Long car ride?

[AAA022414 13]

so here's my question...

I live in Iowa and due to insurance I have to have my surgery done in Minneapolis. I have to stay overnight and the doctor said it would be ok for me to drive home the next day...it's about a 3.5 hour drive. well I'm taking alot of time off...mainly just because I can...and because I've never had any sort of surgery and I don't know what to expect. SO anyway...my actual "home" (where my family is) is in Montana... Do you think I would be Ok to sit in the car for 20ish hours to drive to Montana to be with my family while I recover? My husband would be driving...my thought right now is that I can just load up on pain medication and sleep???? but again, I've never had surgery so I have no idea! any suggestions would be helpful! thanks!

[snowbird 2]

I really don't see a problem with an extended car ride. You may have to stop frequently to get out and do some walking to exercise your legs. Also, the surgeons pump your abdomen full of gas to make it easier to work in there, and it is not unusual to get some pains from the gas after surgery. Walking helps work the gas out. I'm not talking about regular digestive tract gases here; this is gas outside of your stomach, and it can cause some discomfort in the week or two after surgery.

Since you do have the option of stopping the car and stretching your legs, I would think you would be more comfortable driving that flying a long distance to your home.

My husband and I flew from San Diego to Phoenix after surgery, which is only an hour's flight. However, our doctor's clinic picked us up at our hotel at 8:30 am for a 2:00 pm flight, which was then 2 hours late, then with the flight home, getting a shuttle to get to our car, then driving an hour home, it was a long day of over 12 hours. Still it was not too terrible and we made it just fine.

If it gets too uncomfortable you may want to stop for a hotel along the way.

[Ang1982 4]

If you do end up doing the long drive, may I suggest bring along a pillow. My surgeon is only 2 hours away and I found it reasonably comfortable to just buckle in then hold onto my pillow against my belly. Guess it helped keep things from bouncing around, etc.

[minock 0]

To be honest, that worries me a little bit. My surgeon said they had one person who died while my surgeon was doing his fellowship and that was because he drove 20 hours to go to his son's graduation. I am planning on driving 5 hours 5 days after my surgery so that is why we had the discussion. He told me that you can get a blood clot and it can travel to your lungs. Now, he said to make sure I stop on the hour and walk around so that I don't get a clot. I don't want to freak you out but please make sure your surgeon in on board with your decision to drive. I understand wanting to be with your family; just make sure you do it safely.

[AAA022414 13]

Thanks guys!! you gave me alot to think about! I guess I'll check with my surgeon and see how he feels about it and then go from there!

[SuzanneG 1]

I took a 15 hour trip 3 weeks after surgery. It wasn't bad at all, but do be careful about the blood clot thing. Get out and walk often.

[mbanja 1]

Also you want to think about food, since stopping for fast food will be an issue. You are going to be on a liquid diet so you will want to stock up on things to eat/drink during the car ride if you decide to go.

[mandyjo 1]

If you go on I 90 or parts of 35w are really bumpy. When I can home from Souix Falls after the lap band, it hurt to go over the really bumpy road.

[Ang1982 4]

To be honest, that worries me a little bit. My surgeon said they had one person who died while my surgeon was doing his fellowship and that was because he drove 20 hours to go to his son's graduation. I am planning on driving 5 hours 5 days after my surgery so that is why we had the discussion. He told me that you can get a blood clot and it can travel to your lungs. Now, he said to make sure I stop on the hour and walk around so that I don't get a clot. I don't want to freak you out but please make sure your surgeon in on board with your decision to drive. I understand wanting to be with your family; just make sure you do it safely.

I have to agree with this statement, please make sure that you make many stops and get lots of stretching/exercise done.

My bestfriends husband lives in California while she lives up here in Canada as they await their immigration stuff to be sorted out. He was up visiting for the summer and drove up. After his visit was over and he had to drive back he just jumped in the car and drove straight back without really stopping at all. 13 hours... the next day he was helping some friends move, doing regular things, etc. and then that night at dinner... he had a stroke. He's 25. After many different tests by various different specialists they couldn't determine the exact cause of the stroke but are pretty sure that it had to do with the fact that he was sitting for so long and then when he was helping them move the clot broke free and for whatever reason didn't get absorbed into his body and it went to his brain and that was that. They don't forsee him having another stroke - and he was pretty healthy up to that happening. Goes to show you that you can never be too careful. He is 25 and that happened, and he does have some after effects so please, please be careful.

As driving that long a trip just after surgery could be even more risky than just that length of trip in general.

[Turler 6]

Hi,

I would be very careful about traveling so soon after surgery. You have many things to consider...yes, you will be at an increased risk for a DVT (blood clot). Usually in the hospital or even pre-operatively doctors give medication to thin the blood, compression stockings or devices on your legs that 'pulse' while your not moving around as much as you normally would---all to prevent clots. Once you are up and around and ready to go home, they often discontinue those things with instruction for you to keep increasing your activity. Also, your doctor may not want you to be so far away from him in case you have any problems/complications. Car trips can be exhausting even when you feel fine, so it could be worse post operatively. I'd definitely clear your travel plans with your surgeon. If he agrees for you to to, you may want to get a copy of your complete medical record (including your surgery) to take with you.

Good luck with your surgery and take care...hope this helps!

[AAA022414 13]

so i thought i would follow up and let you know that my doctor said he would not advise it...the risk for blood clots is to high and if something were to happen i would be way to far away...so looks like i'll be hanging out at home! that's ok, i'd rather be safe then sorry! thanks for all thoughts on the subject!