My Body Piercing Experience

At A Glance Author Sylvia Contact Sylvia@bme.anon Artist Anne Studio Balmain NSW Location Australia

My birthday finally came around.. I have been hyped up six months to get my tongue pierced, I promised myself for my next birthday that I was going to do it !

The appointment has been made at a Prominant Body Piercing Shop, I'm all prepared and off I go...

On arrival I first had to pick out what sortof jewellery was going to be pierced through my tongue. I finally picked one out and handed it to the lady, she asked for me to sit back in the chair in the backroom and that she will be their in a minute.

When Anne, arrived she said to me that she will have to numb my tongue, I was a bit more comfortable hearing that. Then I saw a long sharp instrument heading towards mouth, Anne just said to lie back and open your mouth wide for me, honey.

I obliged to her request, I closed my eyes, my mouth wide open and suddenly I felt something grab my tongue, and then i felt a a cold sharp object sliding into my tongue. Before I knew it, it was over and done with.

I never seen this peticular shops work, only photos in their windows. Anyway she told me the do and donts of hygiene, etc.I was thirsty when I arrived home, and without thinking I grabbed a softdrink from the fridge, and I slurped it down. "Oh my god, I nearly died, it felt like I swallowed something. I went to the mirror to look in my mouth." and the clip under the stud was gone. Now I was panicking, with my mouth still a bit numb, I tried phoning the shop for about 15minutes, but all i was getting was the engaged tone. So I drove back to the shop, it took me about 20minutes to arrive, as I was driving, I felt something on the side of my mouth. I went to wipe it and it was blood, seeping from the side of my mouth. I was panicking mor now after noticing the bleeding.

I arrived at the shop in a panic stricken state, trying to explain to the girl at the front desk what had happened. She calmed me down and told me to wait a minute! Another lady came out from behind the curtain,introduced herself as Margaret, the owner/manager, and I could see in her face she was concerned. She looked in my mouth and I looked at her face and she exclaimed, "Oh my GOD." Thats when I burst into tears and new something was terribly wrong. She took me into the backroom and asked me who did the piercing? She explained she was the owner of the premises and she arrived late that morning, because her first appointment was at 10am that morning, and that the receptionist is usually here to take calls and make bookings.

She asked me again who did this, I replied. "It was ANNE." She went balistic at this point mumbling and cursing. I asked her what is wrong? Margaret told me that she didn't have any other employees working for her as she had found them to be unreliable. She stated that the only employee she has is Stella the receptionist and Anne the cleaner.

Margaret explained to me that my tongue has been split and needs stitches. Its been cut an inch away from the tip off my tongue to half way down my tongue and that is why you swallowed the stud.

My heart sunk, I though i was going to faint after listening to what Margaret was telling me. Margaret said that Anne had always wanted to assist her in piercing and has watched her on numerous occasions, performing her skills.

Margaret would have never thought that Anne would pull a stunt like this. I was speechless. Margaret immediatley insisted on driving me to the Hospital, I had not other choice and agreed. Whilst she was driving me to the hospital, she contacted the police on her mobile phone and explained to them what had happened.

On arrival to hospital we were met by the Police. They qickly took me into the emergency dept in the hospital and then they started to question Maragret as to what happened.

I needed seven stithes in my tongue, I was very sore and could not speak properly and the Police wanted to question me in a few days time regarding the incicdent.

The last I heard Anne was arrested for grievously Bodily harm. I still keep in contact with Margaret as she has helped throughout the ordeal.

My experience has made me think twice about body piercing and maybe one day in the future I might consider it again.

TRUE STORY BY SYLVIA

OCCURRED 23 NOVEMBER 1998