After surgery when can you drive, work.

[borderholic]

I am going to have surgery soon. Still not sure which type because the doctor has sent me for a few more tests. I know they will be taking part of the small intestine and colon, but I have always had Crohn's problem on my left side. He said if there is any inflammation on the left side he would take that out as well.

I have a business in Western NY. I use Border Collies to herd Canada Geese off of properties. This year I have been very lucky to have so many contracts this soon. My concern is I drive over 200 miles a day, and when I am on a job site I walk with the dogs. I probably walk 4 miles a day on average.

Dr. told best case would be 4 days in hospital and 4 weeks recovery. I have had 2 knee surgeries, PFO surgery. I was always able to recover sooner them I was told, I was younger then. I am 52.

I just have a few questions:

1. How long was it before you were able to drive?

2. If you can't drive, can you at least be driven around? How soon?

3. The Doctor said that after this surgery you will get tired easy. Is this true?

4. I don't know if you are given pain meds when you go home, but if you take them. Won't that kind of defeat the purpose. I mean it will constipate you. If you do have to take pain meds, how long did you have to take them?

5. I have had Crohn's for over 37 years. We all know quality of life sometimes just stinks. Did you feel better after your surgery and about how long after?

I wasn't nervous about the other surgeries because I knew what was going to be done. This one concerns me because they seem to keep finding things with every test. The Doctor said he is going to scope me the day before surgery. I am just concerned that when I have the surgery, I won't now what they actually did until I wake up?

Thank you in advance, I am so glad I found this forum. We all most people can't relate to Crohn's disease it feels good to be able to have an outlet with people in the same boat.

 

[leithcote]

Of course everyone's recovery time is different, but I would really count on 4-6 weeks recovery. To be brutally honest, it took about 8 until I was really back to some resemblance of 'normal'. Also, it kind of depends on whether you're having an open procedure (generally longer recovery time) or laparoscopic.

With regards to your questions... & my humble opinions (!)

1) Again, about 8 weeks until I felt well and confident enough to drive.
2) Yes - you'll probably be ok at around week 2, but again, about probably 4 weeks for any 'work' related activities.
3) Yup - it's rather surprising how much it knocks out of you. Don't forget you'll have had a general anaesthetic, which takes some time to get over, as well as the surgical procedure itself.
4) It's true that a number of the pain meds *can* give you constipation. For me it was never a particular problem. Albeit, in the end, I relied mainly on Paracetamol (!) with Tramadol to get me through the night.
5) I had my surgery just over a year ago - and I can honestly say it was definitely the right decision. It did take around 3-4 months to get back to a really good quality of life, but I have absolutely no regrets.

Best of luck with the operation - and I hope they don't find too many things to contend with. Regards, Tony.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

They told me it would take 6-8 weeks for me to feel back to normal.

I was driving in 2 weeks and back at work after 4 weeks. Everyone is different but I also pushed myself to get better and start living.

 

[Jim (POPS)]

The last operation they did took me about 6 weeks to get back to normal. It was a ilyostomy reversal. I was driving in about 2 weeks, I did take pain meds. but it didn't give me constapaition. I was walking around pretty good , with no pain at all at about 10-14 days. If you have no complacations you should be fine in about 6-8 weeks.