Don’t fret too much about pain after surgery as they are utterly brilliant at pain control and you will likely have a pump that you press to self administer more pain relief as needed so you will doze a lot of the time and feel completely disconnected from it.

One thing to make clear to possible visitors is that you will lie there listening to them but will keep your eyes closed and probably won’t respond. It is the most exhausting thing trying to keep eyes open when you are just too tired and under the influence of pain relief.

Come Autumn and this will all be over.