How soon did you start driving after surgery?

I started a week later.

ok, thanks

One week. My nurse case manager told me it was based on the fact that anestheia can take a while to get out of your system, and of course making sure it had been 24-hours since any pain meds. Otherwise you can get a DUI! But the main reason is that the action of using your foot to brake and accelerate uses your abdomen muscles. After surgery you don't want to hurt yourself (most of all), but it can also slow down your ability to stop in an emergency. If you think about it, your car is a 2+ton peice of metal - do you really want that kind of pressure on your belly?

That is funny you ask that... I was wondering the same thing. I am sure a week is fine but I feel kind of weak and it has been ten days today for me and I am a little nervous. I must say I do live in a moderately busy part of town, lot of congestion so ... I plan on waiting. Just started full liguids today, hoping to feel more energized soon.

As soon as I was off pain meds ... about 4 days.

I drove after 4 days. I was getting cabin fever and needed to GET OUT! I wasn't on pain meds either. I wouldn't have been able to drive on the meds.

I drove home from the airport 2 days after surgery I also wasn't on pain meds. That's the BIGGEST thing, in my mind. Make sure you're comfortable with the seat belt too.

My Dr. told me one - two weeks...you have to be off pain meds & be able to turn side to side with no problems.

I could have drove in less than a week out, but opted to avoid being in a car as much as possible. I read an account (iffy, I couldnt trace it to the source but neverless) of a fender bender that sent a woman back to the hospital with a sizeable leak. It kinda stuck in my mind.

A week post op my Mom passed away and that was a whole other situation and I began to feel bad again fast, so I felt too distracted to drive.

I drove once my second week out, out of necessity. Beyond that I waited till my 3rd week.

As soon as I was off pain meds ... about 4 days.

Im reading that u pretty mich bounced back after 4 days...lol

I could have drove in less than a week out, but opted to avoid being in a car as much as possible. I read an account (iffy, I couldnt trace it to the source but neverless) of a fender bender that sent a woman back to the hospital with a sizeable leak. It kinda stuck in my mind.

A week post op my Mom passed away and that was a whole other situation and I began to feel bad again fast, so I felt too distracted to drive.

I drove once my second week out, out of necessity. Beyond that I waited till my 3rd week.

I am sooo sorry to hear ur mom passed away right after surgery. Im sure u were too distracted at that time to drive.,,

I drove after 4 days. I was getting cabin fever and needed to GET OUT! I wasn't on pain meds either. I wouldn't have been able to drive on the meds.

Im starting to get cann fever now..lol

sorry for typo.. cabin fever

:aureola: I am the last of the baby boomers, from the generation greatest parents to my 5 baby boomer brothers, we learned hard, and we do it right! I can drive on meds! :cheers2:

jhope - You might 'think' you can drive on meds, but...please for the safety of others, especially that cute little one in your photo, (and yourself) don't! Well, you are in Texas so you have lots of space. I'm here in the congested SF Bay Area and would like to tell everyone please do not drive on our congested highways and roads whilst on meds! (Although I'm certain most are on meds by the way they drive!).

I drove 7 days post-op. You also feel every bump in the road while you are in a car up 2-3 weeks out.