Out of work

Doc telling me I can go back to work two weeks post pm implantation but cannot drive for four weeks. 4 weeks seems a long time. I cannot get to work without driving.. cannot get kid to school without driving........ how long is the normal driving restriction. BTW: I am in NY

13 Comments

driving

by bluebowtye - 2014-05-13 05:05:10

I live in IA. My doctor told me I had to wait 2 weeks. He said it used to be 4 but said he goes by the Mayo clinic guidelines and they recently relaxed it to 2.

Iowa law says that if you have syncope (I had 2 episodes in one night) then you aren't supposed to drive for 6 months, but since I got a PM to correct that, I was ok after 2. I would check again with your doctor.

Good luck,
~Sheila

Driving

by kmom - 2014-05-13 05:05:45

Iam in Utah and I think my dr said 2 weeks. I was driving in a couple of days!! I felt so much better he'd never restricted me before even though I was having issues post PM no issues!! He did say mAke sure you weren't taking pain meds but I wasn't except for Tylenol. ( plain)

depends

by Tracey_E - 2014-05-13 05:05:50

In England and other countries, it's the law to wait 4 weeks. Here, it varies but 4 weeks is fairly common, esp if you passed out before getting it. Did you question it? If you haven't had a history of passing out and are doing well, they may let you drive sooner.

for me

by wjs1954 - 2014-05-13 05:05:53

I was driving a standard shift car after days. Seatbelt was the biggest problem. Pm on left side Seatbelt went right over the area.

Slight correction Tracey

by IAN MC - 2014-05-13 05:05:54

in England the law doesn't allow you to drive 7 days after PM implant. It is usually longer if you have an ICD

I had passed out prior to having a PM but was driving after 7 days

Ian


Nobody Told Me

by valley01 - 2014-05-13 06:05:30

My PM was put in after I went to work and they took me to emergency for the 2nd time in a week (the first time I had an ablation). It was put in for bradycardia - my heart rate was 30 and under. Nobody said a word to me about not driving when I was released (and I specifically asked what my restrictions were because of my running and work schedule) so my dad picked me up from the hospital and took me to get my car and I drove myself the 40 minute drive home following him. It was a Saturday. I went back to work on Tuesday. I did not go home with any pain meds, not sure if that made the difference? It must be the hospital because I wasn't told not to drive after the ablation, either, and on 3/6 I had my adrenal gland removed and nothing was said about driving - all the same hospital.

5 Days

by 1bcampbell - 2014-05-13 07:05:58

I had surgery on April 8th and was driving and went back to work full time on the 14th. I have a desk job and my doc said driving was fine if I felt up to it. I have felt great with no complications since surgery. I am in Arizona. Hang in there Boysmom.
Bonnie

Hi Hon; WaspCVS-18

by WaspCVS-18 - 2014-05-14 03:05:02

Hi again hon; Glad your having it done. I told you I had my
PM -de-Fib unit Monday a week ago. Nurse Pulled off the tape over sutures Yesterday PM Tues. and said it looked great. Karen and I talked with the nurse about the spasm caused from the PM into the Phrenic nerve to the diaphram. Not unusual and will go back tomorrow to have Sparky tuned up or down to stop or calm down the spasms. Read Marty's epistel on functions. Ok to drive so did. just cant lift for another 3 weeks and no putting arm above shoulder height for 2 weeks to let tissue heal around chest pocket. Leads are sutured in place. I know things will turn out great and hope to read your news next week. Bob

Hi Hon, an addendum

by WaspCVS-18 - 2014-05-14 04:05:46

Remember Docs and Hospitals need to CTAss's in case of any thing happening. They are just playing it safe and I can't blame them with the amount of lawyers and lawsuits going on.. There may be a State statute or law that stipulated how soon you can drive after certain types of surgery. Talk with your Doc and explain your problem. I'm sure he will help. Tim let me drive after a week. I wanted to drive home the next after the surgery but my BOSS, my better half said she didn't want me to wreck her car. HOpe to hear from you soon. Bob.
CVS-18 is a 2nd WW Aircraft Carrier of the Essex class. I was on her for a number of years with an Squadron of Sub Hunters during the 50's and 60's

also

by kmom - 2014-05-14 06:05:13

The PM shoulder thingy (for your seat belts) that they advertise on this site is great! I ordered one and it really works!

ME

by Beckes76 - 2014-05-14 12:05:04

I had my surgery on a Wednesday and I was driving on Monday and went back to work on Tuesday. I was actually pretty lucky because my jacket was the padding for the first few weeks because the seat belt went right over it. I did everything else that they told me not to but driving.

Becky

2 weeks

by Tick-tock - 2014-05-14 12:05:13

I'm pretty sure the nurse said 2 weeks ( I live in PA); however I drove a short distance the next day. I tried to avoid going out, as I wasn't really feeling up to it at first. Plus I took advantage of friends and family who offered to run errands for me. I was a passenger for a 15 hour drive to FL a week and a half after my surgery (I do NOT recommend this) . I took off work for six weeks after my surgery, as my job requires me to lift and have full range of motion of my extremities. I would say as long as you have not taken narcotics or any medication that makes you drowsy in the past 24 hrs, you are probably ok.

For me

by KAG - 2014-05-14 12:05:41

I was driving in about 4 days. I put a folded wash cloth over my PM site to pad it for a couple of weeks.

Looking back, while I never passed out before implant I was driving all the time and even drove to the hospital the day of implant. I probably shouldn't have been then, but after implant my electrical problem was fixed so much safer now. Should also add that my AVblock came on very suddenly and I didn't really understand (didn't have time to research) what was happening to me.

I'd say that you're in much better shape now with the PM and it's probably more a question of how much you move your site side arm when you drive and are you within the Drs restrictions.

Kathy

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