I've wanted my tongue pierced since I was in the 10th grade... Unfortunately, when I informed my parents of my decision, they weren't exactly supportive... My Dad threatened to remove it with a set of pliers and my Mother informed me that I would be out of her will if I did it because "Tongue piercings are disgusting and scandalous." They stated that I was not allowed to get my tongue pierced until I was no longer living under their roof so I totally forgot about the idea all together... secretly knowing that I'd do it as soon as I moved out weather they liked it or not... after all, its my body.
At A Glance Author Trishy-Poo Contact Trishy-Poo@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Bear Studio First on Granville Location Vancouver Last month I moved into Residence at the University of British Columbia. After about a month straight of constant partying we finally all decided it was time to develop our film from the first few weekends... It was brought to my attention that in the majority of the pictures I was in, I was either making a face or sticking my tongue out. A girl living on my floor commented that if I was going to stick it out all the time I should get a tongue ring.
It was like a light went on inside of me. I suddenly remembered the promise I had made myself two years earlier. It was time for me to get my tongue pierced. But first, I needed to round myself up a good support group. I told my roommate/best friend about my idea... and she decided that not only would she go along with me, but she also decided to get her bellybutton done! We decided we'd go the following weekend.
Over the course of the week, I not only mustered up my courage, but I also found yet another person to join in on our piercing expedition. One of the girls living down the hall from us decided that SHE was finally ready to get HER bellybutton done too... So now that I had a team together, it was time to set a date. After coming to the realization that our weekends were too hectic we decided we'd go the upcoming Wednesday (Yesterday). We anticipated it all week... I even admitted that I was scared to death (yes, I am a huge wuss) but I was still willing to go through with it.... After all its something I've wanted to do for a really long time.
So last night, we traipsed into Vancouver in the pouring rain (which I saw as some kind of bad omen) with anticipations of torturous pain. We arrived at First a half an hour early... but because the guy who had the appointment ahead of us chickened out we were able to get rolling right away. With shaky hands we filled out the necessary paperwork and Kathleen and Laurel carefully selected the beads for their bellybuttons. After passing Bear's famous "Aftercare Quiz" we were on our way down to what he calls "the scary room."
Well, for starters, the scary room is not so scary... and it was a room I'd been in many a time with my other friends who were getting pierced. It was all too familiar. It had already been decided that I would be the first to go just because I wasn't about to psych myself out by waiting and waiting and waiting until I drove myself nuts... so I took off my jacket and sat up on the table.
So basically what happened after this was Bear had me rinse my mouth out for one full minute with Listerine... and to be quite honest, that was probably the worst part because it was so strong that it kind of burned in my mouth a little, but it also made it feel kind of numb which I guess would help later on when the needle went in.. But I'm getting ahead of myself. After the Listerine, Bear took a sheet of paper towel to my tongue to dry it off. When he peeled the paper off, the drool was absolutely pouring out of my mouth like a waterfall (word to the wise, don't wear nice clothes when you go, I drooled all over myself). After this, he made a little blue dot on my tongue where the piercing would be. Once I confirmed that I liked the placement he had me lay down on the table. Now this is a little odd seeing as how EVERY time I've seen a tongue piercing, on TV, or even here on BME people have been standing up. Bear explained to me that by allowing me to lay down, its easier fo r me to relax... he has better access to my tongue, I'm less likely to pull back and also, I can swallow my saliva easily so that I don't drool all over. So after I laid down, Bear introduced me to "Mr. Clamp" who is a 'wonderful' guy... (Yes, I am being sarcastic) to be quite honest, this was the worst of it... and you know, it wasn't even that bad. Thing about putting a tight pair of tongs on your tongue... that's about as bad as it gets. He had me do some rhythmic breathing to help me relax... then he touched my tongue with the tip of the needle. After a few more breaths in and out the needle was in.
I didn't feel it penetrate the top of my tongue, and I barely felt it exit. As a matter of fact, everyone was laughing at me because once the needle was through I broke out in a huge smile and started laughing. I was so happy I'd done it. Bear fed the jewellary through and then screwed on the top and bottom balls. He told me that when I closed my mouth, it was definitely going to feel weird. And it did... but it was a wonderful kind of weird that's for sure. I couldn't stop looking in the mirror!
I didn't feel lightheaded... sick or anything... I felt great... in fact, it didn't hurt in the slightest even right after. I'd expected it to swell up, or that I wouldn't be able to talk but that was not the case at all. I watched the other girls get their bellybuttons done, we thanked Bear and made a beeline to 7-11 for Slurpees. One large Coke Slurpee later, we were on the bus home. When I got back, I was talking so normally that people thought I had chickened out, but when I opened my mouth, they were all very excited for me.
Even though my tongue wasn't sore, I sucked on an entire tray of ice before bed, just to make sure I wouldn't swell up like a balloon. Surprisingly this morning when I woke up, I still wasn't swollen at all! My tongue is a little achy on the bottom where the ball is rubbing my gums but otherwise, I am still able to talk and I'm not swollen in the least. I'm still sucking on ice all the time to avoid it getting swollen later though. The worst part is being hungry now, and that's the honest truth.
So if you have any concerns... Toss em... The piercing is wicked, a lot of fun to have and its really not as bad as it looks ... I promise !