birds crew ended up requesting more pain meds than the texters. Maybe they should’ve chosen a more relaxing game—Candy Crush, anyone?
As someone who was glued to my BlackBerry during labor (yes, I’m talking about 2007 before the iPhone took over!), I totally understand the appeal of keeping busy. I wasn’t neglecting my baby duties; I was simply bored between contractions and appreciated having other topics to chat about. Plus, I admit I enjoyed the shocked reactions like, “Why are you on your BlackBerry, aren’t you in labor?” It was nice to engage in other conversations rather than fixate on the next wave of pain.
The most striking finding of the study was that texting a stranger was even more effective than chatting with a friend. It makes sense—friends might offer sympathy and discuss the surgery, which could amplify anxiety. In contrast, talking to a stranger provides a chance to focus on unrelated subjects, much like how I joined a flurry of work emails while preparing to welcome my little one.
In fact, patients who left their phones behind were six times more likely to request additional painkillers than those who engaged in a friendly text exchange with a research assistant. This has me brainstorming a potential business idea: a service connecting patients with chatty strangers to text with right before their procedures. Imagine a platform where users could choose topics of interest, similar to those Facebook posts where friends ask for someone to discuss their latest binge-watch!
I can picture a freelance site where people list their availability and favorite conversation subjects. This could be a perfect fit for introverts since all they need to do is text! The possibilities are endless.
For more insights on this fascinating topic, check out our other blog posts for tips on home insemination, including a look at the IVF process and how to use an insemination kit.
In summary, texting may not only keep you entertained but could also help ease the pain of surgery. So, next time you’re nervously awaiting a procedure, consider sending a few texts to distract yourself.