I like blood quill spey marabou, although I pick up bargain-variety black marabou for tying wooley buggers and egg-sucking leeches in bulk...bought a package each of flashabou and krystal flash several years ago and have not yet used half of either--I usually just use a couple strands as highlights.

Palmer, or Palomar?

To palmer hackle, tie in the tip and spin around the hook shank, working forward. I don't usually double up marabou; other hackle material is better supported if you tie in two tips, wrapping the second between the first.

The palomar knot is useful for tying carbon microfilament lines such as PowerPro to swivels and hooks. See the links below:
http://www.fish4fun.com/palomarknot.htm
http://www.fishspiderwire.com/Uniknot/pal.html
http://www.steelheader.net/knots/polamar_knot.htm

Wishing you luck on your surgery--stock up on the tying materials!