I have to admit that the recovery from my second lap was a lot longer than it was after my first. I was back at work in a few days after my first one but after my second I was stil very sore for 3 weeks afterwards. If I worked, there wouldn't have been any way that I could do my job properly - I could hardly bend over! Maybe that's just me though, and I assumed it was the difference between 9 years and 4 kids from when I had my first one kwim? I would listen to what you've been told and assume that it could take at least that long and anything less than that is a bonus.