Achilles Tendon Surgery

So...I'm an RN and have been for a long time. Which means I know a lot about many things and also means I am not the best patient in the world. Do any of you have any experience with Achilles tendon surgery? Is it as horrible as it looks? What is the average recovery time? I might have to have surgery on BOTH legs and need the real story from nurses...not the 'oh your pain will go away if you have the surgery' I'm likely to hear from the surgeon. And while I'm asking....a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon?