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Original poster

DH wants to drive post op should he?

15 replies

LeanishMachine · 10/10/2020 17:09

Six weeks ago he had a kidney removed, conventional surgery, not keyhole. He has a 27 cm incision.

No one has ever told him not to drive , although for the first few weeks it was clear he shouldn't.

He's much improved but still in pain that stops him doing very much. He wouldn't lift a heavy bag, for example and very tired, sleeping 14 hours a day, which apparently is normal. As doc said this week "we did cut you in half six weeks ago".

He finds the passenger seat seatbelt very uncomfortable because of where the scar is and wants to drive. I've suggested the back seat behind the driver but..

Anyway, he thinks he's well enough to drive. We're going out to dinner tonight and I'm tempted to let him so I can have a glass of wine Grin Should I?

OP posts:
gamerchick · 10/10/2020 17:24

No.

You shouldn't drive after an operation until you can do an emergency stop safely. Do you think he could atm?

Original poster
LeanishMachine · 10/10/2020 17:25

I'm not convinced he could but he is.

OP posts:
Runmybathforme · 10/10/2020 17:27

Surely his insurance would be invalidated ? I always advise patients to check this before driving again.

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General health
DorisDaisyMay · 10/10/2020 17:27

I don’t think the first time you try should be when you can’t take over...but I would probably give it a bit longer. What I have found with recovery from different ops is when you feel like you can then add four/five days and then you probably can.

Madvixen · 10/10/2020 17:28

No. 6 weeks is the minimum of recovery time for abdominal surgery.

What does his insurance say about driving after an operation?

YerAWizardHarry · 10/10/2020 17:30

I've had a c section and my other half has had hernia surgery (once conventional and once keyhole) and have both been basically back to "normal" after 6 weeks. DP only had 5 weeks off his manuel job with his 2nd surgery. Has he had a check up recently? Seems a long time to still be so tender

Babdoc · 10/10/2020 17:31

Take him out in the car to an empty straight road. Let him drive at say, 30 or 40mph, then bang the dashboard and get him to do an emergency stop. If he can’t hit the brake pedal hard enough and fast enough then no, he isn’t yet fit to drive. Swap back and drive him home again.

Original poster
LeanishMachine · 10/10/2020 17:34

@Madvixen

No. 6 weeks is the minimum of recovery time for abdominal surgery.

What does his insurance say about driving after an operation?

This is his point, he's six weeks and 2 days.

I don't think insurance has specific rules about driving after an operation and no doctor has ever told him he can't

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 10/10/2020 17:34

Have him drive to Barnard Castle to check.

Sorry, I'll get my coat.

Mumdiva99 · 10/10/2020 17:35

The insurance thing is a red herring....unless you have been told by a doctor not to drive then you are insured. (It gets banded about with c section all the time).

As pp said - he needs to be able to stop in an emergency.

Every person heals differently so we can't say if he's safe or not. Some women drive 2 weeks after a c section....some take 6 weeks and some longer. It depends on your husband whether he is recovered enough. But maybe you shouldn't drink in case you need to drive home.

Original poster
LeanishMachine · 10/10/2020 17:36

@YerAWizardHarry

I've had a c section and my other half has had hernia surgery (once conventional and once keyhole) and have both been basically back to "normal" after 6 weeks. DP only had 5 weeks off his manuel job with his 2nd surgery. Has he had a check up recently? Seems a long time to still be so tender
I was concerned when we saw the doctor this week, for that reason but apparently this is a much bigger op than a C section and it will be 12 weeks before he should expect to be pain free. He didn't say don't drive though and he did say he should be able to start a phased return to work within a couple of weeks.
OP posts:
Babdoc · 10/10/2020 17:37

Yerawizard, open surgery for a kidney stone is a much more painful incision than either a hernia or cs, and takes longer to recover from. It involves a massive cut right under the patient’s ribs, which hurts even when trying to take a deep breath.

It’s one of the reasons why laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery is preferred when possible.

Original poster
LeanishMachine · 10/10/2020 17:37

If it makes a difference, it's a very short trip, about 3 miles. If he was well, we'd drive there and walk back and I'd run back to get the car in the morning.

OP posts:
Biscuitsdisappear · 10/10/2020 18:07

His insurance will tell you if he is covered or not. He must also be able to brake in an emergency in case something should happen. If he cannot comfortably do that he shouldn't be on the road for the safety of other road users.

ChaChaCha2012 · 10/10/2020 18:12

You wouldn't be posting if you didn't think it was an issue.

If you're desperate for a drink, get a taxi.

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