Epic, I like your style. Sometimes I think we tend to over-analyze things. When I had my surgery there was not much in the way of internet support, so I pretty much did as you do. I pretended as if things were normal, even if they were not. Eventually, my system settled down and I am what I am, good, bad, or otherwise. Regardless, I got used to it and did not worry about what was "supposed" to be.
Jan