I had my surgery in November 2010. It was my first surgery and I was a bit worried . I recovered quickly with minimal discomfort post-surgery. My incisions healed well and I experienced minimal gas pains and discomfort in the week following the surgery. I had a hiatal hernia repair at the same time. Both procedures went well. I was tired as expected but other than what I've mentioned, there were no complications. I had surgery on a Wednesday morning, stayed overnight because of sleep apnea, and returned to work on Tuesday.
I walked as much as I could at the hospital and continued to walk when I came home which I believe helped my recovery.
Best wishes on your journey.