Im glad you asked G, post op care is EXTREMELY important!
Make sure well before you go in for the op you have your diet, your fibre supps and your softeners (such as sorbitol, colace etc) all down pat.
When you come home from hospital you are going to be

super anxious about your first BM... DONT BE!! It is more pain worrying about it - just relax and ensure that you are taking a good stool softener, along with some fibre supplement and a high fruit and vegie regime.
You dont have to follow my routine, but I will just post this as an example.. Giz, Christina, maybe you want to add your post op diet that helped you..
Morning:
2 x metamucil fibre tablets
20ml sorbitol (stool softener)
1 laxative
weetbix with fruit or wholmeal toast
Midday:
20ml sorbitol
salad sandwich on wholmeal bread and lots of fruit
Evening:
20ml sorbitol
2 x metamucil tabs
1 laxative
soft boiled vegies, grilled fish, chicken
Fuit for dessert
Bare in mind, the laxatives were too much for me and gave me diareah which is not recommended.. Ideally you want one or two soft fluffy BM's per day that are pain free. It will really help if you can get your dosage of fibre and softeners sorted before you go in, so you know what to expect from your BM's after the big event! It takes a bit of trial and error - but you will get there
In the first few weeks after, DO NOT strain at all, no pushing to poop.. if you cant get it out, dont force it - and dont stress..
Dont lift any heavy items either... this can cause retears.
And take a few weeks off work to lay down and relax - your body needs to heal.. if your rushing around and stressing - the process could take longer, or might not heal as well as it could.
NOT LONG TO GO NOW... :D You are going to be just fine - make sure to check back in with us and let us know how you're going - we are all here to help
