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I don't have an answer, but I've been wondering the same thing! (It's one of the questions that I have on my list to ask my doctor).

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I have a whole notebook from the hospital and doesn't say anything about it in there.

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My surgeon gave the ok as soon as I was off of my narcotic pain meds for over 24-hours. But, if you're supposed to get an ok, I would call and tell them that you're off the medicine and have them say you're good to go.

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I was driving short distances about 5 days after surgery. Granted they were short trips around town and to the store but I was driving. As for long trips that is another story. I tried to go 3 hours for Christmas and had to turn around about an hour away. The seatbelt was rubbing on my stomach and the incision areas and it was more than I could take. I would ask your surgeon and I am sure that you could call his office and ask and not go in to see him. As long as you are not taking pain medications any longer and are getting all of your fluids and not lightheaded I think that you should be able to take small trips.

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I was sleeved on a Friday and on Tuesday, I was driving my son back and forth to school about 20 minutes away. I didn't go anywhere else. My surgeon said as long as I wasn't taking the Lortab he prescribed I'd be ok.

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I was also told that I could drive as soon as I was off the pain meds. As a matter of fact, I drove myself home the day after surgery. The hospital insisted that I be released to someone, so my nurse friend met me and took me to her house. All I wanted was to be home and in my own bed, so I drove home from there. I'm NOT recommending that to anyone else, but I had been off the pain meds for 24 hours by that point and I had no issues from driving about 30 minutes to get home.

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I could drive as long as it was 24 hours since being off the narcotic pain medicine. As for the driving and seatbelt I used a small pillow across my stomach for extra padding which worked well for me for the first month.

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My doctor said wait 2 weeks. I had 5 weeks off work and it took me a good 2 weeks to even feel stable enough to drive. I drove on Thurs and Fri one short on a bit longer to my weight loss group meeting. A had my mom with me both times. I would definately take my time on this regardless of the reason because you have responsibilities to yourself, your new sleeve (the bumps and brakes take toll on your body), your passengers and the drivers surrounding you.

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My doc said you can drive once you're off narcotic pain meds (they gave me liquid Lortab which i didn't take) I was driving on day 3-4

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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