Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins

Dumb Question Time- When Can I Drive, Post Op?

TheCurvyJones

Recommended Posts

TheCurvyJones    721

TheCurvyJones
Posted

My surgeon's paperwork doesn't say anything about driving.He just says some people with office jobs feel good enough to return to work within a week or so. My friend had abdominal lap surgery(not WLS, cyst removal) and she was told two weeks. Of course she thought it was odd that our surgeons want us up and walking within days after surgery, but I couldn't seem to convince her that it will be a completely different experience.

It seems like most people are up and around within the week post surgery. Just wondering when it was comfortable for you to drive?

My surgery is Dec 21. I return home Dec 23rd. I will have a ride home from the airport. Past that, I plan to plant my rear for at least a week but I am SURE I will be going crazy after that! I'm also concerned about returning to work post op. My commute is 45 minutes but I'll be JUST under two weeks out when I go back to work. I'm an executive assistant so I sit all day, with bouts of walking to and from the printer or the break room.

So how soon post op were you able to drive?

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

RareGold3000    185

RareGold3000
Posted

If done laparoscopically, as mine was, my surgeon said I could drive the day I came home from the hospital (2 days post op) as long as I wasn't taking the prescription pain meds. I took the pain meds for 2 days at home, and then drove the next day. So, I drove 5 days post op.

TheCurvyJones reacted to this

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

TheGamer    406

TheGamer
Posted

Same. I was given clearance to drive as long as I was not on pain meds. I did, however, keep a firm pillow between me and the seatbelt until I felt better :D

Yasmine reacted to this

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ailly    32

Ailly
Posted

I was told 2 weeks :/

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

saddie    21

saddie
Posted

i would check with your car insurance company, as if you got in a accident, you may not be covered

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yasmine    109

Yasmine
Posted

According to my doctor he said about 2 weeks because by that time you should be completey off of pain medication...

When you stop your pain meds you are free to drive...

Unless you're having any other complications that would prohibit you!

Good Luck :)

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Yasmine    109

Yasmine
Posted

Same. I was given clearance to drive as long as I was not on pain meds. I did' date=' however, keep a firm pillow between me and the seatbelt until I felt better :D[/quote']

TheGamer...

Great Advice... :)

Next week I should start driving and that's a great idea... so far I've been driving around as passenger without a seatbelt because it hurts...

I didn't even think about a pillow... duhhhh lol ;)

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Boofster    159

Boofster
Posted

They said I could drive as long as I was comfortable and not taking pain meds. I was sleeved on Monday. i picked up the kids from school today (a five minute drive) and I have to say i might wait a few more days until driving again. I was pretty sore.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go To Topic Listing POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    Bariatric Forums

    For Patients

    Health Professionals

    Search Surgeons

    Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

    ×