Hey everyone! Dan here, and I can barely believe I’m saying this – I’m bang on 4 weeks post-op today! That’s 28 days, nearly a full month since my adult circumcision surgery. I’m currently sat here at the local park on my lunch break, and I wanted to give you a proper update on where I’m at in this recovery journey.
The Four-Week Milestone: Where Am I Now?
Nearly Fully Closed Incision Site Things seem to be going genuinely better at this stage of adult circumcision recovery! The knitting around the incision site seems to be near enough, or possibly fully closed. This is a massive milestone that I wasn’t sure I’d reach smoothly given all the infection complications we’ve had along the way.
Back to 10,000 Steps Daily I’ve been walking around 10,000 steps over the last few days during my circumcision recovery, and I’m back at work now. This is a huge achievement considering I started from virtually zero steps after surgery, had that mystery leg injury, and battled infections throughout the process.
Wales Trip Countdown This time next week I’ll be in South Wales! So there’s extra motivation to make sure everything with the adult circumcision healing stays on track. No major issues to report at the moment, which is exactly what I need before travelling.
Daily Wound Care at Week 4
Consistent Cleaning Routine I’m still washing the circumcision area regularly, keeping up with proper hygiene. The incision site remains intact, which is brilliant news. The swelling has gone down significantly as well – it’s looking much more like normal anatomy now rather than that angry, swollen appearance from the early days.
Visual Healing Progress The redness around the scar line has reduced to a pinkness, which is completely normal for this stage of adult circumcision healing. It’s fascinating watching the body’s healing process unfold over these four weeks.
Mobility and Sensitivity Improvements
Walking Faster Than the Penguin Waddle The sensitivity is slowly subsiding whilst I’m walking, and here’s something I’m genuinely excited about – I’m able to walk a bit faster now! Rather than waddling like a penguin from side to side like I was in those early weeks of circumcision recovery, I can actually walk somewhat normally again.
Still Healing – Important Reminder That said, I need to remember I’m still healing. I’m only on Week 4 of adult circumcision recovery. I’ve had an infection and various complications, so I can’t just throw caution to the wind and pretend everything’s back to 100% normal yet.
This Morning’s Scare: The Yellowy-Brown Gunk
The Discovery That Caused Worry I was a bit worried this morning during my usual cleaning routine. There was some gunk – a pale yellowy-brown substance – near the left of the circumcision incision line. My immediate thought was “Oh no, is the infection back?”
Proper Cleaning Response I cleaned it up carefully with cotton wool, warm water rinse, and proper wound care techniques. Then I did what any anxious person in recovery does – I hit Google to research what this could be.
Exudate Explanation Having done a bit of research, it seems like it’s exudate (or however you pronounce that!). Basically, it’s part of the scab and serous fluid that’s coming away naturally during the adult circumcision healing process. This is actually normal and not necessarily a sign of infection returning.
Infection Check: Signs to Watch For
The Smell Test (With a Caveat) There isn’t any smell that I can detect, though I do have a stuffy nose and cold at the moment, so my sense of smell isn’t exactly reliable right now! Not the best timing for trying to detect infection odours during circumcision recovery.
Visual Assessment There’s no bright redness around the healing line – just pinkness, which is completely normal for week 4 of adult circumcision recovery. The incision site doesn’t feel hot to the touch, there’s no increasing swelling, and the discharge was minimal and cleared easily.
When Normal Healing Looks Concerning Sometimes normal healing processes can look alarming when you’re hyper-vigilant about complications. After dealing with an actual infection earlier in recovery, I’m probably more sensitive to any changes than someone whose healing has been straightforward.
Contingency Plans for Wales Trip
Medical Access While Travelling If anything happens over the next few days or when I go to Wales next week, I will inform the doctor immediately. I’m planning to either call mine up and maybe get a prescription for antibiotics just in case, or try and get an emergency appointment with a GP in Wales.
UK Healthcare Access Information Here’s something useful for anyone travelling during circumcision recovery in the UK: you can actually get emergency GP appointments even if you’re not registered with a surgery in that area. If you’re visiting anywhere in the UK and need medical care, you can temporarily get treated at a GP surgery for an emergency appointment.
NHS 111 Options Or you can call 111 and they’ll get you an appointment with a doctor – whether out of hours or otherwise. They might direct you to urgent care or minor injuries clinics. It’s good to know these options exist when you’re travelling during adult circumcision recovery.
Mental State and Eating Habits at Week 4
The Eating Reality Check My eating’s… okay and not okay, if I’m being completely honest. I’m eating primarily good stuff, with a few not-so-good choices mixed in. It’s probably more comfort eating and just feeling a bit sorry for myself, things like that.
Activity Level Impact on Eating Whilst I’ve not been able to walk as much as I used to before the adult circumcision operation – at least not until recently – my eating habits haven’t fully adjusted. Going from 18-20k steps daily to weeks of minimal activity, then building back up, plays havoc with your nutritional balance.
Progress Over Perfection But you know what? I’m not being as hard on myself as I would have been in the past. Some days are better than others, and that’s okay during circumcision recovery. The mental and emotional side of healing is just as important as the physical wound care.
Looking Forward: Return to Normal
Step Count Goals I’m doing around 10,000 steps a day generally at week 4 of adult circumcision recovery, and soon I’ll be doing 18-20,000 steps a day again. That’s the goal, anyway! Getting back to my pre-surgery activity levels feels within reach now.
Hopeful Outlook I’m looking hopeful for the next few weeks. Things seem to be genuinely going better. I’m walking faster, the incision is nearly fully closed, and I just can’t wait to get completely back to normal life after this adult circumcision journey.
The Light at Week 4 Four weeks felt like an eternity when I was in those early days post-surgery, dealing with pain and complications. But now, looking back, I can see real, tangible progress. The body’s ability to heal itself is genuinely remarkable.
Week 4 Reflections: What I’ve Learned
Patience Is Essential Adult circumcision recovery has taught me that healing takes time – real time, not the optimistic timelines you sometimes read online. Four weeks in, I’m mostly healed but still need to be cautious.
Complications Don’t Define Your Recovery Despite the infection, the leg injury, the medication mishaps, and various other setbacks, I’m still progressing well. Complications don’t mean failure – they just mean your journey is taking a slightly different route.
Knowledge Reduces Anxiety Understanding what’s normal (like exudate) versus what’s concerning (like infection signs) helps manage the anxiety that comes with recovery. Research, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to contact healthcare providers when worried.
Support Matters Whether it’s this blog community, friends, family, or healthcare professionals – having support during adult circumcision recovery makes a massive difference to your mental wellbeing throughout the process.
Practical Tips for Week 4 Recovery
If You’re At This Stage:
- Continue regular wound care and hygiene
- Gradually increase activity but listen to your body
- Don’t panic at normal healing discharge (exudate)
- Know your healthcare access options if travelling
- Be kind to yourself about eating and emotional wellbeing
- Celebrate the milestone of reaching four weeks!
Red Flags to Watch For:
- Increasing redness or heat around incision
- Foul-smelling discharge
- Significant swelling returning
- Severe pain that’s worsening not improving
- Fever or feeling generally unwell
Final Thoughts at the Four-Week Mark
I genuinely can’t believe it’s been four weeks since my adult circumcision surgery. There have been moments I thought I’d never get here – particularly during the infection complications. But here we are, nearly fully healed and planning holidays!
If you’re earlier in your circumcision recovery journey and reading this, please know that week 4 can feel worlds away from week 1, but you will get there. Progress isn’t always linear, and that’s completely okay.
P.S. – If you’re planning to travel during your adult circumcision recovery, make sure you research healthcare access in your destination area beforehand. Knowing you have options if something goes wrong massively reduces anxiety about the trip! Also, exudate is weird and slightly alarming but completely normal – don’t panic like I did this morning!
Thanks for following along to the four-week milestone! Next update will be from Wales, assuming everything stays on track. Fingers crossed for smooth sailing from here!
If you’ve got any questions about week 4 of adult circumcision recovery, please ask down below. And if you’re going through your own recovery, let me know how you’re getting on!
Dan
