Hey everyone,
We’ve officially hit the two-week milestone! As of noon today, I’m entering day 14, and what a journey it’s been to get here. Today brought some lovely moments (autumn decorations and park walks!), continued infection management, and some honest reflections about work readiness that might be helpful for anyone planning their own recovery timeline.
Morning Routine: Infection Management Reality
Elevated Sleep Success
Woke up this morning after sleeping with my legs raised on pillows – something I’ve been trying to help with circulation and any residual swelling. The elevated position seemed to help, and I actually felt pretty rested despite everything going on down below.
Daily Care Routine
First thing was the now-familiar cleaning routine around and under the penis and balls. Yesterday when I got home from that epic 10,270-step adventure, I’d noticed a little oozing of red and clear liquid, so I knew I needed to keep a close eye on the infection situation.
Fresh gauze applied and ready to face the day – it’s amazing how these little care routines become second nature, even when they involve areas you’d normally never think twice about.
Leg Victory: The Worry Was for Nothing!
No Pain After Epic Walking Day
Here’s the news I was most anxious about – my legs after yesterday’s massive walk! I can safely say they aren’t sore at all, which has me absolutely thrilled! All that worrying about whether I’d overdone it, whether I’d sprain or tear something else during this delicate recovery phase… turns out it was completely unnecessary stress.
It’s such a relief to know that my body can handle more than I’ve been giving it credit for. Sometimes the fear of setbacks can be more limiting than the actual physical restrictions.
Autumn Coffee Shop Vibes
Barista Coffee & Seasonal Decorations
Started my morning with the now-essential barista-made decaf cappuccino, and I was delighted to see they’d decorated the whole place for autumn! There’s something so comforting about seasonal decorations – they make everything feel cozy and normal, even when you’re navigating recovery challenges.
I’ll probably share a picture below for you all to see because honestly, these little moments of beauty and normalcy have become such important parts of my day during this recovery period.
Back to Nature: Soul-Filling Park Walk
Reconnecting with the Outdoors
After coffee, I took a walk around part of my local park, and wow – it felt incredible to be back in nature again! There’s something so soul-filling and relaxing about being surrounded by trees and greenery instead of just streets and pavements.
Managed to do about half a loop around the park, which felt like a perfect distance – enough to feel accomplished without pushing too hard. Picked up a few bits on the way home, so the trip served multiple practical purposes too.
Being in nature during recovery has this amazing way of putting everything in perspective and reminding you that healing is a natural process that takes its own time.
Antibiotic Progress Tracking
Medication Management
By the time I’m recording this blog (and vlog!), I should have taken 2-3 of my antibiotics already for today. I’m really hoping that by my Friday checkup with the nurse, things are looking significantly better down there.
There’s genuinely nothing worse than having an operation in one of the most sensitive areas of your body and then getting an infection there too! It feels like insult added to injury, but I’m trying to remain positive and trust that the treatment will do its job.
Work Readiness Reality Check
Two Weeks vs One Week Return Myths
I’ve read that some people go back to work after just one week, but honestly, looking back at everything I’ve been through so far, I don’t think I would have been able to manage that at all. This recovery has been a proper rollercoaster!
Don’t get me wrong – I could have (and might have) done a tiny bit of remote work behind the scenes, but we’re talking absolute basics like filing email attachments and accepting calendar invitations. Nothing that required real concentration or physical presence.
Realistic Timeline Planning
With just over a week left on my sick note, my first proper day back at work is planned for next Sunday. But I’m being realistic about it – I plan to do those few hours from home that first week and only return to the office the day after.
It’s important to be honest about your capabilities rather than pushing yourself back too early and potentially causing setbacks. Every person’s recovery timeline is different, and there’s no shame in taking the full time you need.
The Uncomfortable Truth: Infection Smell
Managing Embarrassing Symptoms
The not-so-nice reality I have to share is that I can still smell the infection. It’s really hard to describe what it smells like, but it’s definitely noticeable to me, and body spray or anything else doesn’t seem to cover it effectively.
Yesterday, my colleague gave me a lift to the doctor’s from where I work, and I was genuinely worried the whole time that they might notice the smell! It’s one of those embarrassing aspects of medical recovery that nobody really prepares you for but can cause genuine social anxiety.
Hopefully, as the antibiotics do their work, this issue will resolve quickly. It’s just another reminder of how infections can affect multiple aspects of your daily life, not just the physical healing.
Daily Progress: Steady Steps
Measured Activity Levels
I’ve managed around 5,600 steps so far today and I’m planning another little walk later. It’s interesting how I’m naturally finding a more sustainable daily rhythm – still active and making progress, but not going completely overboard like yesterday’s 10,000+ step adventure.
This feels like a more realistic daily target that keeps me moving and progressing without risking overdoing it or causing setbacks.
Two-Week Reflection: The Journey So Far
Major Milestones Reached:
- Two full weeks of recovery completed
- Infection identified and treatment started
- Personal best walking achievements (10,270 steps!)
- Return to nature and normal activities like coffee shops
- Realistic work return planning
- No leg pain after major walking day
Ongoing Challenges:
- Managing infection symptoms including embarrassing smell
- Daily antibiotic routine and monitoring
- Social anxiety about infection-related issues
- Balancing activity levels with recovery needs
- Patience with non-linear healing process
Key Lessons Learned:
- Your body can often handle more than you think (but still be cautious)
- Infection management is part of some people’s recovery journey
- Work return timelines should be realistic, not rushed
- Small nature connections have huge psychological benefits
- Daily routines become surprisingly important during recovery
Looking Ahead: Friday Check-Up
The Friday appointment with the nurse will hopefully bring good news about the infection treatment progress. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s noticeable improvement after just a few days of antibiotics.
I’m optimistic that we’re on the right track, even if the smell situation is currently causing some social anxiety. These things take time, and I’m learning to be patient with the process.
Community Support Continues
As always, your comments, questions, and shared experiences make this journey so much more manageable. Whether you’re dealing with infections, navigating work return decisions, or just needing motivation to keep going – this community truly understands the complexities of adult circumcision recovery.
Keep sharing your stories and asking questions. Every person’s experience adds to our collective knowledge and helps others feel less alone in this process.
Two weeks down, and while it hasn’t been the smooth journey I initially hoped for, there’s definitely been significant progress and valuable lessons learned along the way.
Until the next update!
Dan
P.S. – Those autumn decorations at the coffee shop genuinely made my whole morning. Sometimes it’s the smallest seasonal touches that remind you life is still beautiful, even during recovery challenges!
