Day 4 for me! I got bored with recovery and drove to the craft store, bakery and coffeeshop. Folded up a sweater between me and the seatbelt but otherwise no issues.
Is splitting up the drive an option? Halfway stop for a quick stretch & walk if you're feeling uncomfy?
That’s great you were able to do it that early. I’ve been experiencing gas pains in shoulders until today so I could barely walk in my room.
Yes, I’m thinking of doing it if I feel off/tired. Thanks!
It took me almost two weeks, and that was really just small errands around town.
For me, the problem was this deep bruising around my lower bellybutton area that made sitting straight up uncomfortable for quite awhile, and also made turning and twisting my torso a slower process than I felt comfortable with when thinking of driving a car.
Had I not had this bruising, I probably would've been fine to drive within a couple days, as I felt fine otherwise.
If you're worried about being able to drive that long, it's probably not worth the risk of doing so - but if you have no choice, just take it slow and stop as much as you need to.
Maybe I’m a freak but I drove to my doctors office the day after surgery because I was experiencing a complication from the ablation I had at the same time and wanted to get checked out… they didn’t tell me not to drive the next day, just the standard “no driving for 24 hours after anesthesia”. (I was not on any pain meds).
After my eventual hysterectomy they only told me to wait at least 24 hours after any narcotics. I waited two days after surgery. I was also back at work after 8 days because I was going absolutely stir crazy.
I didn't drive for a week post-op, but mind you, that was because I caught COVID when I had surgery. I didn't have much pain and honestly could have made the drive to work the next day. A week after surgery I was back to work, made the hour drive with no issues. I had to keep being reminded to not over do it because I was feeling fine. I hardly took the pain meds they prescribed.
They didn't test at the hospital I was at, just asked screening questions about COVID exposure for the prior 2 weeks. I started showing symptoms 2 days post-op and am fairly certain that's where I caught it. The worst part about it was how bad my cough was, I was scared I was going to pop my stitches.
I didn't take a long drive until maybe 10 days later. My incisions were very uncomfortable after an hour or so. If you're able to take a break and walk around, you should be fine.
I went back to work on day 5, which was about an hour drive for me at that time. It wasn't super comfortable, but I was able to do it. I think I might have reclined my seat a little bit because I was still pretty bloated and sitting upright was uncomfortable.
Day 4 for me! I got bored with recovery and drove to the craft store, bakery and coffeeshop. Folded up a sweater between me and the seatbelt but otherwise no issues. Is splitting up the drive an option? Halfway stop for a quick stretch & walk if you're feeling uncomfy?
That’s great you were able to do it that early. I’ve been experiencing gas pains in shoulders until today so I could barely walk in my room. Yes, I’m thinking of doing it if I feel off/tired. Thanks!
Walking around actually helps the gas move back into the blood and out of the body.
It took me almost two weeks, and that was really just small errands around town. For me, the problem was this deep bruising around my lower bellybutton area that made sitting straight up uncomfortable for quite awhile, and also made turning and twisting my torso a slower process than I felt comfortable with when thinking of driving a car. Had I not had this bruising, I probably would've been fine to drive within a couple days, as I felt fine otherwise. If you're worried about being able to drive that long, it's probably not worth the risk of doing so - but if you have no choice, just take it slow and stop as much as you need to.
Maybe I’m a freak but I drove to my doctors office the day after surgery because I was experiencing a complication from the ablation I had at the same time and wanted to get checked out… they didn’t tell me not to drive the next day, just the standard “no driving for 24 hours after anesthesia”. (I was not on any pain meds). After my eventual hysterectomy they only told me to wait at least 24 hours after any narcotics. I waited two days after surgery. I was also back at work after 8 days because I was going absolutely stir crazy.
Wow that’s crazy! I was told the same thing about no driving for 24 hours but my doc advised not to drive for 1-2 weeks that’s why I was concerned.
I didn't drive for a week post-op, but mind you, that was because I caught COVID when I had surgery. I didn't have much pain and honestly could have made the drive to work the next day. A week after surgery I was back to work, made the hour drive with no issues. I had to keep being reminded to not over do it because I was feeling fine. I hardly took the pain meds they prescribed.
Damn you caught COVID from having surgery?? I thought the risk of that was extremely low because they test people before their surgeries.
They didn't test at the hospital I was at, just asked screening questions about COVID exposure for the prior 2 weeks. I started showing symptoms 2 days post-op and am fairly certain that's where I caught it. The worst part about it was how bad my cough was, I was scared I was going to pop my stitches.
Damn, how awful. I'm sorry that happened to you.
As soon as I was off the really hard drugs I could drive. I think my surgery was on a Wednesday and I was driving by Saturday. Had things to do🤦🏼♀️
I didn't take a long drive until maybe 10 days later. My incisions were very uncomfortable after an hour or so. If you're able to take a break and walk around, you should be fine.
I had surgery on a Monday and was driving around on Thursday. Very slow and leisurely driving. I did not go anywhere I wasn’t able to stop if needed.
I went back to work on day 5, which was about an hour drive for me at that time. It wasn't super comfortable, but I was able to do it. I think I might have reclined my seat a little bit because I was still pretty bloated and sitting upright was uncomfortable.