Circumcision - Week 4 Update

[Unknown6991]

Hi all again! So today marks 4 weeks to the day since surgery so back for another weekly update of how I’m finding recovery. Just as reminder or for anyone new, I was cut just under the head on the NHS due to tight foreskin with erections only, not soft.

So how has the last week been, physically better I think whereas the penis looks less and less bruised, the heads coming out more I’d say when flaccid and it is beginning to look more like my penis again. Pain seems less, the odd twinge, sharp ahh or itch as and when but this is like 2-3 times a day and is over in seconds. Sensitivity still not a major issue, I’m feeling it more on pants now etc when walk around but nothing unbearable and good to get used to. The swelling looks like it’s coming down, obvs not fully gone and still a while to go but it’s reducing and stitches slowly making way out. I’m not sure how many left, if any tbh as can’t really see the stitches when soft so I’m assuming they’re doing there thing and getting there.

where am I at mentally? This seems where the battle is at, im still not sure I’ve accepted the new look and the new future. I’m still on edge about everything down there, every new look or sensation still seems to worry me and think something has gone wrong. I’m sure it hasn’t and is healing well with time but cannot shift those thoughts of fearing the worst rather than looking at all the progress made of the first 4 weeks.

My big worry for the last week was cleanliness, as said as cut just under head the foreskin when soft still covers part of the head. When go for the loo I notice it sometimes not looking too clean. When in shower, I think as nervous the head goes into hiding. This means I’m not sure I’m cleaning well enough down there, this may also be due to the fact there’s still some swelling and give a few weeks I’ll be able to clean better. Question now is tho should I be pulling foreskin back in shower or in day manually using wound cleansing wipes and giving it a bit of freshen with wipes? Has anyone experienced this before? I did ring 111 who have referred to GP and will get back to me today hopefully.

Will leave this weeks update there, long term over the 4 weeks deffo progress being made and just need to get that mindset now to trust my healing and body. That’s proving more harder than the physical side of things.

Thanks all - will write again next Monday for 5 weeks!

[Arclight1979]

Great update and does sound like you're making real progress. The healing process can be way more about the mind than the body, and worrying is natural. Have a chat with your GP when they call and see what they say... I had a different cut to you with no overlapping foreskin so I would hate to advise you on anything beyond using a cleansing wipe (because it's saline and sterile). You got this!

[Unknown6991 in reply to Arclight1979]

Cheers mate and thanks to you and the others in this who have been super supportive over my wobbles and got me to even this stage. And I’d agree, it’s my one advice to anyone I think over the 4 weeks is don’t underestimate that mental side of healing, I did completely. And thanks, yeah still waiting for that call but will see what they say

[Arclight1979 in reply to Unknown6991]

If you read my updates, you'll see I was just the same - I could see I was healing, but was having trouble with the mental side of things and believing it.

[Unknown6991 in reply to Arclight1979]

Yeah have read all yours, feels like a process majority of us seem to go through and have to push through