I thought I’d reach out to this community again to ask you to share your experiences. I’m 6 weeks post op on Thursday and have been told I can drive. I will start off with short journeys to see how I feel (confidence rather than physically).
I’ve got a couple of things planned in a couple of weeks that would mean a 2-3 hour drive… can I ask when did you guys start driving long distances following a bypass?
Thanks in advance… I know it’s different for everyone but I’m interested to hear!
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LaLa58
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I did a couple of hour-long drives at around 6 and 7 weeks. I didn't find shifting to be a problem, but steering definitely got sore. Nothing that would cause you to pull off to the side of the road, but enough to make you wonder if you weren't pushing things a bit.
(FWIW I had double-valve surgery, so no leg or arm wounds to content with; just the sternum.)
There's driving on winding country lanes or a town avoiding pot holes and cyclists and there is driving on a motorway. In my view the country lanes and town are twice as demanding. When you feel confident about driving and are ready for your long distance trips I suggest you factor in a few rest stops along the way, dependant upon what sort of journey you are planning. Will you have a back up driver on your long runs in case you get a bit tired or sore?
21 months post AVR/CABG surgery here. I find nowadays I need a break after 90 minutes or so behind the wheel, 15 minutes or so, long enough for a coffee. I used to reckon that 3-4 hours was my limit before. I'm 72. My first long journey was 4-5 months post surgery.
i started driving at 5.5 weeks, mainly short jaunts. It was about 2 months before I did more than 30 minutes behind the wheel.
Breaks and getting comfortable are the key. I used a towel to keep the seatbelt from irritating the scar - under the belt on my shoulder, and that was a real help.
hi, I am in week 10 following valve replacement. I started driving at 6 weeks short distances. Think about reversing and parking especially if no camera in the car. Even though we have a camera I still always prefer my own vision and turn backwards to look out of rear window etc. that can pull a bit especially if done as a fast movement. Same for checking blind spots. I guess the longer the drive the more you may need to encounter different positions. Also don’t forget you might need to manage traffic jams etc. doing long journeys on your own when recovering might be a big ask. Sometimes I make myself answer the question “would I feel Comfortable telling emergency services that I am x number of weeks through recovery if I needed them during an activity I had decided to do?” It’s a good sense check of how you really feel.
The only thing I'd add is that I phoned my car insurer and informed them that I'd had the op and now in accordance with DVLA and medical guidelines I was driving again. My husband worked in insurance and so we are ultra careful to ensure we have given all relevant info to insurers. I didn't get a post op review from my consultant until 12 weeks so had to wait till then .
These are the DVLA rules about driving and a bypass. (for car owners)
Car or motorcycle licence
You don’t need to tell DVLA if you have a coronary artery bypass or disease.
You should stop driving for at least 1 month and only restart driving when your doctor tells you it’s safe.
Read the DVLA leaflet ‘Car or motorcycle drivers with heart conditions’ for more information.
I would read the small print in your motor insurance t's and c's before you contact your insurer. From anecdotal comments on here in the past it seems motor insurers aren't bothered unless there is a DVLA restriction.
Provided you have evidence you are clear to drive from your medics I would have thought you are good to go.
Thanks for your considered reply. I think the voice in my head is saying ‘don’t run before you can walk!’ And the decision to embark on a 3 hour journey, alone, 8 weeks after OHS feels a little like that.
I'm 6 months post op, recently drove down to the Lizard which was 3 hrs mostly motorway/dual carriageway, stopped twice and was shattered at the end of it. No pain or discomfort, just fatigue. Next week I have to pick my daughter up from Heathrow 4hrs each way, fortunately she went up by train but that won't work on the way back. I think I will have to stay in a premier, again used to drive up and back in one go. It's the tiredness that's the problem. Everyone is different though so good luck with your journey, hope you're ok afterwards and not too tired to enjoy it.
Wear something padded to protect you against the seat belt.
Choose an easy route to somewhere close by (no more than 15 minutes) and without too many junctions/turns with easy parking ( a garden centre with coffee shop?) so you don't have to reverse out too much. Looking over my shoulder i found troublesome at first.
avoid anywhere that is likely to be busy so you don't get flustered. Six weeks is pretty early so i would give it a try then build up.
I was not permitted to drive for 13 weeks after my OHS and I needed to be signed off by GP first. Being patient certainly paid off and I now regularly drive long distances without any issues.
All I can say is take it easy and have a break part way. As they say, "Better to arrive than not at all."
The sternum "knits" together with hard callus after about 6 weeks. But then remodelling starts, which replaces the hard callus with stronger lamellar bone. That can take 1 to 2 years.
Hi I drove after 6 weeks post ohs I needed to get behind the wheel as I drive a lot for work . I was slightly nervous for about 2 mins then it was business as usual !! Grab the wheel recover your freedom you can do it !!!
i was nervous 1st couple of times, not of-the physical act of driving , but the fear of an emergency situation what damage to my sternum could be caused by the seat belt. i am a keen motorcyclist and my surgeon recommended a good 14weeks as the leveraged forces on the chest are very different compared to an average day at home or out and about. that was three years ago.
So you will be ok i’ve no doubt ,start small and you will be great on your longer journey & you can always take a few more breaks than you used to if needed.
forgot to say i was 68 and not by any means fit at the time of my triple by pass. pre operation I thought that’s my retirement spoiled if i can’t drive or ride the bike. My surgeon was great at dispelling my fears and said the key is letting the sternum properly heal. The team on the ward said 90% of issues were people not following the simple task of not over stressing that repair. Apparently old farmers are the worst 😱.
Just back from a two hour ride on the motorbike so totally topped up now. As to the insurance they were not interested about bypass only if i had , had a pacemaker fitted. still talk to them just in case.
in addition you must inform your insurance providers of any changes in your health and medications - if you fail to do so they can decline to pay out on any claims made by you or against you by a third party
it is also important to remember that when driving you also have a responsibility towards other road users - if you are not confident that you can maintain control of your vehicle you should not be driving
Hi since my op I have never driven long distances, I seemed to have lost confidence and I won't drive anywhere I have never been, I rely on public transport, over the years since I was first diagnosed I have not been allowed to drive quite a few times due to various heart issues and I think that's what caused it. The furthest I go is to my heart hospital 25 mins from my house the rest of the time I am the wee granny in the polo going to the supermarket 🤣It is annoying if I have to go to a hospital further afield and It takes a long time to get there.Char
I think I would get rid of my car if I didn't have so many doctors/hospital appointments as I hardly use it at all, it's 7 years old and done 6k miles. Char
HiI wasn't allowed to drive until 12 weeks post op afyer my double CABG. I would strongly suggest short drives only and check with your GP or cardiologist that you arecalliwed to drive just now
To be fair I was younger than you are now and my surgery was an aortic valve replacement. It is a long time ago now, and I remember having to do quite a bit of work to get my insurers to restore my cover as soon as I was allowed to drive, but before I went back to work, I drove (alone) from London to Tenby and back and also had some swimming lessons at the hotel I was staying at. This would have been 10 weeks post op With my pacemaker I was driving seven days after it was fitted. Short proving trip at first but after that felt confident to drive wherever I wanted to.
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