Driving Class A after triple heart bypass

[sdianel_-acct_c]

DH had triple bypass heart surgery January 13th. He is extremely well except he is still very sore and the scar is very sensitive. He is able to drive our toad short distances but afterward he has more soreness and pain where they harvested the artery on the left chest. Just wanted to hear from others who have had bypass surgery and have a Class A to drive. How long did it take you before you could drive the RV again without difficulty? We don't want to push it. I can drive the RV so we can leave after his next doctor appointment in June. We are full timers and once we do head out we have plenty of time so we can limit driving time to 2 hours per day if needed.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

thanks everyone for sharing your recuperation and challenges. We're just taking one day at a time right now. Hope to see you on the road again soon. We sure miss our travels. I saw a spider web on the wheel well today. I told him that's a sign it's time to go!! LOL.

[Teacher_s_Pet]

Great to see you are a co-driver, as a fulltimer that is great. many wives are not, That said I'm the navigator and have been since staying in Tucson, late November 2009 in our 40' Phaeton. I had a "heart therapy" administered 2 mornings in a row at 5 AM by my implanted cardioverter defibrillator. Talk about a rude awakening, I've had it happen before and since, but being "zapped" isn't fun. My electro-physiologist advised no driving for 6 months. Since that 2nd morning I've driven the motorhome about 500 miles out of approximately 50,000 miles. Scottiemom loves to drive, and I don't have a problem telling her where to go. 🙂 I do most of the driving of the toad and we share driving of our B+, but not the big motorhome, I could do way too much damage to others with it going down the road. Being "dead weight" while I'm "out" means my wife can't move me at all, she tried and failed that first morning in Tucson.

[Dog_Folks]

Very accurate, and well said Johnny.

Dianne, take heed.

[JohnnyT]

Diane,in general I think you will find that most of us who have had a bypass have all recovered and have more or less reentered our lives. My odyssey began Dec 26 2009...

The time it takes is dependent on the state of condition prior to the event that precipitated the bypass surgery. It is also dependent on how hard the bypass patient is wiling to work to recover physical abilities.

The real gateway is not the driving of a class A but the loading unloading and set up. I was driving our class A after about three months... But was limited in my ability to lift and carry. I still have some lingering lifting and carry limitations which is a combination of post surgery issues and a long standing lower back issue.

I lost a lot of muscle due to atrophy from prolonged inactivity due to complications some if which I have not recovered...

While I had not run a marathon in 27 years I ran/walked one 9 months after heart attack and triple bypass... I have completed additional 25 marathons, 50 half marathons and many other races of lessor distances.

The point of all this is that having a heart attack and bypass surgery does not necessarily limit future physical capabilities.. There are some limitations but they are such as they can be coped with and limited in terms of impacting a normal life...

I have some limitations due to my surgery, some due to age (73) and other due to attitude (what I am willing to endure) Driving our class A is one of the most relaxing things I get to do... The loading, unloading, and some of the setup are a challenge for me...

In terms of pain/discomfort... I am thinking it is suppose to hurt and be uncomfortable recovering from bypass surgery...

Without knowing your husband, it is hard to approximate his comfort zone in terms of rehabilitation, and realization that there is a new normal to be embraced... I am not sure how long it took MY DW (Becky) to diminish her concerns about my vitality/absence of being fragile but I can tell you that my progress exceeded her expectations so there were some adjustments that took place...


Johnny

[TX_AG]

I had my quad in 2007.
As I recall, it was about 6 weeks when I first started to drive the RV. I don't remember driving the RV, a Fleetwood Discovery DP, being any more stressful than driving the toad. If I could drive the one, I could drive the other.
That being said, I did have a tight feeling in the scar area for about 6 to 9 months before it completely went away. So when it started to bother me, I would back off from whatever I was doing.

I can tell you that every day will be a little better than the day before, so just do what you feel like doing. You will be up to full speed in no time.

Good luck.

[Dog_Folks]

wildtoad wrote:
It's been a long time, and I was only 47 when I had my quad. If June is the target date for travel your hubby should be fine. You don't want to push it as you say. I remeber play 9 holes of golf at 12 weeks and was extra careful not to swing really hard. Had best 9 hole score ever. Things may be tender for a while.

Long time since my quad also, but I was back to work, including climbing ladders and crawling in attics, in 8 weeks.

[dbbls]

I was on the road again in 6 weeks.

[wildtoad]

It's been a long time, and I was only 47 when I had my quad. If June is the target date for travel your hubby should be fine. You don't want to push it as you say. I remeber play 9 holes of golf at 12 weeks and was extra careful not to swing really hard. Had best 9 hole score ever. Things may be tender for a while.

[Executive45]

Diane, everyone heals differently. I had shoulder surgery and it took me only about 6 weeks before my arm would function properly. My daughter had the same surgery and it took her over three months....I know Marines can be stubborn but his doctor would be the best judge of when he should resume driving. Be sure to encourage him to follow the exercise programs his doctor/physical therapist has set up for him. The better adherence to the exercise the better and more quickly he will heal....wishing him the best and a very speedy recovery.....Dennis