This might be kind of deranged but...

I'm getting peri in April and about 2 weeks afterward I'll be back with people who don't know I'm trans. I feel like I ought to have some explanation for not doing various things for awhile/just generally probably being physically below-par. Is there anything non-trans-related that would be similar to top surgery recovery, if I get asked? (obviously this doesn't apply for work/school/official stuff, just acquaintances).

Help?

Maybe bruised ribs or had a cyst/cysts removed?

Gynecomastia surgery, a lung operation, removal of benign masses, etc. It's not that hard to come up with an excuse.

Just say they had to get rid of some tumors they found early before worse symptoms persist

Just say you had a benign mass removed from your chest and you have to take it easy.  It's the truth and you don't have to worry about making something up.

Thanks for suggestions. I guess what worries me is that most things sound so dramatic, hah.

it's surgery.  there's no way to make it sound any less dramatic.  andy's suggestion is pretty much dead on, i would go with that.

Yeah you can totally just say you're having surgery & hopefully folks will be sensitive enough to not ask a bunch of questions. Just say, "it's personal"!

you got pneumonia and they needed to cut you open to get the fluid out.

cancer.

non cancerous tumor.

clot in your lung needed to slice you open to break it up.

gynocomastia (man boobs).

you got stabbed.

broke a rib or two.