Naomi - yeah... I reckon experiencing hard labour beforhand really does affect your recovery! As it is, you are sleep deprived, hormonal etc. etc. but throw in major abdominal surgery and it certainly adds to it all!
I experienced "prostin pain" for a few days after being induced (later when I was actually having real contractions and they felt exactly the bloody same just more intense... prostin pain my BUTT!! LOL) and was in agony for the last couple of days until my waters were broken. So, effectively, I was in labour for 5 days before having the caesar (with a couple of nights spent in hospital next to a woman that had already had her baby - I was trying to agonise quietly while she was trying to keep her baby quiet, LOL). So I am hoping I'll recover a little better with an elective next time I have a feeling that I will somehow!