Ablation recover - specifically heavy lifting

I'm trying to get a time frame of how long I'm going to need help with my kids after having the ablation surgery.  My kids are young 4 years and 22 months (34 lbs and 26 lbs) and I stay home with them, so constant picking up, cuddling, rough housing, lifting into highchairs and carseats, etc.  My mother in law can take care of them as needed, but only after the middle of May.  They haven't called to schedule it yet, but I should hear something within the next couple of days.  So I'm trying to determine if this is something we can schedule on a Thursday and have my husband handle the kids over the weekend, and I'll be good to go on Monday, or if I should wait until after the middle of May when my MIL can watch the kids for as long as needed.  

My specific questions are....

How long did you have to wait before lifting around 30lbs?

How long before you could drive?  

[barbie1999]

I would wait until your mother in law can help.
I had an ablation 4 weeks ago and I was told I couldn't lift anything heavy for 2 weeks. I found that after a week if I lifted something relatively heavy I would feel a pull on the groin area where they insert the catheter.

I was told I could drive 2 days after the ablation but I didn't have to for a week and I was fine when I drove.

[tom_h]

I had mine done on a Thursday, and went back to work (seated, office) the following Tuesday, and drove 250 miles 2 days later.  My specific problem was my thigh.  I had a orange sized, tender hematoma, and I walked with a noticible limp for about 3 weeks.  It looked very similar to the picture in Wikipedia under "Hematoma" except it was on the inside of the thigh.  It faded away in about 3-4 months.  Expect to be a little winded for a few weeks, so you may to do any aerobic activities very well for a few weeks.  Besides the burn injury your heart's recoverning from, there may also be an a septal  puncture wound to recover from if they explore the left side of your heart.  It's the way they get from the right side to the left side.

In summation, while you'll be able to drive in a few days, I wouldn't recommend hoisting kids into their cars seat for a couple of weeks, and keep in mind that your right leg may be tender during that period.  I wouldn't want to put such precious cargo at risk if your reaction time is slowed a little.

[ireneo]

I've had 3 ablations. I waited a couple of days to drive just because I had to make sure I was fully alert and because I felt a bit tired. As for lifting, I waited about a week. I went back to work but let the volunteers do the heavy lifting and such (thinks like lifting 50 lb bags of feed or hauling the 45lb beaver to the tub to swim). I did all the other light weight stuff ( song birds, ducks, etc.)

I've never heard of waiting 2 weeks but each doctor is different. The incision in the groin heals pretty quickly if they've gone in through the femoral vein. In some cases they may use the artery and then the recovery wait will be longer.

[barbie1999]

I had a very large hematoma too bigger than an orange, probably the size of 2 large oranges. But it didn't hurt and wasn't tender either. It did pull for about 2 weeks if I did anything strenous.

[Mommy2TnL]

Thank you for all the responses!!!  

I think I will definitely wait until MIL can help out.  It's good to know that I'll be able to drive soon after having it done.  I was worried that MIL would have my kids for a week and I'd be stuck at home bored out of my mind and not being able to drive to see the kids.  

[michellepetkus]

5 days is the time frame I was given.  It is likely not that long but to be safe just figure in 5 days.  Waiting until May is a good idea.