Hope you're doing better... it looks like 3 years since you posted this.
I was mis-dx'd in 1990, and correctly dx'd in July 97.
I've since had 6 surgeries, and am 4 years out since my last on in 2-04.
I sat at home recovering for the 1st 6 months afterwards. I read a lot, watched a fair amount of TV, and finally got set up to attend college classes through my local vocational rehab.
I've since gone on to receive two AS degrees, and am almost finished with a BS degree in physics.
But as I live in the US, I have no idea what they offer along these lines in Australia.
If you're stil alive, and fighting, keep it up.