I just had my first rib removal four weeks ago and like Bex, I spent hours searching the internet so I thought i'd add my experience

1.How was it right after surgery? Day of? The first couple days?
The surgery took 4.5 hours and longer than expected as I had big dense bones and when I woke up my whole shoulder was completely numb, so had no pain at all. I wasn't allowed to leave the bed for 12 hours after the GA so I had a very sore back from sitting in the same position for hours. Next day was much better and started to move about and all the drains and oxygen were removed.

2.What was it was like when you left the hospital?
I was discharged 2 days after the operation and although I was stiff and sore, I managed fine on 4g paracetamol/day and diclofenic. It was hard to sleep for the first few days so I used several pillows.

3.What was it like getting around?
Left the house after 4 days to walk around, I was pretty tired and it took longer than expected and I avoided the crowds, 15 mins of walking was all I could manage.

4.What did you need help with? ie. how steady were you, how well could you take care of yourself? Help going to the bathroom? Showering/bathing?
It was all fine, only needed help with shopping as I live 20 mins walk from shops and couldnt carry much.

5.Did you need help with the incision at all? Anyone just have incisions above and below the collarbone?
I went to the Dr to change one of the dressings and then I changed it for the second time.
The incision was really neat and was stitched closed with subcutaneous stitches, so no need to have them removed.

6.How did you manage pain? Did you need ice a lot?
I was never in much pain as the area was (and still is numb) but used paracetamol and diclofenic.

7.What was it like the first couple of days?
(see above)

8.The first week?
It was traumatic going out in large crowds for the first time as most people in London don't pay much attention to what they are doing and will happily barge your shoulder!

9.The second week?
I got back on my feet fairly quickly, I was back at work after 2 weeks, walking around to a normal pace after one week and back in my bike after 1.5 weeks. I wasn't given any physio instructions so after 3 weeks I was back running and now after 4 weeks I am able to run 15km with some soreness around my neck. I have been to see an osteopath so help move my muscle back into place and losen them up.

10.a month post op?

12.How did you deal with meals, dishes, laundry, shopping? Did you use public transportation?
Traumatised by my first trip out but friends helped for the first two weeks and then I was back on the tube to work.

13.How active were you, ie. walking around?
I was walking about after 4 days but very slowly, noticably better after one week so I could walk at normal pace. Out on the bike after 1.5 weeks for a light cycle and then running after 3 weeks. 4 weeks after the operation I have been able to run for over 4 hours in total this week and 2 hours on the bike.

I am training for triathlons so I went into hospital with a high level of fitness, I think I have been very lucky to recover so quickly when looking at other people's experiences but I think my fitness level helped a lot. 4.5 weeks down and I am almost back to 100% with some neck soreness and numbness in the chest area.