“Feeling crummy” for a week is very alarming and concerning to me. I had lap surgery and it was way more difficult than the C-sections I had. I was back at work after 1 week but should have taken 2-3 weeks off. Recovery was 2 steps forward, 1 step back. Serious nausea lasted exactly 2 months after surgery and that is the norm. Intermittent pain lasted 6-10 months and was aggravated by sitting. I still can’t tolerate sitting very much and it’s been a year since surgery. My recovery from lap was average or better than average. I’ve read many, many testimonies on Facebook MALs Awareness and learned from them that open is more difficult than lap but most have better long term results tha lap. Much pain and nausea for 2 months and many say the 3rd week and 3rd month are tough set backs.
“Feeling crummy for a week” sounds very disconnected with actual MALs patients’ recovery. It’s a highly deep, invasive surgery. They start in the front and go all the way to the spine, cutting through many tissues. Pain is in front and in the back and it’s very hard to roll and sit up for a couple weeks.
A desk job is harder on the surgical site than a standing job because sitting causes compression in the MALs area. I got an elevating work station after 2 months and that is when I really noticed better healing and reduced pain.
Just be aware that surgery recovery for most of us is very challenging, especially the first 3 months but fatigue up to a year for some. So plan accordingly and avoid any major energy consuming tasks and events for 3 months.
With that said, I’m still so grateful for surgery because life is 95% better now. Life is great and I’m full of joy again. I wish you well with a quick recovery.

@dpresbit I have had two open surgeries... the recoveries are very long. Hospitalizations are usually a 4-5 days could be longer. I would plan on being out of work for at least 2-4 weeks minimum.... I hope other people will chime in here. I can only go by my experience, and it was at about 4 weeks were I felt I was capable of doing things on my own. My husband was off work for the first surgery for 2 weeks with me, the second one a week. Please feel free to ask questions!