I had a right sided lobectomy, and did not feel pain after. I did not take any of the pain medication they prescribed. But I did take Arnica 200 (available at Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods and online as well) 3 or 4 times a day for the first 4 days. I was eating normally from the second day onward. I did feel a lump in the throat for more than a week, and my voice was a little hoarse initially. I was trying to talk less as a result, but my surgeon reminded me that the nerve monitoring showed no vocal cord damage and that I should try to talk, project my voice, sing just normally and that it was good exercise for my voice so that it would come back to normal soon.

My scar though is still dark 6 weeks after the surgery. I have never exposed it to the sun, and it seems to have gotten darker than when the steri-strips were taken off. (by the surgeon)

On a separate note - is surgery absolutely necessary in your case? If RFA (radio frequency ablation) is being offered to you then do consider that option.