I had my tongue pierced about a month ago. I went to Stainless Studios on Queen St. West in Toronto. I have had 4 piercings there already, my septum, my nipples, and my eyebrow (now retired, you can read up on all my other experiences on BME as well), so I felt very comfortable there. I walked in the shop without an appointment, and I was nervous that Michelle, my usual piercer would not be there. Luckily, as I walked in, she was sitting at the front counter. I told her I wanted my tongue pierced, so I filled out the forms and waited while she got ready for me.
At A Glance Author monzie Contact monzie@bme.anon When A month ago Artist michelle Studio stainless studios Location queen w. toronto Once in the room, I sat in the dentist-type chair and I was getting nervous and panicky like I usually do right before I get something done. She went through the basic routine of telling me what she was going to do and what to expect. I like her because she prepares you well for what is coming up, and how long the pain will last, how to take care of it, what to do if something occurs, stuff like that. The aftercare was relatively simple. Just rinse with diluted mouthwash after everything that went into your mouth for 4 weeks.
As soon as I was good and ready, she told me to stick out my tongue as far as I could and she put a clamp on it. She got the needle lined up and said, "Ready?" I moaned, "Uh huh", in response. There it went. I felt the needle go through. There was a sharp pain (not much), and she pulled the barbell through, where she closed it tightly. My tongue was feeling very weird, like I had no control over it or something. I looked in the mirror and I loved it. The barbell was really long, because my tongue had not started to swell yet. She told me to come back after a month when it's healed to get it switched to a shorter shaft for 20 dollars.
I was talking fine at first, but soon after, my tongue began to swell rapidly and it hurt to talk for certain words, especially ones with a "T" in it. That night, I ate soup from Tim hortons. I tried to eat a wrap, but it was the hardest thing ever! I didn't know what was going on in my mouth. Food was getting stuck in the middle where the ball was, because I wasn't used to having something there. My mouth felt totally numb, and my huge tongue was making it impossible for me to eat. I gave up soon after that.
The next day, it was still swollen up huge, and it was pretty much the same as the first day. The day after that (the 3rd day) the swelling went down a bit, but not completely. I know this because I still couldn't fully talk properly, though it was MUCH better, I still sounded like I had a bit of a lisp. I could eat properly though, so that was great. On the 5th day, after I got the piercing, I could speak completely normally, and the swelling subsided. The barbell was very long and sometimes I would come close to chomping on it when I wasn't eating carefully.
Rinsing out my mouth every time after something went in it, started to get a little annoying after the first week. I gradually began to wean off it, by doing it after a couple of hours, and so on. I stopped long before the first 4 weeks, but my tongue felt great. I think it's relative to each person, how the healing goes, so if you feel okay then do what you think is right for you.
After a month, just this past week, I went back to get my shaft changed. It wasn't Michelle this time, it was a guy, but I didn't get his name. It was 20 dollars and after he switched it, it felt a bit weird, but I got used to it almost right away. Before I couldn't stick my tongue out the whole way, because the long shaft would get caught on my teeth, but with the shorter shaft I can stick it out all the way.
Even though my tongue piercing is almost 100 percent hidden, I still love it, like everyone who gets one. The first couple of days after getting it pierced really sucks, and at the time I wondered if I would ever speak normally again, or be able to eat normally, but once it was healed I could do both of those things perfectly fine the way that I had done before it was pierced. I was doubtful, but I have grown to love my tongue piercing just like you will!