Hi Melanie,
I am so glad to meet you! There are a lot of people here who had surgery similar to Linda's and I will let them address that. I just wanted to add my "hello". We are the same age......and I have a sister who STILL smokes and drinks. She didn't get it.....I did. That's way things go and I have never been one to say "why me?"......rather "why NOT me?"
God bless and welcome to the forum!
Judy U