Surgery recovery has involved me talking a helluva lot and other people listening a helluva lot. I seem to have a bottomless need/desire to be heard and understood.

I can see that. Being active in the past has been very important to you, and this surgery was a key component in your attempt to get back to that. The need to talk helps your (in my perception) need to understand and may serve as a stress vent to some degree. Speaking as a listener (that sounds weird), I'm glad you've shared what you have about the experience. I find that listening is easy when the person talking and/or the subject are something I care about.