Hi there!! Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents! I also had a TAH/BSO in Oct 2000. It's the BEST thing I've ever done! The type of surgery you have, depends on your specific medical condition. I had fibroid tumors, ovarian cysts, & endometriosis, so I had (in laymens terms), all of my female reproductive organs removed through an incision in my tummy.
I found an absolutely WONDERFUL website by women for women, which is not to take the place of your doctors advice, but you may be able to get some more answers to the questions you are having:
http://www.hystersisters.com..
As a ER nurse, I had to take approximately 6-8 weeks off of work after surgery. Again, your recovery time will depend on the specific type of surgery you have.
As far as HRT goes, unfortunately, most surgeons are Excellent at the surgical part of the care, but not all are up to par on the hormonal issues afterwards. The most commonly perscribed HRT is Premarin. There are MANY other forms of HRT, and if or what you choose is a very personal choice between you and your doc.
I had a wonderful male surgeon, but have found a female doc to follow up with for my HRT. I use the Esclim patch, twice weekly, and I am doing WONDERFUL, with absolutely NO side effects.
(It's GREAT to have white sheets on my bed).
Best of Luck to you, & hugs & prayers coming your way for your upcoming surgery!
