Hi, welcome aboard! I'm sorry you had to find us, but glad you are here. Sounds like your husband was able to move through diagnosis and surgery very quickly. I hope his recovery is just as quick.
The basic things you can expect are:
1) Sometimes recovery will be slow.
2) Crankiness from both of you.
3) Tiredness.
4) Things not listed here.
I'm not trying to be glib, but while we share lots of commonalities, either as patients or caregivers, there are also lots of differences and lots of pathways. His body has will have its own calendar for healing and it may not match his or yours. He may come through with no real side effects, or there may be some rare unanticipated things, or something in the middle.
However, whatever happens, here you have safe place to talk about these things. To seek answers and understandings, to express yourself as a caregiver. Being a caregiver is not for the faint of heart as it requires more patience than I am convinced I have, but I keep surprising myself.
There are some links in my signature that might help you. I was an odd case with large-ish tumor and a 32-hour surgery. I've done well. I am also my wife's caregiver and she has a whole host of issues (we've made two visits to the ER in the last five days).
And I can tell you this. After 55 years, I finally learned the importance of self-care, especially as a caregiver. I've done a fair amount of thinking and writing on that, as well as a being a caregiver, on my blog.
Best,
Tod
