How soon to drive again?

[off_again]

Well, I found myself at the RUH at Bath for an extended stay due to an appendix (sp?) problem. Unfortunately I had to have it removed and I have been informed that I may be un-insured due to the operation.... anyone know what to expect and for how long?

I will call my insurance company tomorrow but dont know what to expect. Since i had a general and an abdominal operation I guess its to be expected.

Any ideas?

Oh, and thanks to the staff at the RUH for helping me through it all. Not a nice experience but they did their best to make me feel comfortable and safe.

[BliarOut]

The hospital should be able to tell you if you can or can not drive. Perhaps best to contact them first?

I have driven myself home after a general, but the advice is usually wait 24 hours I seem to recall.

[turbobloke]

Glad to hear you came through OK, sympathies for what happened inbetween departure and return (ouch). If nobody else of a medical persuasion has given a clear idea about driving, I guess a telephopne call to your GP will.

[off_again]

Thanks guys. Spoke to insurer (DL) and they dont have any specific exclusions. If my doctor says I am fine then its fine. Which is pretty good..... I was fearing the worst as women who have had a caesarian (sp?) have to wait 6 weeks! So its not too bad after all.

Just need to get better now. Feel rough as hell and on some pretty serious pain killers.... so if my posts seem a little "bizzare" then you will know why...

[JMGS4]

I had this done loooong ago, and was "banned" from driving for 2 weeks then....... Due to the fact stamping on the brakes in an emergency can split the stitches... maybe it's different nowadays, but I wouldn't take the chance. Perhaps speak to our PH doctors?!?!?!?!

[cosmoschick]

Didn't you have 'keyhole' surgery?

off_again said:

I was fearing the worst as women who have had a caesarian (sp?) have to wait 6 weeks! So its not too bad after all.

[pdV6]

off_again said:

Thanks guys. Spoke to insurer (DL) and they dont have any specific exclusions. If my doctor says I am fine then its fine.

Was going to post this - effectively if the doc says not to drive, then the insurer will not cover you & vice versa.

[Munter]

cosmoschick said:

Didn't you have 'keyhole' surgery?

I think it depends how for "gone" the appendix is. My bro has a 6 inch scar after having his out and hes a skinny git like me.

[Julian64]

yep ring your GP. Keyholes are only a few days, abdominal wounds are a couple of weeks.

The insurance company will start to smell victory if you have an accident and you can't get a letter from your GP or consultant to say you were fit to drive so check with him first.

[vetteheadracer]

If you have an auto driving after an appendix op is possible within about a week, if you have a manual with a heavy clutch it can take weeks! Pushing the left foot down will stretch the stitches....

>> Edited by vetteheadracer on Monday 11th July 10:10

[off_again]

Spoke to doctor and he says about 1 week and see how it is from there. At the moment they are suggesting that the pain is probably the biggest issue. If I am in pain then the concentration drops and hence places me in more danger.

The scar is fairly big since the appendix was pretty far gone - it was only a day from when it started so not sure what happened there!! Dont know the full extent of the surgery as I still have the dressing in place. I have the privilege of removing it later today..... arrrgghhh....! But the consultant said that it was a definate "remove" rather than leave in situ as it would have burst if they had left it any longer.... but he would say that wouldnt he!!!

To be honest I am not going to drive for a couple of weeks. Boss is fine with this and I can work from home without too much of a problem. The shed is an auto with ultra-light steering anyway so hardly a physical experience.... but want to get better first rather than push anything....

... and just think, I was going to look at cars at the weekend. I want to replace the shed with a real car but now I cant even do that! I cant flipping test-drive them never mind actually get in them.... oh well looks like I am stuck with the shed for a little longer then! Maybe someone is trying to tell me something

[havoc]

JMGS4 said:

I had this done loooong ago, and was "banned" from driving for 2 weeks then....... Due to the fact stamping on the brakes in an emergency can split the stitches... maybe it's different nowadays, but I wouldn't take the chance. Perhaps speak to our PH doctors?!?!?!?!

I had mine done a few years ago and while I can't remember exactly mine was at least 2 weeks, for the same reason...I didn't have keyhole, now have a 3in scar (fat f'in appendix!!! )...if you've had keyhole your "ban" may be shorter.

All I can say is I really didn't feel capable of driving for at least a week, nearly 2 in all honesty, so it wasn't a hardship.

[Julian64]

vetteheadracer said:

If you have an auto driving after an appendix op is possible within about a week, if you have a manual with a heavy clutch it can take weeks! Pushing the left foot down will stretch the stitches.... >> Edited by vetteheadracer on Monday 11th July 10:10

Hows that then, appendix is on the right. Have you got some sort of backwards turned around car

Do vettes have clutches?

Size of scar is all about access, can go from about an inch with a laproscope to a a few inches with an easy to find appendix to a giant midline laparotomy in some cases of peritonitis.

Most of the subsequent pain is related to muscle damage, and blood management rather than skin. In a neat appdx the muscles are parted rather than cut so minimising post op pain. But nothing beats the laparoscope. But for laparoscope overweight is an issue, and so is training in the NHS.

[vetteheadracer]

I know the appendix is on the right, but the stretch of your left leg means you tighten the side muscles on the right to counterbalance......

[havoc]

Julian64 said:

Hows that then, appendix is on the right. Have you got some sort of backwards turned around car

I've been there, and trust me, after an appendectomy you don't even want to think about driving for the first week...your entire abdomen is in pain every time you move...I was shocked how often I used my stomach muscles (I was even more shocked to discover I had some...I thought I'd swapped them for my beer-belly!!!)

[saf]

Not a apendectomy, but I can sympthise after going through a Caesarian followed 6 days later by a laparotomy, made a very nice anchor shape

Trouble is we still never got to the bottom of why the laparotomy was needed and that was nearly 20 years ago.

[off_again]

Cool, I must be doing quite well then! My op was Saturday morning (at about midnight!) and I am mobile. Can walk around and even bend down, but then that might be the mixture of codine and paracetamol that I am having every 4 hours!!!

So far so good and not in too much pain. Even managed a shower and I am now at least clean. Only problem now is the Lactulose Solution that I have! For those who know you know exactly why I have this.... not pleasant and no, I haven't yet.... here's hoping that it isnt an issue

[mybrainhurts]

Pah....

When I were a lad, we used to bite into leather while they cut off our legs in t'mornin.......

Then fight frogs in t'afternoon.........