I am scheduled for the 5th and have three kiddos. Middle schoolers and a K. How long did you have to wait before driving was safe? Trying to plan ahead....

I drove home right from the Hospital!

You are kidding right?

I had my surgery on a Friday and drove to work on Tuesday.

I was required to have someone drive me home from my outpatient surgery. I could drive the next day. I guess it really depends on how much pain meds you take.

Ok so I have my surgery this Thursday (yay) and Monday the kids have track and 4h etc....so I should be fine by then! Just want to be safe! Thanks!

Yup you should be good to go by then. I waited 3 days just to be SAFE to those around me and myself

Perfect!!! Hubby is out of town on post op day 4. But I have a 13 yo boy for heavy lifting, an 11 year old girl for other things and a 5 year old girl, probably for emotional support (hugs ) None can drive though!!! Lol. Thank you! I am way less stressed about recovery now!

My hubby had to stay home with the kids and my surgery as in a town 3 hours away. I drove there alone, stayed the night at my hotel. Walked 20 blocks to the surgery center by 6 am, had surgery at seven, had an old friend I hadn't seen in 17 years pick me up at 4 pm and drive me to my hotel, stayed the night. Stopped pain meds at 10 pm, drove myself to my barium swallow test and back to the hotel to sleep for 4 more hours then drove myself 3 hours home, picked up three kids from daycare (ages 7,4,&2), went home made dinner and did dishes before finally getting to take my pain meds again at 6pm day 2. My point is, you can do anything you set your mind to. I am three weeks out and feeling really good. On solid foods and ready to get my groove on with exercise. First fill is4/21 and I have to drive 3 hours to get there. So we have to get the fill right so I don't have to drive back the next day.

Wow! That is great!

It amazes me how different everyone and their doctors requirements are. For example I had to lose 12 pounds preop...that was my preop diet...post op I am on liquids for 3 wks, mushies for 3 weeks then week 6 I can start solids...no fill til week 6. Dr wants scar tissue to heal.

As soon as the pain killers ran out!!

LOL B-52, me too.

Driving was not an issue. I did'nt take any narcotics after the second post op day. I drive a Chevy Z-71 Pickup though and getting in and out was abit of a problem. I drilled a small hole in the end of a plastic step stool and attached a lenght of parachute cord. Once I get in the truck,I just pull the stool in with the cord. Made my life alot easier.......

Yep I had surgery on Thursday and left around noon on friday and drove myself home.

I would have been a hot mess if I had to drive myself home the next day, lol. I was still on pain meds and I'm pretty sure I would have gotten a OWI had I been pulled over!!

Had it on Mon, Drove on Tue around the neighborhood ( very rural ) to see if there would be any problems, like getting in or out of my truck. Drove myself to PT for my neck, on Wed (20 mins away). Drove everyday and on Fri drove an hour one way to see my spine surgeon for a four month post op appointment. Sometimes I think it helps get rid of the gas, lol.