Karen,
I'm so excited and happy for you! My surgery is scheduled Dec. 21st and I can't wait! I'm fortunate enough to be off work for the 2 weeks around Christmas (work for the school district), but I understand that most people are fine going back to work. My sister had hers done last summer and her only problem was being a 911 dispatch operator did not allow her to get up from her chair often and it sometimes became uncomfortable (but not painful). When you can...walk, walk, walk.
Best wishes to you and God bless.
Darcey