Is It At All Possible To Drive The Day After Surgery?

[lucky8mb1 167]

We're dealing with a bit of a scheduling issue in terms of my surgery. I have to be there at 6am, which means we'll have to wake up the kids early, drag them out, and then my husband will have to hurry back and get them fed/ready for school. It's doable, just not ideal. I'd much prefer to drive myself, have him meet me there, and then drive myself home the next day when I'm discharged.

My husband thinks I'm insane. I'm curious if he's right.

[ljperez 87]

Idk about your hospital but they would not release me here in Boston unless I had a ride the pain meds are still in your system. Honestly I wouldn't have wanted to drive. I just wanted to get home my eyes were closed the whole time.

[bethanyruff 16]

I don't think that you would want to plus they would not want you to if you are taking pain meds but I say it depends on how you feel!!!!

[Barisaxylady 154]

My hospital would no release me either without a ride. We also had to get the kids up early to get me to the hospital. Then hubby had to get back home to get them to school. Its only once, so I just suggest you do it the right way. You do want to have a problem on the way home and have more issues.

[Bmarion662 76]

Are you unable to find someone to spend the night and stay with the kids and get them to school or let the kids take a holiday from school while the hubby gets you checked in?

[delta_girl 931]

How far is your house from the hospital?

I couldn't have done it, though I was at work 5 days after surgery.

[ozeedonkee 145]

I was released day 3 and there's no way I would have made it out of the carpark. I drove myself in, husband picked me up, and we took a taxi back the next day so he could drive my car back home. I felt safe to drive at one week.

[Almostthere34 128]

Had you thought about catching a cab to the hospital that way your husband can get to the hospital after the kids are at school? If not I would see if your hubby can have a friend drive your car home.

[pookiebear 6]

I had a hired car drop me off at the hospital and then had my wife pick me up when it was all wrapped up. I mostly didn't want my youngest to see me laid up in a hospital. It was totally the right thing to do. I didn't need anyone hanging out in the hospital while I was sleeping most of the first day and being super chilled out the second.

[I love my dachshunds 14]

My doctor said that I had to have someone drive me home. Sound like from all the post that you wouldn't want to drive even if you could.

[BigBootyQT 78]

Check to see if your insurance covers transportation. It's early enough to arrange a ride from them. My insurance UHC covers medical transportation.

[lucky8mb1 167]

I had a feeling that would be the case, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask! We don't have anyone to take the kids and I'm not going to pull them out of school for this, so we have to work this out on our own.

I'll probably drive myself since it's so early and I don't want to deal with a cab. He'll catch a cab after he gets the kids off to school and hang out with me until the kids are out of school.

I'm self-pay so no insurance coverage to consider.

[iggychic 1,405]

You are insane But it sounds like you have a great husband. I personally wouldn't even have enjoyed a cab ride home, but we live a long ways away so that is part of the reason (chatting with a stranger for two hours was not in my ability level after surgery).

Some hospitals will let you stay later or check out earlier if you have a hardship. I had to leave earlier than normal check out because of ferry schedules and the long drive (I wanted to arrive home before my little guy went to bed) and the docs made that happen for me. You might ask in advance if that is possible.

[Fiddleman 4,376]

It might might not be as smooth of a schedule as you think it might be. There might be complications which may extend your stay. Even the minor complications like not being able to get your O2 levels high enough, not being able to swallow or not being able to go to the bathroom on your own are reasons your stay could be extended. This is major surgery! Inoperable you are able to find someone who can cover for you with the kids while you take care of your own recovery process in the hospital. Just as a reference, I was in the hospital for 5 days when it should have only been one overnight. The reason is for most of the minor complications I listed above.

[doxieville 799]

I agree w everyone, esp Fiddleman. Even if the doc has another surgery run late and can't discharge you even if you are ready, that will mess things up. Also, in most states hospitals cannot release you w no driver if you've had narcotics in your system for 24 hours.