I have to go to a wedding shower four days after my surgery. I also will have to drive there (about 45 min. away). Will I be able to do this? When were you back to normal and driving?

You will get a lot of this answer - ask your doc. I can tell you mine only side-lined me the day of surgery and if I took pain meds. I had surgery on a Tuesday and drove to the spa or a pedicure on Thursday.

From what I was told by my surgeons office.....no driving until I had been off the pain meds for a full 24 hours. I took my pain meds for the first 48 hours as directed, then cut back to just bedtime for the next 48 hours.....then off completely. It really depends on how you are feeling. and what your pain tolerance is.

Best wishes as you make this journey to bandland:)

as stated, it basically depends on you. I was able to drive (stick shift at that) the day after my procedure (i live about an hour from my dr.) I returned to work 2 days later, and of course had to drive to and from then.

I didnt take any strong meds, liquid tylenol was the extent of it.

best of luck!

I was told not to drive for two weeks and especially not while I'm on pain meds.

I didn't drive until a week and a half after my surgery, because I had a fair amount of pain from the wounds and from gas, so mum has been driving for me.

It's really up to how you are feeling.

Syd:

I believe that 24 hours off pain medication (other than over-the-counter tylenol, aleve, etc) is the rule my doctor used. So, if you're feeling well enough to get off pain meds for 24 hours then if not too uncomfortable you can drive. They seem to put the ports in alot of different places, so I imagine that could effect your comfort when driving. Mine is way up at the top of my belly, just under the rib cage, so it didn't effect my abdomen while driving at all.

Best wishes for a quick recovery.

Sue

I was able to drive 2 days after surgery (after I was off the pain meds).

I was banded Thursday & drove home from my moms house on Friday after getting out of the hospital. It was about a 10 min drive & it hurt like hell. I hadnt had pain meds since 930pm Thurs night in the hospital & I took some as soon as I got home from driving. Then Saturday I drove back to my moms house & went with her to the movies. Again no pain meds other than the ones I took Friday around 5pm. I regret both times driving as I dont think I would have needed pain meds if I hadnt. It was more the pain of operating the steering wheel that was the main reason I wish I hadnt.

I drove two hours in pooring rain 3 days after my surgery but I was off pain killers two days earlier. I hope that helps.

Edited April 22, 200818 yr by asenft

my doctor says no "no driving for 2 weeks" after surgery but when I was in the doctors waiting room, everyone in there said they had driven themselves to their 1 week post op appointments.

I was driving the day after surgery, and I took a two hour flight home four days after. Unless you're on pain meds, you should be fine.

Regardless, call your surgeon and ask his advice. I'm sure he won't mind.