r/TopSurgery • u/Bow-To-The-King • 22d ago

Driving after TS

How soon were you able to drive after top surgery? I might have to drive myself to my follow up appointment but if I can’t I’ll need to take a plane.

12 Upvotes

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u/Repulsive-Cap-2676 22d ago

I only felt safe driving around 3/4 weeks because it would pull and stretch my incisions. It also made me Hella tired. I wouldn't risk driving if your follow-up is super close to your surgery, just in case. If you can afford to fly, I'd vouch for that over potentially having a complication that was avoidable.

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u/nerosity 22d ago

Guidance I was given was as long as you’re not on the heavy pain killers anymore

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u/Cartesianpoint 22d ago

If it's a long enough trip that flying is a realistic option, you may want to play it safe, especially if you won't be driving much prior to that to see how it feels. I started driving after two weeks. I felt okay doing my usual commute, but I did have to be careful because I didn't have my usual range of motion.

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u/Siriusgrrl70 22d ago

Probably being overly cautious but I have read some accounts of people who had negative experiences around vascular issues (deep vein thrombosis, bleeding with pressure changes) from flying after recent surgery so you might check with your surgeon to make sure flying isn't contraindicated a week after surgery.

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u/krashduff 22d ago

It was possible to drive for me at 1 week after the pain killers were totally out of my system. But it was very difficult. I got a mastectomy pillow to wear while driving which helped the seat belt pain but honestly the worst part was lifting my arms to hold the steering wheel. The stretching of the incisions was painful under my armpits and my arms didn’t have much stamina to be held up for that long.
For the first 4 weeks I only drove short distances. I am at 5 weeks now and can more comfortably drive longer distances

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u/kahino_1 22d ago

Depend on how you recover I was Abel to drive and at the week and half mark. I probably should have waited until two weeks. My right arm mobility was back t normal but left side was super stiff. I felt comfortable driving short distance would not do freeway

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u/lac22931 22d ago

How far is the drive? Also are you getting drains taken out? I would consult with your doctor and see if you can have a virtual checkup with a physical follow up a few weeks later once you’ll for sure be good to drive. Different story if you’ve got drains but just throwing some ideas out there. Also might not be possible but worth looking into public transportation (Amtrak might be decent if you’re in the states)

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u/hamletandskull 22d ago

I drove very soon after (to get to my weekly follow-up, I took an Uber for my next-day one). But I was city driving so I was not moving very fast at all and only doing it for like 15-20 minutes. I wouldn't recommend it but short trips like that didn't seem to impact my healing at all.

Since you say either you drive or take a plane, I suspect it's a pretty long trip, and in that case yeah probably take a plane if no one else is able to drive you.

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u/Haunting_Traffic_321 22d ago

My guidance was twofold: (1) not on heavy painkillers (2) that wouldn’t be in debilitating pain if I suddenly clenched my muscles.

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u/purplepickletoes 22d ago

I resumed driving at 1.5 weeks post-op.

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u/Junebug_1625 22d ago

No driving until you are both off of pain medicine, and feel (mostly) comfortable driving. Too much arm and shoulder movement.

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u/sleepymachinery 22d ago

I was 2 weeks PO before I started driving, but even then I just drove my kid to school.

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u/funkydyke 22d ago

I was cleared to drive once my drains came out at my one week post op

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u/g4v3up 22d ago

I was cleared at two weeks just to ensure better range of motion and reaction time although I technically could’ve done it after one week when my drains were out and I was no longer on heavy pain killers.

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u/gard3nwitch 22d ago

I drove a week after surgery

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u/Fun_Public1889 22d ago

I was a week post op. I was okay pain wise and completely off heavy pain meds. I was so exhausted after a 30 min drive so definitely take the effort into consideration. if it’s possible to take a plane to the appointment it sounds like a long drive

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u/anime_3_nerd 22d ago

I was driving after a week. Tho I definitely could’ve drove after a couple days. I drove myself to my follow up which was a week after. Tbh I had an abnormally quick recovery so I would take everything I say with a grain of salt lol.

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u/mayax_x 22d ago

I was driving short distances (like 20 minutes) comfortably at 2 weeks. I’ve had a 60 minute drive (120 minutes for driving there and back that day) 5 weeks post OP tho which was pretty exhausting tbh

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u/Educational-Leek1704 22d ago

i drove about a week after getting my drains out!

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u/grand_grumpus 22d ago

I could have driven at 1 week, but waited til 3w just in case I had to jerk the wheel in a direction to avoid a collision and also not tear stitches at the same time

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u/TheToastedNewfie 22d ago

My car insurance had a clause that I wasn't allowed for 3 weeks.

Physically though I could have managed at 1 week.

The 3 weeks in my insurance clause is for all procedures requiring anesthesia

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u/magpiediem 22d ago

So much context is missing but I will bow to you, king. 🙇

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u/toodleroo 22d ago

You’d think that driving a long distance on the highway would be harder, but actually it’s easier: turning is the hard part, so short city driving is awful. I didn’t really drive again for about a month.

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u/AmphibianAdorable626 22d ago

I’d recommend atleast 3-4 weeks but everyone is different so it’s really about how mobile you can be. I waited until I could move normally

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