how soon can one drive after Lumpectomy?

bluewillow · July 2007

Hello ladies!
My lumpectomy is July 26 and I'm-a gearing up here!
I forgot to ask my surgeon this question last week-- are there limitations on driving an auto after a lumpectomy surgery? I read somewhere none for two weeks but would like some real human input here. Also, what other limitations did you have and for how long-- how about work, showers, movement, concerns about infection, etc? And does everyone get a drain tube?
Thanks for much for all your help! This board is wonderful!!
Mary Jo

MNSusan · July 2007

I'm sure it depends on where your lumpectomy is located, its size and whether you have nodes removed.

Mine was small, on the top of my breast and no nodes were removed. I drove the next day.

fd411 · July 2007

Hi Maryjo,

I didn't drive for a few weeks because the surgeon said not to, but I remember at one point he said I could drive if it didn't cause any discomfort. I had the lumpectomy on the outer side of my breast and lymph nodes removed. My drain was in for 19 days.

My surgeon told me not to shower when the drain was in, so I did sponge baths. I know others were told they could shower.

If you have a fair amount of nodes removed (I had 26 removed), the first weeks with the drain you have to be careful how much you lift and work the arm. That creates more lymph drainage and the longer you have a significant amount of drainage, the longer the drain stays in.

I was given exercises to do after my drain was removed to regain range of motion in that arm. Make sure you do the exercises, but not to the point that it causes too much pain.

After the surgery, in the recovery room, I was given a good dose of antibiotics in the IV and a prescription for pill antibiotics to take when I got home.

Hope this info helps.

Take Care,
Ferne

Fireweed · July 2007

I drove the next day. It was my right side and I have a standard transmission (and an incision for the sentinel node biopsy) and it was a little tender. A small pillow under the arm protected me from the seat belt and made me a lot more comfortable.

mcgaffey · July 2007

I didn't drive for about a week because it was on the left and I drive and shift on the left. I just took it easy during the early process. I revved up later on!

Anonymous · July 2007

I didn't have any specific driving restrictions, but I didn't have any drains (that could possibly change things I think). You do have to have someone drive you home due to the anesthesia. I was pretty groggy and napped a few hours after getting home. I was sraped in a snug chest binder which I had to keep on for 2 days, then I was allowed to remove and shower with just the steri strips, which fell off by themselves at about day 7. I think I drove about day 3, and was back to all normal activities in less than a week.

Jenny812 · July 2007

I drove the next day with a standard car.
Jenny J.

Bliz · July 2007

I drove the next day and went to work the following day. I had two nodes removed for testing and a lupectomy, no drain.

nanc512 · July 2007

Reading everyone's story is interesting. There are so many variations. I had about 1/4 of my inner lower breast removed two weeks ago. They did the SNB, so I had a drain from the breast, the incision and the incision for the SNB. I was really groggy for days, but the surgeon and I figured out it was from the Ambien, a carry over effect. I was told not to drive for two days, but I was so out of it, I didn't drive til the 5th day. That was the first day that I hadn't taken an Ambien the night before.

They used tissue glue on me, so I had no staples, stitches or packing. I thought I would go home in a special bra, so I didn't take my front closure bra with me. I have to go back next Thursday for a little more to be taken off the breast, the chemo port put in and lymph node removal. I will be more prepared. I only had my drain for 5 days last time, but I anticipate longer with the node removal.

Lots of good info here for our members, I love it.

Nancy

Catherine · July 2007

It depends on what pain meds. you take. I personally drove the next day (extra-strength Tylenol). I did not get a drain. I showered right away too, just tried to keep the area as dry as possible with bandages.

Catherine

Valerie_R · July 2007

The next day, and I had nodes removed. It is such a minor surgery. I didn't feel a thing.

Valerie

Jinx · July 2007

I had lump first time around and doc told me not to drive for two weeks. But this thread sure shows a wide range of advice from docs on this subject.

lori1964 · July 2007

I think it was 3 weeks my doctor told me not to drive. And I seen where a few posted about using a pillow when they drove. I had to use a pillow also. I think my biggest reason that I wasn't aloud to drive was because I had nodes taken out..

bluewillow · July 2007

Thanks, everyone! It might be nice to not drive for a couple of days! I'm just hoping I don't come home with a darn drain! I really appreciate everyone's reply and I wish everyone the best!!
Mary Jo

Alli · July 2007

Hi,
I had surgery on Fri and drove the next Mon. I had Lump+SNB with 3 nodes removed. I did have a drain which was removed on my first post-op visit a week after surgery. The drive was a little too soon. Closing the door, putting on seatbelt etc was very tender but I was getting crazy just laying around the house. Good luck to you!
Alli

LoveMYcats · July 2007

I drove a few days after my lump. But second time around I had mastectomy. My arm was stiff for a few weeks. The lymph node removal (under arms)was more difficult then the mastectomy. My husband actually drove me around for months after -- but I doubt I would have had a good arm for driving for at least 2 weeks. I don't recall my doc saying anything about it.

kcsusan · July 2007

I drove within two days after lumpectomy, no lymph nodes were removed, although my upcoming mastectomy will be a different proceedure, I expect more of a delay in driving, I am right handed and the cancer is in my right breast, so complicates things a bit.

okblessed · July 2007

I drove the same day - but it was just in my neighborhood - not on the interstates or 'fast' lanes

san4850 · July 2007

bluewillow, the only driving restrictions my surgeon gave me was to not drive while I was on the percocet he prescribed me because he said if I were to get pulled over while on percocet, I could get cited for DUI even though I took it as prescribed. Other than that, I had no restrictions. My parents came from out of state to stay with me while I recovered, and they did the driving. I drove after the surgeon took out my drain, which was 6 days after my lumpectomy. If I had to drive before he took out the drain, I could.

Also, patients usually get a drain put in after axilla surgery, when you have more lymph nodes removed besides the sentinel node. If you get a SNB and it's negative, then you may not need a drain. Everyone's different.

Initially I got 4 nodes removed, all negative, but none of those nodes was the sentinel node. I had a drain put in. When I got a second opinion, the second surgeon felt my lymph node sampling wasn't sufficient, so he found 2 sentinel nodes and removed both, and they were negative. I didn't get a drain put in the second time because the surgeon said I didn't need one. He said he'd put it in only if my sentinel node was positive, and he'd have to remove the rest of the nodes.

LauraR · July 2007

I drove within 24 hours and I made myself wait that long because I was told I had to wait 24 hours because of the meds. I had about 3 lymph nodes removed. I felt fine afterwards just very tired.

Linda603 · July 2010

I'm new to all of this. Was diagnosed with DCIS grade 3 in June. I am having lumpectomy with sentinal node removal on 7/27. I was also told by my surgeon that I could start driving as soon as I was comfortable with it. Unfortunately, I have friends and family who have already gone through all of this, and they have assured me that the pain is not that bad..although it may take a day or two before getting behind the wheel.

CrunchyPoodleMama · July 2010

I felt as though I could've driven home for the hospital (of course I didn't), but I definitely drove and worked the next day (which I hadn't planned on doing). No need for pain meds either. I had a very large area removed but no SNB which makes a difference.

CTMOM1234 · July 2010

Lumpectomy (aka surgery 1): I drove 3 days later, but could have driven the next day. Only used ice pack, no over the counter or prescription drugs needed.

SNB (aka surgery 2, when pathology from lumpectomy came back with micro-IDC): Definitely more tightness and pain, probably didn't drive for a week+. Took prescription pain killers for the first 2-3 days.

No drains either time.

oceangirl654 · January 2015

I had surgery 12 days ago and I wouldn't want to drive yet. I have a seroma and I'm very tender. Also just riding in the car feels very very bumpy. I got the seroma after a five hour ride in the car to the surgeon and back eight days after surgery, and I think it was all the bumpiness that caused the fluid to start forming and building up, but that might not be the real reason. Either way, there is definitely a big variation here in how long everyone waits to drive! I felt really pretty good until that day, so it has set me back a bit. I was thinking surgery was nothing until that. I also had sentinel node biopsy. I showered the day after which I'm so glad about. I have no drain. I am still taking advil six pills a day. Sometimes I alternate it with tylenol. Best of luck to everyone! Rest as much as you can- I was running around with visitors and I don't think that was a good idea.

ricci1 · July 2016

thanks for this forum

can someone tell me how painfull..if at all..it is to have drain removed. Having surgery in a few weeks..lumpectomy with nodes removed. Surgeon says she is taking all nodes.

thanks in advance

Linda

Anonymous · July 2016

you can't drive yourself home due to having had anesthesia, ( you really shouldn't drive at all for 24 hours after anesthesia), and you really shouldn't drive when on any narcotic pain meds. I kinda laid low for a few days, used ice on and off frequently, was back to normal activities in less than a week (but I probably could've driven within the first 2 days, it's good to use a little pillow under the seatbelt for comfort and protection from the pressure). I was wrapped up snuggly and told to keep it on for 2 days, then I could take off and shower, but not to touch the steri strips, let them drop off by themselves over the course of 7 days, then follow-up with surgeon on day 10.. The nurses will give you discharge instructions before you go home.

anne

LoveMyFamily · July 2016

I drove about a week after surgery... had brain fog from pain meds and anesthesia before that... I had lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed.... seat belt was uncomfortable sometimes... I didn't have a drain.

Outfield · July 2016

Ask the surgeon. There are two things that are unlikely but that you should consider.

First, if you had to swerve violently, could you do it or would pain in your chest impair the motion?

Second, if you're going to go against medical advice and drive before the surgeon says it's OK, I'd do a little digging to find out what your insurance might say about that. I am NOT a legal expert and I don't know the answer to this question, but I'd want to know if I hit someone, and they knew I'd just had surgery, and it turned out I was driving AMA (against medical advice), what that might mean in terms of my financial liability.

how soon can one drive after Lumpectomy?

Comments

Categories