How soon after surgery is it ok to drive?

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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