Any tips for long trip home after surgery?

[PegB]

As I was reading leecrowley's first post op message, I see where so many of you commented on his 5 hour car trip home. I also have a 5 hour trip home and wonder if you had any suggestions to make it tolerable? I have a Ford Expedition, so there's a lot of room to try to arrange myself. Lots of pillows?
OK to use seat belt? Stop and walk around several times??

I figure if I keep worrying about the small stuff, I won't have any time to spend on the BIG stuff!

Thanks so much!

 

[StretchL]

Good Question, Peg...

Good Question, Peg...

NYC is about 7 hours or a plane flight from Richmond... I've been wondering the same thing...

 

[RandyL]

Try to get as comfy as possible and stop every 2 hours and get out and stretch. I could not wear the seat belt since it bothered my chest.

 

[Ross]

If you can lay down in the vehicle, do that. Make frequent stops to stretch and get a bit of excercise, though your not going to be wanting to do alot of walking as you'll be unstable for the most part. Do what you can to be comfortable in the ride. Plenty of pillows, plenty of rest, and the rest will come as you can tolerate it.

 

[hensylee]

My trip was two hours only and it was very comfortable. I put the seat back and rested, watched the scenery, marveled at how nice it was to be heading towards home. That's 3 hrs shorter than yours, tho, but I bet you won't have any trouble. Take a pain pill before you start out if you think you will need one. A 5 hr trip probably necessitates at least one stop on the way for stretching and getting your blood circulating in your legs.

 

[Kate]

I had a four hour ride home and was cautioned very strongly not to sit in the front seat so that, in the unlikely event of an accident, my chest wouldn't be struck by the airbag. I was also told to wear my seat belt but to put the heart pillow in between to cushion my chest. This was actually fairly comfortable. You'll want to be holding the heart pillow anyway to provide support for your incision. Wear something very loose and avoid tops the button or zip up the front as you won't want that pressing against your chest (actually, what I did was wear a button-front top and then just unbuttoned it half way down and through a light blanket over the top to keep everything decent.) To be honest, I was dreading the trip but it really wasn't that bad. You'll still be on a lot of pain killers at that point (try totake them about 1/2 hour before you leave). Best of luck! Kate

 

[catwoman]

I had a four hour ride home and was cautioned very strongly not to sit in the front seat so that, in the unlikely event of an accident, my chest wouldn't be struck by the airbag. I was also told to wear my seat belt but to put the heart pillow in between to cushion my chest. This was actually fairly comfortable. You'll want to be holding the heart pillow anyway to provide support for your incision.

Kate's right ... in fact, I would advise against riding in the front seat for 4-5 weeks (yeah, I know, we're not children and it looks like we're being chauffeured).
You don't want to invite a broken sternum right after a sternotomy or MIS procedure. My husband's car was hit slightly in early December. The airbag went off, fracturing my husband's sternum. He was black & blue for 3-4 weeks, very sore for almost 8 weeks. Had repeated X-rays for 2 months and was released by our PCP at the end of February.
Had a passenger been riding beside him, I'm sure he/she might have also had a fractured sternum. If that sternum was in the process of healing after OHS --
The airbag can also cause bruising to the heart, tear the aorta, stop the heart, etc.

IN SHORT:
Play it safe for 4-6 weeks and ride in the back seat. (It's not the rest of your life.) Put a pillow between you & the seatbelt.

Accidents and tragedies happen to the "other" person. But sometimes that person is us. (Just like many of us drew a black bean and needed/need OHS.)

 

[Guest]

Play it safe for 4-6 weeks and ride in the back seat. (It's not the rest of your life.)

*grins devilishly*

But ... but ... isn't the back seat supposed to be the FUN ZONE ? Well, at least, that's what I've been TOLD....

*sighs*


Seriously, tho, my road trip home was only 1 hr from Chicago to Elgin. Not too shabby ... tho, it could've been in a better vehicle.....



Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"I'll always be around" ... Willie Nelson ... 'Highwayman'

 

[JohnnyV_46]

Use the Drugs they give you!!!...Definitely no front seats for quite awhile! It took me about 30 min. to get home....exactly 31 minutes too long! So some of you got "Heart" pillows huh? I got a really Stiff, Teady Bear named "Sir Koffsalot"...Loose Shirts will be your friend for a little while....Oh, one really great thing! The Air smells so much nicer outside, the first time you step or roll out!...

 

[leecrowley]

Hi PegB,

I have to guess some of my travel problems were of my own doing. We have a Mazda 5 mini-minivan. The front seat was very comfortable, but we were so loaded up for the week in Dallas with luggage and baby stuff (stroller, swing, etc.) that I didn't have room to fully recline. I also reached toward the backseat to try to calm our crying baby a couple of times. I made sure when I did this that it was not painful, but I'm also sure I'd have been better off afterwards without it.

My best advice would be to find the most comfortable position you can, whether it be reclined in the front seat or laying down in the middle row, and try not to move. If you're lucky, you'll get to sleep most of the way.

Good luck to you.

Lee

 

[Dustin]

My sister drove me home and I sat next to her in the front seat, which I turned as flat as possible. Even though I felt miserable during the wheel chair trip to the parking lot, and even more so when I smelled that stuffy cabin interior for the first time, I stabilized the moment I dozed off. Anyway, you'de probably wish to lie somewhat flat during the trip rather than sitting straight up. It really depends on your recovery on how you cope with an extended trip home, it's very individual I guess. What works for Joe may not work for Jane.

Best wishes,

 

[John & Joann]

We had a new Buick Park Avenue. Joann thought it was the roughest ride of her life. Back seat, seat belts, pillows, stop every 90 minutes. I took 20 minutes to get her out of the car to walk. BAD NEWS! Make sure that you have a cell phone is case of emergency. Stay on the interestate as much as possible. Make certain that you do walk to reduce the chance of blood clots.

You probably will never have an emergency unless there is an accident, but I would have a map to know what major cities are on you route in the event that you do need medical help.

Take your pain pills before you depart the hospital. Take additional pain pills as needed during your trip.

Make certain that you have a plan for someone to stay with you when you get home. You will need assistance for at least one week.

Hope that this helps. It was not written to scare, but rather to plan appropriately for the trip home.

 

[Granbonny]

I would have a cooler with juice..Whoever will be driving you..plan for restroom stops..Not too far from parking..Maybe Fast foods places...Near the door?..Remember you will need to stop for fills on meds scripts.(drugstore) If you get a late discharge..I would stay the first night in a nearby Motel..if the hospital will give you 1 night's meds?..5 hours sounds like a long ride..and I would hate to think about traffic , construction slowdowns, ect.......Bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

Peg

Peg

I just read your profile..so you will be going to Cleveland..I would take a pen/paper and observe all the reststops, fast food places, ect. on your drive up...Also..keep an eye out for construction on the interstate..sorry to hear about your Dad's passing. I lost mine last year at age 90......Bonnie

 

[greg]

My trip home was about 5 hours and not all that bad.....
I sat in the front seat of a Taurus with a full sized pillow between the seat belt and me and made several short walk-arounds and pit stops.
Don't be afraid to use drugs.... They will help.
I know I wanted to be home so bad that nothing else really mattered..

 

[PegB]

Hi Bonnie!

Hi Bonnie!

Thanks for all the ideas. I'm making a list of everyone's advice, so I don't forget anything as I get closer (now if they would just give me a date!). I'm HOPING to sleep most of the way home, since I usually sleep on every road trip we take anyway.

Where abouts in GA are you? We're moving to Aiken, SC next summer and I'm trying to get my bearings. (SOUTHERN REUNION next year??? ) We'll be going back and forth there a lot in the coming year since we're building. Been going down through WV and into Columbia, and then across on 20. Takes 10 hours from Cinti.

My Dad was just 2 mo. short of 90. I'm glad he passed before my surgery as he'd have worried himself to death! My Mom and Dad are both gone now - sort of feel like an orphan.

 

[Joe Cool]

Hug your pillow on the freeway the cement bumps are killer Also, kindly instruct your driver to take turns, driveways, dips, etc. really slow!

 

[catwoman]

*grins devilishly*

But ... but ... isn't the back seat supposed to be the FUN ZONE ? Well, at least, that's what I've been TOLD....

*sighs*

Gee ... brings back memories of going to the drive-ins during my high school & college years.

 

[PMB233]

7 hour trip home

7 hour trip home

Peg,

My trip from UAB was 7 hours due to stopping. Including the stopping your trip may be longer.

All the advice I read were things that I did except no one reminded me of the air bag in the front.

I would add one thing, the public rest stops were good except I almost got stuck in one of the bathroom stalls and then could not open the door on the way out on my own requiring a strong pull. So I suggest you have someone very close buy. Twistng to reach the toilet paper was also a challenge, but if I moved slowly reaching /twisting movement was not so painful.

I wish I could have gone to Cleveland Clinic. I have heard great things.

Danny

 

[Guest]

Gee ... brings back memories of going to the drive-ins during my high school & college years.

LOL! I don't have any of those type of memories.....

*rolls eyes*