I'd been thinking about getting some piercings done for a few months. I finally decided I was just going to do it. I called around quite a few places. Quite a few either didn't do tongue and nipples, or they used a gun. No way was I going to use a gun, and I wanted to get it all done at once. Most of them also wouldn't let me choose my jewelry
At A Glance Author Erin M Contact Erin M@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Andy Studio B-Cool Tattoo and Body Piercing Location St. Paul, MN I checked out a few places. I went to one ready to get pierced, even though I had planned to go to B-Cool the next day. The piercer didn't show up that night, which is ok. I believe everything happens, or doesn't, for a reason. I didn't get a good vibe from that place.
So the next day (3/4/05) I hauled my friend with me to B-Cool's. Nice atmosphere, nice people, and they have their little dogs live in the back. I work at Petsmart; I love dogs so it made me happy to see them. This guy even pierced one of the I had talked to the tattoo guy before. He said Andy had 16 years experience, used a needle, would let me choose my jewelry (within reason) and was the best he knew. So I was feeling pretty confident about this guy.
Andy tried to talk me out of doing all of them at once. Told me it would take longer to heal. That didn't bother me; I really didn't want to have to come back. I didn't think I would get up the nerve to do it again. I wanted the tongue more than anything but didn't want to end up biting my tongue if the nipples hurt too badly. Finally convinced him to let me do both and assured him I wouldn't complain about it later.
I hop up on the table, he does the nips (ow!) but that's relatively painless, just a sting, and it was over pretty quick. Next came the tongue. Had to swish my mouth with some Tech2000. Mouthwash usually makes me drool a few seconds later, for about 30 seconds. So I spit it out, he quick puts dots, clamps my tongue, and bam, it's pierced; now I'm drooling from the mouthwash. By now I'm drooling so much, he has a hard time getting the bottom ball to catch and go on. So my poor tongue is being battered around a little more than I assume is normal, trying to get this ball on. Quickly enough, I stop drooling and on goes the ball finally.
It kinda hurts. The tip feels like it does if you burn it on hot liquid because of the clamps. Now I'm all shaky and cold so I get to sit on their really comfortable couch and drink some ice water. Get up, pay him, and leave, feeling pretty happy with myself.
Looking back, I definitely wouldn't have gotten up the courage to go back later to do it in separate stints. It hurt, don't let them say it doesn't. I have a reasonably high tolerance for pain. It doesn't hurt that bad, and it's obviously over pretty quick but it does hurt. I think I was there in that building for a total of 15 minutes. That was to watch someone else, argue about doing it all in one day, clean, mark, and pierce, drink some water and go. I do want to say, my tattoo hurt worse than these piercings.
As I said I work at Petsmart, it's not a job that facilitates healing very well. Dogs jump me on a lot, and I have to talk to people a lot. My nips are healing very well, my tongue is STILL swollen (been 10 days) but it doesn't hurt at all anymore. I can eat pretty well now. I did everything they told me (and am still doing it) I just hope this swelling goes soon. I am not panicking yet as I know I had a little more beating than normal, and he did say healing would take a little longer.
I gotta say, it does wonders for a girl's weight. I lost 8 lbs so far. Living on meal replacement shakes, yogurt, soft things that doesn't require much work, and stuff that is shaped right to fit in the back of your mouth to chew. It takes me a long time to chew.
All in all, I would do it again and I'm very happy with my piercings. I just wouldn't do it before they stop hurting.
I got 16 gauge in all piercings. I got stainless steel horseshoes for my nipples and salmon colored titanium 1 ½" barbell for my tongue. I told him I needed clear or something that would blend in for my job since I'm not actually supposed to have a tongue ring at work. Clear is usually acrylic and doesn't hold up well to the cleanings.