Hello again, everyone!
It’s Friday, the 24th of October, and I’m now just over six weeks post-op from my adult circumcision surgery. Six whole weeks. If you’d told me on day one, when I was shuffling about like a wounded penguin, that I’d be averaging 12,000 steps a day by now, I’m not sure I’d have believed you.
The truth is that not a massive amount has changed since my week five update, but the changes that have occurred feel significant. Let’s dive in.
Walking My Way Back to Normal Life
This week, I’ve been properly getting my steps in – averaging around 12,000 per day. It feels brilliant to be moving again, properly moving, not just shuffling from the sofa to the kitchen and back. Next week, I’m hoping to push that number up a bit more, but I’m trying to be sensible about it. No point rushing things now when I’ve been patient for six weeks, right?
The funny thing is, these past few days I’ve noticed I’m still walking a bit stiff. When I catch myself doing it, I consciously try to loosen up and walk normally. I reckon it’s my mind subconsciously trying to protect the area – walking in a way that stops my clothes from brushing against the head of my penis. After weeks of being super careful, it’s become a habit I need to actively break. Your brain is a funny thing, isn’t it?
The NHS Runaround: Getting a Professional Opinion
Here’s where this week got interesting. On Tuesday, I called my GP surgery because I wanted someone qualified to look at the wound, confirm everything’s knitted together properly, and give me the official go-ahead to start hitting the gym again. Seems reasonable, right?
Wrong.
The receptionist informed me that nobody at the surgery currently has wound management training. Yes, you read that right. So they suggested I contact the hospital that performed my operation instead. Fair enough, I thought.
Fast Forward to Thursday, 23rd October
I called the hospital yesterday and was told I’d already been discharged back to the care of my GP. Classic NHS catch-22 situation. But after I explained the GP surgery situation, the nurse said she’d get me “un-discharged” (is that even a word?) and call me back.
Ten minutes later – credit where it’s due; she rang back with an appointment for this morning. What a result!
The Consultant Appointment: Mostly Good News with a Small Twist
This morning’s appointment was… enlightening, to say the least.
The Good Stuff:
The consultant was very pleased with the healing overall. The wound is mostly knitted together, and I’ve been given the green light to:
- Return to the gym
- Return to normal activities
- Carry heavy things
- Masturbate or have sexual intercourse
Hearing those words was genuinely brilliant. After six weeks of restrictions and being ultra-careful, getting official permission to return to normal life felt like being released from a prison.
The Not-So-Good Bit:
There’s a slight infection. Nothing major, but enough that he’s prescribed me some Bactroban cream to apply twice daily for seven days. I’ve got a follow-up appointment coming through the post – either in person or by telephone, to check on progress.
I have to admit, I was a bit gutted about the infection. I’ve been so careful with cleaning and hygiene, but these things happen, I suppose. The important thing is catching it early and treating it properly.
The Rough-Handling Reality Check
Here’s something that made me laugh: I’ve been treating my penis like it’s made of glass for six weeks now. Super gentle when cleaning, barely touching it, moving it about like it might shatter.
Then the consultant comes in and handles it like he would normally – no special care, no slow movements, just… normal handling.
It was a proper wake-up call. I don’t have to be quite so gentle anymore. The healing has progressed enough that normal, everyday handling is fine. Six weeks of unnecessary carefulness, but better safe than sorry, I reckon.
The BXO Situation: An Ongoing Concern
I also queried with the consultant about something I’d been worrying about. I believe I still have some BXO (Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans) on my skin. For those who don’t know, BXO is one of the issues to what led me to need the circumcision in the first place.
He confirmed my suspicions and showed me the specific area where I still have it. His advice? Keep an eye on it. If it spreads or gets worse, I need to ask my GP to refer me back.
Why Couldn’t They Remove All the BXO During Surgery?
The consultant explained something really important: if they’d removed all the affected skin, I would have ended up with no skin left, or very, very little. It’s a balancing act between removing the problematic tissue and leaving enough skin for everything to function properly.
I’m slightly concerned about it potentially spreading, but the consultant reassured me that we’d cross that bridge when, or if we get to it.
Back to the Gym: The Road to Fitness Starts 1st November
On the 1st of November, I’ll be re-registering at the gym. I cannot wait.
The plan is to start gentle and work my way back up gradually. No point diving straight back into heavy lifting and ending up back at square one. I’m still planning to invest in a personal trainer to help me get back into proper form, though that might have to wait until December or January depending on finances.
As you might have seen in my previous posts, I absolutely love my walking. On rainy days (and let’s be honest, this is Britain – there are plenty of those), the gym will be perfect for getting my steps in. That said, I’d already done over 11,000 steps by this morning, and I still needed to walk into town to meet a friend and back. Though considering we’re in the middle of a storm, I might wimp out and take the bus!
The Pharmacy Saga: Because Nothing Can Be Simple
I’ve just been to the pharmacy to collect my Bactroban cream, and naturally, they have to order it in. They reckon it should arrive by 4pm, and they close at 5:30pm until Monday.
I’m really hoping I can get that cream today and not have to wait until Monday. The last thing I want is for this slight infection to turn into something more serious because of a weekend delay. Fingers crossed the pharmacy team are on my side.
Reflections at Six Weeks Post-Op
Looking back over these six weeks, it’s been quite a journey. The early days were rough – really rough. But gradually, bit by bit, things have improved. The pain has faded, the swelling has gone down, mobility has returned, and now I’m cleared to return to normal activities.
Yes, there’s the infection to deal with, and yes, I’ve still got residual BXO to monitor, but the overall trajectory is positive. I’m healing. I’m getting better. And I’m incredibly grateful for all the support from this community.
What I’ve Learned This Week
The NHS Can Be Frustrating, But They Get There: The back-and-forth between my GP and the hospital was annoying, but ultimately, I got seen quickly and got the answers I needed.
Trust the Process: Six weeks felt like forever when I was in the thick of it, but looking back, it’s gone relatively quickly. Healing takes time, and you can’t rush it.
Don’t Be Too Gentle: There’s being careful, and then there’s being unnecessarily precious. I’ve definitely been the latter. Seeing the consultant handle things normally was a good reminder.
Infections Happen: Despite being careful with hygiene, I’ve picked up a minor infection. It’s not a failure on my part – these things just happen sometimes during healing.
To Everyone Considering Adult Circumcision
If you’re reading this because you’re considering adult circumcision surgery, here’s my honest take at the six-week mark:
The recovery is long. It’s uncomfortable. There will be setbacks (like my infections). You’ll have moments of frustration when you just want to be back to normal now.
But it does get better. Week by week, day by day, you heal. And if you’re having the surgery for medical reasons like I did (phimosis and BXO), the relief of addressing those underlying issues is worth the recovery period.
Just be patient with yourself, follow your consultant’s advice, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you need it.
Looking Ahead
In the next few days, I’ll start my Bactroban treatment (starting today If i can get it!) and hopefully see that infection clear up quickly. I’ll keep monitoring the BXO situation, and on the 1st of November, I’ll be back in the gym starting my fitness journey again.
I’ll keep you all updated on how the treatment goes and how I get on with those first gym sessions. I’m planning to take it very easy at first – probably just some light cardio and bodyweight exercises until I’m confident everything’s fully healed.
Thank you all for your encouraging comments and emails, and for sharing your own journeys through healing. This community has been invaluable, and knowing I’m helping others who are going through or considering the same procedure makes all the documentation worthwhile.
Until the next post,
Dan
P.S. Massive shout-out to the nurse at the hospital who “un-discharged” me and got me that appointment so quickly. It can be frustrating at times, but when individuals go above and beyond like that, it makes all the difference.
P.P.S. If that pharmacy doesn’t have my cream ready by 4pm, I’m going to be seriously unimpressed. Nothing worse than knowing you need medication and having to wait through the weekend for it!
