Walk home?

My house is about a 5 minute walk from the hospital I'm I crazy to think I can walk home? (I walked there in active labor)

I don't think you should try it. If you are a minute or two into the walk and have problems, what would you do? You need some time to heal up and get your strength back.

That will be so very early in your recovery, when your body needs rest the most. I don't think it's a good idea, even with a walker, you'll likely be in pain, and you'll be pushing your body when it is most vulnerable.

Thank you!

I don't own a car and walk everywhere, year 'round, in an area with lots of hills. I walk a mile each way to get to the supermarket and carry the groceries home in a backpack. I walk a mile and a half each way to get to work. I walk three miles each way when I want to go out to the mall.

Could I have done a 5 minute walk home after surgery? Sure thing - *IF* the hospital had been willing to let me stay there for a week, LOL. *AND* (this is important) if someone had walked with me to carry my belongings from the hospital, since at that point I wasn't allowed to lift more than 10 lbs.

I'm not sure the hospital will let you.

As much as you think you can I think its not the best idea. Maybe you should have a ride. Best of luck to you.
Belinda

I would definitely tell you that you should NOT walk home from the hospital. Even if its only a five minute walk. Especially if you're by yourself I would not advise you to try to walk home after an operation. I stayed one night and then upon release they "had" to wheel me down stairs and to my vehicle. They said its a liability issue. I'm praying you have great doctors and if you do I'm almost 100% positive they will advise you not to walk home after surgery.

Whether or not your hospital will let you even walk out the door depends on the hospital policy. I've had three OR procedures this year in three different hospitals - cataract surgery, a hysteroscopy/D&C and a hysterectomy. The hysterectomy hospital belongs to a different system than the other two hospitals.

For the cataract surgery and the hysteroscopy/D&C, I was released after a short time in the recovery room. Both hospitals insisted that I be wheeled in a wheelchair to the front door and turned over to someone (friend or family - not a taxicab driver) who was waiting there for me with a car. No car, no release, end of story.

For the hysterectomy, I had a TAH with a three-day hospital stay. By the time I was released, I was off narcotic painkillers, plus the nurses had been watching me walk laps around the ward for two days. The friend who came to pick me up was surprised that I wasn't getting a wheelchair. The nurse was surprised my friend thought a wheelchair would be necessary. I broke the stand off by pretending that I was about to pick up my backpack, which caused my friend to grab it instead. Once she had it, I said, "Great, let's go," and headed for the elevator.

She'd had to park a bit away from the front door - it took maybe a minute or two to walk. I was fine with that and with pulling myself up into her truck, but I was glad she was there to carry my pack. And to drive the truck, LOL! Also, I knew that if I *did* have trouble, I could just sit down and wait while she brought the truck to me.

As much as you think you can I think its not the best idea. Maybe you should have a ride. Best of luck to you.
Belinda