Endorsed!
The starting stats for constitution really is too low to comfortably move around. Personnally, I would raise it to about 20/25, after which equipment and charms will do.
On the swords, it's really a matter of taste - if you use one-handed sword and shield, then you could invest in the shield skill for some extra damage-points - but either way is absolutely manageable (there is an abundance of swords of all types with magic extras to be found later)
