1 Year, 4 months

Hi all! I thought I'd write a quick follow, as things are still changing! I noticed recently how much better my abdominal incisions are looking, and thought some of you might appreciate seeing the difference. Everyone has different results as far a scarring, and with kids the healing will probably be a bit quicker than it has been for me. But still, I thought it might be of interest how much everything is changing this far out! There's a few ear photos just for fun, too.

You can tell how close the rib graft  harvest was to my chest from the bra mark under my hand. This is on my right side, same as the new ear. 

This is the scar between my inside though and stomach where the skin was taken to cover the back of my normal ear, as that skin was used to cover the new ear. This skin graft was then just pinched  shut. 

Back of the new ear. The white patch was where the original skin great failed, and he had to take a new great from my left leg crease, hence the different color and texture there. You can't see it when I'm not holding my hair away, etc. 

1 Year, 2 Months

Well, I'm finally getting around to writing my one year follow up!  It's amazing how much my new ear is still changing!!! I have photos, as well a some of my scars now that they have settled, but first, here are some updates:

1) The clicking and pain in my rib area that I had prolonged after surgery is no longer bothersome. It doesn't happen unless I reach forward and use my right arm a lot, and it's continuing to improve.

2) Except for the spot where Dr. Griffiths removed the nerves to cover the ear, I have complete feeling in my scalp! I still only have some feeling in the new ear, mainly around the helix and tragus, but I still get a lot of itching elsewhere, and I can tell the nerves are still regenerating because now, when it does itch, rubbing the area actually does help squelch the itch!  I especially like to let the shower water run over that side of my head... It feels really good with all the new nerve endings!

3) At one year post op, I sent Dr. Griffiths another batch of photos and everything is looking good. I will send more this spring at 18 months, at which time they consider it "fully healed".

4) After surgery, as you might recall, I had a rough time healing and with pain, and discovered it was because I had fibromyalgia.  That is more under control now as well.  I'm always in pain all over and have terrible fatigue, but as I have said before, that is all due to the fibromyalgia I didn't know I had before surgery.  As much as I don't like how much worse the fibro is some surgery, I'm REALLY glad all my "mystery" symptoms from before surgery have a tangible cause that I can work with and attribute them to.

5) Photos!

Left Leg Crease 

Right Leg Crease 

Rib Harvest Site, Upper Right Abdomen 

(About 3 inches long)