Hey everyone,
So here we are at the one-week mark! As promised in my last post, I’m switching to weekly updates now, rather than daily ones. Let’s be honest, nobody wants to read “everything’s basically the same as yesterday” seven days in a row, right? This way, I can give you the proper lowdown on the week’s wins, challenges, and unexpected plot twists.
This week’s been a proper rollercoaster – massive improvements mixed with some frustrating setbacks that have tested my patience big time. But first, let me start with the good stuff because there’s actually been some brilliant progress!
The Wins: Progress That Actually Matters
Swelling Breakthrough Day
Yesterday (Day 6) was a game-changer in the swelling department! I woke up and could genuinely see a noticeable difference – things were looking more like they should and less like I’d had a fight with a balloon pump. The relief was incredible, both physically and mentally. It’s amazing how much that visual progress can boost your mood when you’ve been watching and waiting for any sign of improvement.
Freedom! (And Proper Coffee)
The biggest victory of the week? I made it out of the house and walked to the actual coffee shop! That first decaf cappuccino tasted like absolute heaven – proper barista made coffee after a week of instant rubbish. I may have lingered over that cup longer than necessary, just savouring the taste of normal life again.
The barista even asked where I’d been, which was both sweet and slightly embarrassing to explain!
Step Count Victory
Between the coffee shop trip, a walk to the local shop, and even managing to get to the chippy for lunch (because why not celebrate properly?), I hit over 4,000 steps! Considering I was celebrating 744 feet just a few days ago, this felt like running a marathon.
Sure, I was moving at the speed of a cautious elderly person, but I was moving, and that’s what counted.
Sleep Success
No restless leg syndrome plaguing me, which meant I actually managed to fall asleep at a reasonable time without spending hours fighting with my legs. Small mercies, but after the previous night’s wrestling match with my bedsheets, this was a massive relief.
The Not-So-Good: When Recovery Throws Curveballs
Mystery Leg Pain Appears
And here’s where things got interesting (and by interesting, I mean bloody annoying). Woke up this morning with sharp, proper, painful sensations in my right leg – specifically around the left side of my right kneecap.
Bending the leg or putting any pressure on it is genuinely painful, which is frustrating when you’re already moving like a penguin anyway. There’s even a small bruise in exactly the spot where it hurts most.
My best guess? It’s probably a ligament strain from all this awkward walking I’ve been doing during recovery. When you’re not moving naturally, other parts of your body have to compensate, and clearly my right leg has been working overtime to accommodate my cautious circumcision shuffle.
The 1 AM Wake-Up Call Continues
Still waking up around 1 AM like clockwork, and getting back to sleep remains a proper challenge. When you’re wide awake in the middle of the night with nothing but your thoughts for company, the days feel about three times longer than they should.
It’s during those quiet hours that all the worries and frustrations seem to amplify, which doesn’t help with staying positive about the whole recovery process.
Weather-Induced Mood Challenges
The dull, rainy weather we’ve been having isn’t helping my mental state at all. When you’re already limited in what you can do, having grey skies and constant drizzle makes everything feel more depressing.
It’s also triggering increased hunger, which I’m still trying to manage while being basically sedentary. The combination of boredom, weather blues, and limited activity is creating the perfect storm for wanting to eat everything in sight.
Medical Management & Next Steps
Leg Situation Monitoring
I’m taking the leg pain seriously but not panicking yet. The plan is to keep it elevated, rest it as much as possible (which isn’t hard given my current lifestyle), and monitor how it develops over the next few days.
If it gets worse or shows no improvement after a few more days, I’ll definitely seek medical advice. The last thing I need during circumcision recovery is a secondary injury complicating things.
Consultant Follow-Up
Perfect timing – I’ve just received a letter from my consultant with an appointment for next Monday evening. It’s a telephone follow-up, so I can discuss both the circumcision recovery progress and this new leg issue if it’s still bothering me.
It should all be routine and positive, but it’ll be good to get official confirmation that everything’s healing as it should be.
The Actual Surgery Site: Genuine Progress
Visual Improvement
Had a proper look at the stitches this morning – something I haven’t really done much of because, honestly, I’ve been a bit squeamish about the whole thing. But the improvement is actually quite encouraging!
The colour of the glans has returned to a much more normal shade, and the overall discomfort levels have dropped significantly. Whether that’s because of the actual healing progress or because the leg pain is distracting me from everything else, I’m not sure, but I’ll take any reduction in discomfort as a win.
Healing Timeline Reality
It’s interesting how the recovery isn’t linear – some days feel like massive progress, others feel like you’re going backwards. But looking at the bigger picture over this first week, there’s definitely been substantial improvement from where I started.
The Mental Game: Dealing with Setbacks
Demoralising Reality Check
I’d planned to start increasing my walking distance each day, building up gradually to get back to some semblance of fitness. This leg setback has been genuinely demoralising and depressing because it feels like one step forward, two steps back.
Just when you think you’re making progress and can start planning ahead, your body throws you a curveball that reminds you you’re not in control of this process. It’s frustrating as hell, and I won’t pretend otherwise.
Staying Positive (Or Trying To)
Some days the positivity comes naturally, especially when you see real improvements like yesterday’s swelling reduction. Other days, like today with this leg pain and miserable weather, maintaining hope about future plans feels like hard work.
But I’m reminding myself that setbacks are probably part of the process, and that a week ago I could barely walk to the end of the street. Context matters, even when you’re feeling sorry for yourself.
Week 1 Summary: The Real Reality
Major Achievements:
- Significant swelling reduction by Day 6
- Successfully walked to the coffee shop and achieved 4,000+ steps
- Normal sleep patterns returning (mostly)
- Glans colour and comfort levels have much improved
- Stitches are looking healthy and healing well
Ongoing Challenges:
- New leg pain complicating mobility
- Persistent 1 AM wake-ups affecting energy levels
- Weather and boredom are affecting mood and appetite
- Frustration with non-linear recovery progress
Key Lessons:
- Recovery isn’t a straight line – expect ups and downs
- Secondary issues can arise from compensating for the main problem
- Small victories (like proper coffee) have huge psychological benefits
- Planning ahead is good, but flexibility is essential when setbacks occur
Looking Ahead: Week 2 Goals
Assuming this leg situation improves over the next few days, the goals for week 2 are:
- Continue building walking distance gradually
- Get through the consultant follow-up with good news
- Work on better sleep management strategies
- Maybe venture to more locations if mobility allows
But honestly, I’m learning that recovery has its own timeline, and pushing too hard or getting too attached to specific plans just sets you up for disappointment.
Community Check-In
As always, your comments and support have been incredible. Whether you’re ahead of me in this journey, going through it yourself, or preparing for surgery, this shared experience makes everything more manageable.
Keep the questions and experiences coming – knowing there’s a community of people who understand exactly what this involves makes the tough days much more bearable.
Next update will be at the two-week mark, unless something dramatic happens that’s worth sharing sooner!
Stay strong, everyone, and thanks for following along with this rollercoaster of a recovery.
Dan
P.S. – That decaf cappuccino might have been the highlight of my entire week. Never underestimate the power of proper coffee to restore your faith in humanity!
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