Bob,
He had his op at the beginning of June last year. After this time he is almost 100% back to normal. I say almost because although he is pretty much dry, he gets twitchy when he's going somewhere without a toilet. So the 'confidence' pad gets put on.
Straight after the op he was sore but generally not too bad. He took his pain killers on time so any pain didn't build up but after a few days he was ditching midday ones. There were other meds as well and injections into his stomach ( easy). I would recommend doing a tick chart so you can cross off what you take and know when the next one is. Days of the week across the top and various med down the side and tick as you go.
He was ok in the hospital, I spoke to him several times, eating ok etc. Couldn't go and see him because of the plague. But he was bad on his arrival home, he felt really sick, didn't want his tea and went off to bed. I don't know but I blame the journey home. My son picked him up in his very low BMW sports car. This car makes me feel car sick, so I reckon that had a lot to do with it.
We went over the top and bought a bed downstairs so he didn't have to climb up and he could have access to a loo and the kitchen. The next day he was absolutely fine.
He kept moving about, shuffling round the garden. Then up the road a little further each day. It's important to move around but don't go mad. Theres a lot of cutting, slicing and stitching internally, it's classed as major surgery, so keep that in mind. Don't lift anything heavier than a bag of sugar.
He was extremely nervous when he went in...who wouldn't be...but as I said earlier, look at him now, tree felling, hiking with our big dogs, concreting and fixing gaps in the Tarmac. He's back to normal and you will be too.
Keep in touch with how you go
LW