Hi Pam!
I have had bowel surgery in the US unfortunately and am now doing pretty well so I thought I'd share my experience. Luckily I was covered by the Norwegian National Health insurance so insurance coverage wasn't an issue.

I had the last bit of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine removed due to Chron's. They basically cut out about 6 inches and patched it back together again. The incision for the surgery was from my navel down to my panty line so not quite keyhole. I was in the hospital for 4 days I think. The doctor had estimated 6, but I was up and about quickly. Being otherwise healthy before going in I think helped. And being stubborn perhaps. I hate being sick. I used the morphine pump once when I first woke up. It made me so woozy I never used it again. And generally the pain wasn't bad at all. I didn't need anything more than the occasional tylenol. As soon as I could, I got up. At first just walking to the edge of the bed and back. Then later that day a lap around the ward. The next day I was doing several laps and they figured I was ready to head home. Recovery at home was a lot quicker. Basically walking every day. To the bus stop, then to the shop, then to campus. I was back at work two weeks after the surgery. The main limitation was, I was not supposed to lift anything heavy or otherwise engage my stomach muscles too much for the first month or so. After that, I was back to normal except that my stomach muscles (and general core strenght) was gone. A couple of months after the surgery I started swiming to gently start getting back into shape and I was cycling to work every day. The surgery was at the end of January and by the beginning of June I was out in the field doing fieldwork involving carrying heavy loads up big mountains every day. I realize I may have been lucky recovering so quickly, but I'm sure a positive attitude helps. I had a lot of support from friends, and moral support over the phone from BF and family (who were both in Europe at the time while I was still in Illinois).

I hope your surgery goes well and that you recover quickly too. Sending you all the best of luck and virtual hugs!!!