RICK - Hello and WELCOME!! First let me point out that the majority of people on this thread that have had a TC is due to Colonic Inertia (a paralyzed colon) which it totally different than UC.
First thing I would recommend is that you go back several "PARTS" of this TC thread. There you will find a wealth of information pertaining to the surgery itself and some idea of what to expect post-op. The main thing I would like to state is that we are all different in the healing process. You will note that no two of us are alike even though the reason we had the surgery was because we had something in common - if that makes any sense.
For me personally, I'm nine and a half months post-op, recently my bowel habits changed from several times a day down to one or two a day or even once every other day. After several post-op testing to make sure something serious wasn't causing the problem, I was advised that my issue is due to a lazy small intestine. Also, prior to surgery the surgeon advised that once the small intestine gets accustomed to doing the part of the colon, bowel habits can slow down considerably. I consider my TC a success and I'm thankful for any bm's I do have. I suffered with chronic constipation for 43 years and NEVER knew what it was like to have a normal bm - NEVER!!
Now on to the healing part of the surgery, like I stated above, everyone has a different experience. I consider my recovery long (considering I've had many surgeries for female issues and always bounced back rather quickly). It was a good 12 weeks before I even began to feel "normal" and a good 16 weeks before I wasn't having pain and a lot of discomfort and tenderness. Others here were back to work in no time with little pain and discomfort all the way to moderate like myself.
I think honesty is the best policy and I will tell you that this is a HUGE surgery and for me personally and others as well, I felt like I had been ran over by a truck. There is NOTHING easy about this surgery - NOTHING!! However, the outcome was worth every moment of discomfort and pain I experienced to be where I am today!!
Please, please go back and read as many past "PARTS" of this thread as you possibly can. Educating yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself - I spent weeks upon weeks and hours upon hours and that was the biggest gift I could have given myself.
I do suggest something regarding your rectum. Has the doctor considered having an anal manomatry test done on you? I would ask to have this performed. It will tell the surgeon exactly how good the muscles and nerves in the recum is performing. I personally don't think "just looking good" is good enough, especially since the small intestine will be attached to the rectum and this will be your way of transit. This is really something I would take very serious and ask for the anal manomatry test.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best and hope to see more of your posts.