Can you drive after general anesthesia?
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Im going into Hospital this week for a really minor operation but I am having to go under general anesthesia, my question is how bad are you likely to feel afterwards? Getting to the hospital is a short drive on a dual carriageway to me, but going via public transport is long, arduous and not going to be fun on the way home with a sore wound that has just been operated on. Ideally I would like to drive, and no one else I know can drive me, but I would like to know if it would be okay if I drove with a friend in the car also looking out for the road (its a very basic drive, maybe 4 turns the entire time)
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That would have to be a very good friend.
Firstly, no - don't even think about driving.
Secondly - if you were to have a friend in the car to look out for you, have they passed their driving test? If not - no, it's not safe; if so - get them to drive you.
Taxi.
The hospital should have given you a flyer along these lines ....
http://www.oxfordeyehospital.nhs.uk/documents/leaflets/generalanaesthetic.pdf
As well as considering the safety aspects of it you could also be arrested for Driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs which could see you facing similar punishments to those carried with drink driving.
And it's worth pointing out that the drugs don't have to be classed as illegal substances for someone to commit this offence, any drug that you have taken, legal, prescribed or otherwise, can lead to your arrest.
Don't do it
NO!!!!
Don't even think about it.
What about the back of cough medicines? Even childrens ones that warn about feeling drowsy as a side affect, you're having a general anesthetic fgs.
Idiot.
If it's NHS, expect to be waiting around for quite some time. Probably not even worth driving THERE if you're going to have to leave the car in the carpark.
Thats a bit strong.
If he/she has never had a general before, and it doesn't sound like the hospital have offered much in the way of advice, then how is he/she to know?
Would you rather he/she didn't ask and just decided to drive?
So driving in this condition is dangerous to all involved.
There are many ways around this transport issue, including getting taxis, getting picked up or dropped off later/earlier, adding someone to your car insurance who can drive you (this often reduces your insurance bill!?!) or just take the bus!
The other option is seeing if the hospital can provide patient transport home, it's usually very long winded, and a bit of a random wait but free.
Do not drive! it's as bad as drink driving
Mind you saying that I did mow the lawn in the afternoon having had a D and C in the morning in my younger stupider days!! I only did it to get back at hubby who was being an A3se hole!
You can drive people mad!