Hi Jackhoar

The only advice I can put forward, is to talk to the surgeon or nurse about any post surgery after effects. For example will there be pain and if so, for how long and what sort of pain management do they have in mind? What are you allowed to do afterwards and how long before you will be able to return to full movement? I am biased and would rather talk to a nurse who is more likely to sit you down and talk you through any fears or misconceptions.

My Alex had lung surgery for a different reason (repair a tear in the lower left lobe after a lung collapse which required removal of a part of the lung) so this may not be quite the same, but we were both suprised how long the effects of surgery lasted. He was in ICU for 4 days and was on a triple combination of some serious pain killers and tranquilisers and continues to get twinges after lifting 9 months out.

For us, the pain was completely manageable but you need to know about it so you CAN manage it. Because we didn't know, Alex thought he was some sort of failure or wimp, or even more disturbing; that the surgery had somehow gone wrong.

Good luck

Karen