Hi Em
Great news that you are able to have the trachelectomy and you're feeling positive, just a little more waiting to go :)
I had the trachelectomy in April through an abdominal incision (due to size & location of the tumour) - did they tell you how they are doing the procedure? I only ask because I think recovery times/duration of hospital stay are generally less if you have the vaginal radical trachelectomy.
I was admitted to hospital the night before, and was in hospital for 8 days in total. I wasn't allowed to eat anything once I'd been admitted - they gave me 4 pre-op drinks the night before, and 2 the morning of the surgery as this is supposed to aid recovery. I had an enema the night before and in the morning as well, not the most pleasant experience but the nurses were mercifully quick at doing it! I was very wiped out for some time after the surgery, was able to get out of bed (very very slowly!) on day 3 and shuffle around to the shower and back I think around day 5. They will give you plenty of pain relief to get you through, and you'll have a catheter after surgery to rest your bladder - mine stayed in for 11 days, not the most glamorous acccessory but I was grateful for it at first!
If you have any friends or family that can be with you for a few days when you get home, I would recommend that because I was pretty much bed bound and couldn't manage stairs or much walking for the first week home. You will have anti-blood clot injections whilst you're in hospital, and then I had to have them for 28 days after surgery. I am not good with needles and arranged for the district nurse to administer the injections at first, until I felt comfortable doing them myself. You'll also have to wear compression stockings (tight knee length things, not very sexy!) in the weeks after the op.
In terms of getting back to work, my consultant's initial estimate was 6 - 8 weeks post-op but I have struggled a bit with recovery and when I last saw him he thought it would be 12 - 14 weeks post-op till I felt up to it. As you say, everyone is different and you might want to try and not commit yourself to a return to work date with your employer until you see how you feel after surgery.
Things to take with you into hospital.. all toiletries as they won't have any, sanitary towels and a normal towel, face wipes/wet wipes, nighties (easier with the catheter and other tubes than PJs), big pants (due to the swelling, get some that are a couple of sizes bigger than you normally are). Entertainment! I didn't have the concentration to read, so would recommend you take in a iPad/laptop/portable DVD player and plenty of DVDs, together with some good headphones. I was lucky enough to be given my own room but I don't know how common this is and if you are on a ward with other patients they are noisy places so ear plugs may come in handy too.
That's everything I can think of for now! Hope that helps.. feel free to message me if I can be of use with any other questions.
Lou xxx