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Posted 11/10/2006 1:17 PM (GMT 0)

I am not scheduled til Dec 13th and know I will not be driving myself home after but when I return for the foley removal 8 days later is when I hope to drive myself to the appointment.  Does that sound reasonable?

Plus my daily one way commute to work is 60 miles and was wondering how long before folks have experienced ability to drive that far daily.  I am hoping 2 weeks but absolute outside I want is 4 weeks.  BTW, I have an office job with to much sit down time.

Max

Posted 11/10/2006 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
My surgery was Sept 13th.

For the foley removal (6 days later), my wife was more comfortable having her drive.  I felt like I MAY have been able to do it, but not very comfortably and I still lacked a lot of energy and may not have been as alert as I should have been had I driven.

I went back to work (35 miles each way) on the Monday that was 2-1/2 weeks after surgery.  Driveing was no problem, but I only worked 5-6 hours per day for that first week back, just to pace myself.  Again, I could have worked full days if I had really pushed, but thought that it wass wiser to take it easy.

Posted 11/10/2006 1:57 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Mac & Donna,

My husband asked the doctor this very question when we went in to have his foley removed.  The doctor told him to just sit in the car with the engine off and try a few "fake" emergency stops.  If it didn't hurt him physically anywhere, to move his foot quickly from the gas pedal to the brake pedal, and he was no longer taking any narcotic pain medicine, he said he was good to go.  Hope this helps!

Posted 11/10/2006 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Max

My doctors did not want me to do any driving until the catheter was out. Just went for a short drive today to the hardware and it was fine. I don't know how long before I could do a long trip. I too have a somewhat office job but sitting for long periods can be painfull for a while. I had the surgey Nov1 and was originally going to go back to work the Monday after Thanksgiving. I may go back for partial days the Mon,Tus,Wed before Thanksgiving.

Daveed
Posted 11/10/2006 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mac & Donna

Up until the PCa surgery I considered myself to be in fairly good physical condition. A lot of my work day was spent on my feet walking quite a bit, and as a result I stayed very trim. After surgery I did not drive for 2 weeks, and as others have mentioned early afternoon fatigue was a factor too. Each of us will heal at their own pace, and you will have to feel for yourself how much driving you can safely handle. I have to mention that over doing it before you are totally healed has severe consequences. I found out the hard way.

Best of luck to you,

Glen
Posted 11/10/2006 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
I started driving as soon as the catheter was removed at 2 weeks.  I was able to work part-time, but my employer wanted me to stay off until I could come back full-time.  I returned to work one-month after surgery. 

Posted 11/10/2006 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Paul's and letty's hubby got the same advise...stop a few times and if it doesn't hurt, go for it. Paul drove 2 days after surgery. I highly suggest anyone who has had an open surgical procedure wait the minimum 2 weeks usually suggested. Can say from first hand experience...it smarts! :>)
Posted 11/10/2006 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Mac,
You should be able to drive to work in 2 weeks. No coffee on the way at first though. If you drive every day now your legs are good and used to doing all the work. People who don't drive a whole lot tend to use pevlic muscles to break as well. Something on the news about seniors and stress incontinence. I do know the strangest things from falling asleep with CNBC on every night.
Swim
Posted 11/10/2006 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Mac,

This is my 9th day post op. I will have my catheter out on Monday and I was told that I could begin driving once that is done. Three days ago I had difficulty sitting in the car because of the perineum tenderness but that is greatly improved and I feel that I could drive now without any problems. I am walking about 2 to 3 miles a day but I do get tired toward late afternoon. You should plan on not driving until the catheter is removed. You will not feel like going to many places anyway as long as Foley is around.

Tamu
Posted 11/11/2006 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Jeff did not drive until the catheter came out (one week). then he started driving the next day only because he's a type A person and can't sit still. he went back to work full time (owns his own company and could sit a lot, but also drove to sales calls a few times a week) 12 days after surgery. he went right back full-time but came home every day that first week tired and pale. he wouldn't listen to any of us (family or co-workers) and fortunately did not have any problems. I think you'll have to see how it goes for yourself. maybe start back part-time and just see how you feel. your body will tell you.
Posted 11/12/2006 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
Mac
As far as driving that is up to you and the DR. Mac I drove to Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte from St Louis with my foley in Of course I drove a mtorhome and used my big bag and the chair was comfortable. I ended up with my foley for 5 weeks due to some problems, I drove my pickup truck to dr 40 miles each way myself with foley, just as long as your not on pain meds and you feel good you should have no problem.

Age 46
psa 5.5
gleason 6 (3+3)
ct and bone scan neg
Laparoscopic prostectomy 9-11-06
1st post op psa 0.04
Posted 11/17/2006 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
hi

my dad got back to driving two weeks later . unfortunately for him he ended up with an infection in the in the incision on his stomach . he had already took a course of antibiotic they had given him leaving the hospital to prevent an infection but he is now on another course of tablets . apart from that he said he is fine but he reckons his chlothes rubbing could have contributed . i feel each person is different and maybe give it a go and see how you get on

good luck

petal

 

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