Yes Hystersisters was my saving grace prior to surgery.. I had a gazillion concerns

After surgery ( was total abdominal)
The staples drove me nuts,, they caused itching and you really cant itch them. I was told to gently "slap" the area and it would trick the nerves and it work the majority of the time.
I was up walking 16 hours after surgery.. Best thing I did ! I also walked fully upright not bent over like you would want to.
I follow my doctors orders and did take it easy. Please follow the weight restrictions.
Walk numerous times a day.. It really does help recover sooner, also it helps keep your bowels moving

I was actually very surprised at how quickly I was able to recover. But I had planned ahead many things that indeed made the entire process much easier..

Hystersisters is a wonderful site.

Good luck
PM me anytime if you want