As a long time reader of the BME, I'm happy to finally have something to contribute. About a month ago, I decided that I'd go ahead and get my tongue pierced, along with several other things. This story is about my tongue experience.
At A Glance Author em Contact em@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Dan Studio Ancient Expressions Location Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Perhaps a little information about me should be shared first. I'm 20 years old, and I've wanted to get my tongue pierced since I was about 13. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to get it done, but never really felt comfortable enough with myself to do it. I knew everything I could about this procedure. I read the BME, asked people who had had the piercing done before, and asked lots of questions at various piercing studios in my area. Finally, when I moved out a few months ago, I decided to get it done.
After talking to a bunch of folks in my area, I decided to get it done at Ancient Expressions in Peterborough. I had heard that Tony (the owner) was the best, but he wasn't in on the day I had planned, so another guy, Dan, would be wielding the needle for me. As long as they knew what they were doing, I didn't really care who did it.
Since I was getting other parts (nipples, and my nose) done at the same time, I managed to talk the price down quite a bit. That was nice. I don't really recommend getting many things done at the same time, and either did the people at the studio, because it can slow down the healing time and also increases the amount of aftercare needed. Because of my situation at the time, I could take care of everything, but keep that in mind.
Anyhow, at the studio, I didn't have to sign a waiver form because they were out of them (!). I believe this is more of a risk on the studio's part than my own, since they are now open to any kind of legal action I want to throw at them. However, I have none!
At first appearance, this place isn't exactly sterile looking, like a doctor's office, but they do take all the health precautions needed. I sat on a padded bench while Dan got everything ready. He let me watch him take everything out of sterile packages and told me how to get ready for it all. He cleaned off my tongue, and marked it. At first I thought it was too far forward, but after a second, it seemed perfect. He called in an assistant who would hold the clamps while he pierced. I must admit, clamping the tongue was quite weird. It was a very strange feeling, not painful, but uncomfortable. The assistant took the clamps and Dan had the needle in hand.
I won't lie and say it didn't hurt. It did hurt, but it was very fast. There was a firm pressure, then a pinch, and then it was finished. The barbell went in pretty painlessly, and he screwed the balls on very tightly. The clamps came off. The second I pulled my tongue back into my mouth I had a brief "what have I done" thought, but it went away as quickly as it had came. At that point, it wasn't swollen, and since my adrenaline was rushing through me, I loved it. There wasn't any blood. Somehow I didn't drool either.
Fast forward to the second and third days. It was so swollen, I was laughing at myself. It was sore as well, and I avoided moving my tongue as much as possible. It was worst in the mornings, when I'd wake up and find little indentations around the outside of my tongue, from where it was swollen up against my teeth! I had to go to work on the fourth day, and expected horrible things (since I have to talk a lot during my job in sales), but it actually wasn't that bad. It just ached a little more after my shift. I kept swishing with watered-down mouthwash after everything I ate and drank, and that was all I could do. No matter what I tried, at that point, the swelling would not go down for me. I tried the frozen pops and ice cubes, but I found that frozen things helped in more of a psychological kind of way. The swelling didn't really go away for another week, but it DID go away. I hadn't eaten any solid foods, until I felt more comfortable with it. I think everyone is differen t in this respect. I downsized my barbell, thank god, after about 2 weeks. It felt like it wasn't even there once I got the smaller barbell in. Very nice.
Now it's been about a month, and I am quite pleased with it. Apart from the occasional chomping on the balls, it's quite a fun thing to have. Playing with it annoys some people, but oh well. I think you just have to know when to put it away!