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Driving after surgery

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Posted 8/20/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, just wondering how long after colectomy surgery was it before you were able to drive again, i havent been given any specific time frame by the nurse, so just wanted to find out when other people started driving again after surgery.
Posted 8/20/2011 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I had a temp ileostomy for about 2-1/2 months. I waited for about a month after I was discharged from the original operation to start driving. Once I had the ileo reversed, I waited for about two weeks after the stitches were removed before I drove. While I had the bag and for about two more weeks after the stitches were out, I put a pillow over my bad and/or stitches while I drove, just to make sure the seat belt didn't either rip the bag off or irritate the wound.
Posted 8/20/2011 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
I drove the day after being released from the hospital. As long as you're of pain medication you're fine to drive.

Sue
Posted 8/20/2011 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
I waited a week just because my mom was visiting for that week to help me and insisted on driving. But I could have driven sooner.
Posted 8/21/2011 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
I didn't drive for a month after surgery, but I was still on some pain meds and I personally didn't feel up to driving until then. I think you will know yourself when you feel ok to drive. I also didn't like the seatbelt directly on my stoma so I put a small pillow or towel over my stoma then the seatbelt over that. I also could have driven sooner but just didn't want to. Take your time and don't push anything your not completely comfortable with. Take care
Doreen
Posted 8/21/2011 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Once I was off pain meds:)
Posted 8/21/2011 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
In the UK I had to check with my insurer, who the askedme to check with my GP. For laproscopic surgery I had to be confident to make an emergency stop, but I'd wAited 4 weeks. For my c- section it was after6 weeks.
Posted 8/21/2011 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replys, its been 4 weeks now since the surgery and im not on any pain meds, so i think i will get back driving this week, just need to get the flat tyre on my car fixed now and im sorted. :-)
Posted 8/22/2011 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
My surgeon told me that once I was off any pain meds (I was when I came home all I was taking was tylenol) and I could make a sudden stop if I needed to, I was ok to drive. I waited till this week, so about five weeks after my op but that's because my butt wound was still pretty sore and it was kinda hard to move suddenly... I missed the convenience of being on my own schedule though!
Posted 8/22/2011 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Since we're retired and he was still on pain medication we waited almost 8 weeks. Longer than necessary but whenever he would be in the car so was I so I opted to drive and "chauffer" him around...lol.
Posted 8/22/2011 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
It seems like I waited until I'd been home for two weeks, so three weeks post-op. Could have maybe done a little sooner, but there was no need so I didn't rush it.
Posted 8/23/2011 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon said as long as I could do an emergency stop and I felt ok with the meds I was taking, then it was fine. I think it was about 14 days post op in the end.
Posted 8/24/2011 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Agree with off med. I hate driving so I waited 2 months, until I had to go out and weather too bad to walk.

Seatbelts make me crazy still. I just drove 13 hours (Just stopping for gas and bathroom) from Canada to South Dakota and when I got there my whole appliance was a mess and leaking out and had to be changed. I thought it was just sweat from how hot it was. No!! Wondered how I smelled when I walked in. Glad everyone was asleep and I didn't see them 'til morning. Left windows open in car all night and sprayed it down. washed clothes out and then stuck them in machine to wash next day.

On the way back I stopped more regularly and kept pouch as empty as possible. Trip was much better at end. I've had leaks just coming home from gym or party before too. That belt is just annoying.

I guess I'm just a slow learner.
Posted 8/24/2011 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Trigirl - I find if I use a small pillow over my belly beside my stoma it keeps the seatbelt off of it pretty well. Maybe that would help you out some when you do have to drive?
Posted 8/27/2011 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
my surgeon told me no driving for a month. but as long as you aren't taking meds, and the seatbelt doesn't bother you, go ahead.
Posted 8/27/2011 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
It's not necessarily being off pain meds that is important. Some people, like myself take them every day anyway, but it is how you feel in yourself. If you cannot move quickly to make emergency stop, feel tired or sleepy or are concerned about your fitness then don't drive, wait a few days until you feel better. Going back to driving has ranged from 5 days post op to 4 weeks post op depending on what surgery I had and as nearly all of mine were open incision procedures this takes longer to recover from.
Posted 8/29/2011 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
I drove probably about 2.5 or 3 weeks after, once I was of course off pain meds and able to stand the bumps and jarring of country roads. With my open surgery I still had a sensitive incision, and like people have said, a small pillow or towel across your stomach where the seat belt lays is often necessary.
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