Just over six years ago I underwent a total colectomy for torrential diverticular bleeding and, in response to another Medhelp patient's question, I posted my experiences of this operation on:-
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/523166
My surgery was fully invasive (i.e. surgeon's hands inside the abdomen) whereas there may be a possibility that your operation could be performed laparoscopically. Do ask.
You may like to print off the above 523166 posting and show it to your surgeon and ask whether his/her expectations of your forthcoming surgery would be expected to mirror my own.
I don't live in the USA but I believe that your Mayo Clinics are hospitals-of-excellence for gastro complaints. I am also assuming that your surgeon is a specialist G.I. surgeon performing intestinal resections "all day and every day" rather than a general surgeon who carries out only occasional total colectomies amongst hernias, ingrowing toenails and such like.
Do come back if you have any questions.
regards
Morecambe