Hello again, everyone!
It’s been around 11 days since my last update, and honestly, it feels good to have some genuinely positive progress to report. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know my recovery hasn’t exactly been textbook, what with the infection, the lingering BXO, and the general ups and downs of healing. But these past couple of weeks? Things are finally looking up.
Let me walk you through where I’m at now, nearly eight weeks post-adult circumcision surgery.
Walking My Way Back to Fitness: The 20,000 Steps Achievement
Right, so in my last blog post, I mentioned I was averaging around 12,000 steps a day. Well, I’m absolutely chuffed to report that in this past week, I’ve averaged 20,408 steps per day. That’s just over 8 miles daily!
I know some of you might be thinking, “Dan, mate, that’s a lot of walking.” And you’re right – it is. But after seven weeks of being restricted, of having to think carefully about every movement, of feeling like my body wasn’t properly mine… being able to walk this much feels absolutely brilliant.
It’s not just about the physical achievement either. There’s something mentally freeing about being able to go for long walks again. It’s thinking time. Processing time. And honestly, after everything I’ve been through with this recovery, I’ve needed that headspace.
The Best Bit?
I’m doing these walks without any real discomfort. There’s no pain, no worrying about the wound, no having to stop and adjust my underwear every five minutes. It’s just… normal walking. And after seven weeks of anything but normal, that’s massive.
The Right Side: Finally Saying Goodbye to That Stubborn Scab
On the right side of the circumcision line, one of those black scabs that’s been hanging on for dear life has finally fallen off. Good riddance, I say!
It’s funny how you become weirdly attached (no pun intended) to these things during recovery. You watch them every day, wondering when they’ll disappear, whether picking at them would speed things up (don’t do this, by the way), and then one day, usually when you’re not even thinking about it, they’re just gone.
The skin underneath looks healthy, which is exactly what I wanted to see. No weird discolouration, no concerning textures, just normal-looking healed skin. Finally.
The Left Side: Understanding Granulation Tissue (Thanks, James!)
Now, the left side has been a bit more complicated, and this is where things get really interesting.
In my last update, I mentioned the consultant had prescribed me Bactroban cream to apply twice daily because of a slight infection. I’ve been diligently doing that, but I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking at when I examined the area.
Enter James, the Nurse Hero
Massive shout-out to James, who reached out after reading my blog. James is a nurse, and he provided some much-needed professional insight into what’s actually been happening with my healing.
Turns out, what I’ve been dealing with isn’t really an infection – it’s granulation tissue that’s still growing and filling in the area.
What Is Granulation Tissue?
For those who don’t know (I certainly didn’t before James explained it), granulation tissue is the pink, bumpy tissue that forms during wound healing. It’s actually a good thing – it’s your body’s way of filling in wounds and creating a base for new skin to grow over.
However, sometimes it can overgrow or take longer to mature into proper healed skin, which is what’s been happening on my left side. It’s not uncommon, especially with more complex surgeries or when there are underlying conditions like BXO involved.
The Current Status
I checked today, and I’m genuinely happy to report that the left side is almost about to close up completely. Yes, it’s taken longer than it does for a lot of people. Yes, I’ve been a bit frustrated with the timeline. But it’s happening, and that’s what matters.
If you’re reading this and your healing is taking longer than the “standard” timeline you’ve read about online, please don’t panic. Bodies heal at different rates, and factors like age, underlying health conditions, surgical technique, and post-op complications all play a role.
I’m a late healer. That’s just how my body’s doing this. And that’s okay.
Sensitivity Changes: Finally Getting Comfortable
Here’s something I’m genuinely excited about: the head of my penis is now significantly less sensitive to fabric touching it.
This has been one of the most challenging aspects of recovery for me. The hypersensitivity was uncomfortable, sometimes painful, and made choosing underwear feel like a strategic military operation.
But now? I can wear normal underwear without wincing. I can move about without being hyper-aware of every bit of fabric touching my glans. I can walk, sit, and go about my day without constantly thinking about it.
The Desensitisation Process Is Real
Before the surgery, when the foreskin was still there, my glans was protected and stayed quite sensitive. Post-circumcision, it’s been exposed constantly, and gradually – very gradually and it’s been adapting.
I’ve read other men’s accounts saying this process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. For me, it’s been about seven to eight weeks before I’ve noticed a significant improvement. Your timeline might be different, and that’s completely normal.
The sensitivity is still there (which is good – you want some sensation!), but it’s no longer this overwhelming, uncomfortable hypersensitivity that dominated my every waking moment.
Acceptance: I’m Actually Liking the Results Now
This is a big one for me, and I want to be really honest about it.
For weeks, I’ve been struggling with how everything looked. The swelling, the scarring, the unevenness, the discolouration – it all felt wrong. I found myself questioning whether I’d made the right decision, whether I should have just tried to manage the phimosis and BXO without surgery (wouldn’t have been possible!).
I’ve had moments of genuine regret.
But now, nearly eight weeks in, I’m starting to like the look of the work the surgeon has done. And more importantly, I’m no longer regretting having this done.
What Changed?
Partly, it’s the physical healing. As the swelling has continued to decrease and the scar line has matured, everything looks more… intentional. More normal. Less like a surgical site and more like just how things are supposed to be.
But honestly, a lot of it is mental and emotional adjustment. I’ve had this foreskin for 37 years. It was part of my body, part of how I saw myself. Losing it, even for good medical reasons, required a period of grief and adjustment that I wasn’t fully prepared for.
I’m coming out the other side of that now. I’m looking at my body and accepting this new version of myself. And actually, when I look at it objectively, the surgeon did a really good job. The line is neat, the cosmetic result is solid, and most importantly, the medical issues that led me to surgery are resolved.
To Anyone Struggling with Post-Surgical Regret
If you’re reading this and you’re in those early weeks where you’re not sure you made the right decision, please know: give yourself time. Both physical and emotional healing take far longer than you might expect.
Your body will look better as the swelling decreases. Your mental state will improve as you adjust. And if you had the surgery for medical reasons like I did, remember why you made this decision in the first place.
It’s okay to grieve the change. It’s okay to have complicated feelings about it. But I promise, it does get easier.
The Next Steps: Building My New Normal
So where do I go from here? I’ve got a few clear goals:
1. Wait for Final Closure of the Circumcision Line
That left side with the granulation tissue needs to finish its job. I’m not rushing it anymore. I’m just letting my body do its thing, keeping it clean, and trusting the process.
2. Register Back at the Gym and Start Working Out
Remember how excited I was in my last post about being cleared for the gym on the 1st of November? Well, I haven’t actually registered yet. Life’s been busy, and honestly, I wanted to make sure that left side was properly on the mend before I started lifting weights and doing intense cardio.
But it’s happening soon. Probably this week. I’m genuinely excited to get back to resistance training and building my fitness back up.
3. Starting a Health, Nutrition and Exercise Accredited Course
This is something new I haven’t mentioned before. I’ve been thinking a lot during this recovery about health, fitness, and how we look after our bodies. This experience has given me a newfound appreciation for physical wellbeing, and I want to learn more about it properly.
I’m waiting to start a Health, Nutrition and Exercise accredited course. I don’t have a start date yet, but it’s something I’m really looking forward to. Who knows, maybe this whole experience will lead me down a new career path or just give me the knowledge to help others in their health journeys.
Either way, something positive coming from this challenging experience feels right.
Reflections at Nearly Eight Weeks Post-Op
Looking back over these past seven to eight weeks, it’s been one hell of a journey. Some thoughts:
Healing Isn’t Linear: I had setbacks with infection, complications with granulation tissue, and periods where I felt like nothing was changing. But overall, the trajectory has been upward.
Community Support Matters: James reaching out with his professional nursing insight made a genuine difference to my peace of mind. The comments, emails, and shared experiences from all of you have helped more than you know.
Late Healing Is Still Healing: I’m not following the “standard” timeline, and that’s okay. My body is doing this at its own pace, and I’m learning to be patient with it.
Mental Adjustment Takes Time: The physical healing is one thing. Coming to terms with a permanent change to your body is another thing entirely. Be kind to yourself during this process.
Medical Decisions Have Ripple Effects: This surgery was necessary for my health, but it’s affected my work, my fitness, my mental health, my relationships, and my daily life for two months. That’s not a bad thing – it’s just reality. Any major medical intervention requires planning and support.
To Everyone Considering Adult Circumcision
If you’re reading this because you’re weighing up whether to have adult circumcision surgery, here’s where I’m at nearly eight weeks later:
The recovery is long. Longer than you’ll probably expect, especially if you have complications or heal slowly like me.
It’s physically and emotionally challenging. You’ll have moments of doubt, discomfort, frustration, and regret.
But if you’re having it for medical reasons, it’s addressing the underlying problem. My phimosis is resolved. The BXO that was causing me issues is managed (even if some remains). I can actually see and clean everything properly now.
Give yourself time. Both for physical healing and emotional adjustment. Don’t judge the final result in the first few weeks when everything’s swollen and raw.
Build a support network. Whether that’s partners, friends, online communities, or healthcare professionals who understand what you’re going through.
Final Thoughts
Nearly eight weeks ago, I was nervous, in pain, and wondering what I’d got myself into. Today, I’m walking 8+ miles a day, healing well (if slowly), adjusting mentally to my new normal, and actually feeling positive about the future.
It’s been a journey. A challenging, frustrating, sometimes painful journey. But I’m coming out the other side of it, and I’m okay. Better than okay, actually.
If you’re in the middle of your recovery right now, hang in there. It gets better. I promise.
Thank you all for your support, your comments, your emails, and your shared experiences. This community has made this whole process so much more manageable.
Until the next post,
Dan
P.S. Special thanks again to James for the granulation tissue explanation. It’s nurses like you who make a real difference to people’s recovery experiences by taking the time to share your professional knowledge. Genuinely appreciated, mate.
