Hi Pam -- please don't be scared, a positive attitude is so important for healing. I don't know the answers to your questions, but I bet the surgeon's nurse knows. Sometimes the surgeon is hard to get hold of, they're awfully busy, and sometimes they minimize pain & recovery issues so as not to get the patient upset.

My husband had very serious surgery a couple of years ago. I could never get any satisfactory answers out of the surgeon, his responses always seemed rather vague, but I could call up his nurse & ask her very direct questions & I would get very direct answers. The nurse has had a lot of experience, I would draw on this to get some peace of mind.

Best wishes as you go forward on this one.