It has been about a year since I got my septum pierced and over the course of that time I have been able to see changes within myself, both mentally, physically (if not psychosomatically), and habitually due in part to this piercing. While I have already written an experience about the piercing of my septum and the great journey it turned into, this is an experience of life with a pierced septum.
At A Glance Author Ycul Contact Ycul@bme.anon IAM Ycul When A year ago Artist - Studio Tattoo Lou's Location Huntington, NY At the end of August I had decided to get this new piercing for it's ability to be easily hidden, as was needed for my home life and work. For the first week or so I kept my septum stowed safely up my nose. When the first day of my sophomore year of college started, I was psyched to be taking my new adornment out of hiding and show it. I showed my friend, Brian, who had yet to see (and thought a septum was actually a clavicle and was thus a bit confused). He didn't find it too appealing, and I was far from surprised, he made his jokes about how I had something in my nose and how I looked like a freak, but that's the love-hate friendship we have, so all was fair.
The second day of class, however, was when I started with an intense art program that is fairly common in all universities for art majors of sorts. It was mildly intimidating to be around so many people and to be meeting with my soon-to-be professors who seemed rather intimidating themselves. My septum acted, in my mind, as a line of defense and empowerment to me, helping me not to feel so nervous around my new artistic peers. While later on, I would come to make a few great friends and many acquaintance, including those with my professors, I feel like the metal hoop in my nose helped me to gain some inner strength and advantage over my anxiety, though still ended up distancing me from people and creating my own sense of intimidation to others.
When I went to work, I had shown my coworkers, one of which has taken to calling me "Bully" over my piercing (though this has mostly stopped), but that too was acceptable, if not mildly amusing. My boss and patrons of the grounds that I work at have yet to notice my piercing, though probably have glimpsed the circular barbell gleaming up my nose, which, admittedly, looks like I have to blow my nose. That little glimmer would also later cause problems for me in having my father think I had another piercing (which I obviously did), but later rationalizing (incorrectly, but to my advantage), that it was part of my nostril piercing.
At some point I began to notice my sense of smell had noticeably declined. I still am not sure if this is in part due to my septum, or if my sense of smell is simply heading downhill. Regardless, this happened within a month or two of having my septum pierced, I may have intensified this lack of sensation by thinking it is due to my septum being pierced (and could probably heighten my sense again if I removed my septum, triggering myself to believe that was the cause, acting as a placebo of sorts). Whether or not my septum was the cause of this, it is not enough to motivate me to remove it.
My septum has been the cause for some minor panic for me, though once resolved, I always find it mildly amusing. Since I do have my nostril pierced and wear in a nostril screw as well, the interaction between the two has not always been a pleasant one. More times then I can recall, I have had the displeasure (mostly my fault for playing with either the circular barbell or my nostril screw) of having my circular barbell, while hidden inside of my nose, latch on to my nostril screw by, essentially, going behind it and coming out through the curve of it. To describe it, it's pretty much like having a little hand inside your nostril trying to pull your nostril piercing down through the nasal area, which really is not going to be a successful endeavor. After enough fidgeting, freaking out, and surely cursing and trying to bargain with God to allow me to de-tangle the two, I have always managed to free myself. And if I hadn't, I would certainly not be here writing about it.
Blowing my nose has never been the same since I decided on this modification. I had thoughts from the beginning that there may be differences and adjustments to be made to have success with such a simple task, but never had I imagined I would miss blowing my nose prior to this piercing. To say the process isn't as fulfilling, especially with a circular barbell, pretty much sums it up, as silly as it may sound.
Since the times I could display my septum were those in which I was away from family and work, and since I'm not particularly social, I would often take the up-turned barbell and put it in its traditional down-turned position when I was driving. I had read on ModBlog about someone who had gotten into a car accident with a pierced septum and had an airbag go off into his or her face, dislodging the ball of the barbell or CBR and forcing it into his/her philtrum or some other part of the face, to later have it migrate out. That idea always played in the back of mind and when I did get into a car accident a few months ago, while the airbag did not go off, it changed my driving habit of having my septum visible even during that time. Although the time I have with my piercing hidden has increased, I would rather have it be so instead of risking a similar fate. I am grateful nothing happened and I would rather not chance another car accident with the added risk of an additional inj ury.
However, since my septum has been more hidden than visible lately, it was only logical I should get a retainer for it. With a retainer, a few of the problems I endured previously were dealt with and resolved. My issue of having a portion of the ball of the barbell seen from inside of my nostril was relieved, and now it is perfectly hidden. Also, blowing my nose has gotten easier with the retainer, and is the closest to a return to normalcy I think I will get short of removing the piercing. The constant war between my septum piercing and nostril piercing too has been pretty much resolved, with some minor conflicts rarely occurring with the retainer in place.
While this piercing, like any other, has its pros and cons, I find it a worthwhile modification. For the time I have had it, the healing was probably the easiest of any of the piercings I have had and the empowerment it allows me has made it a part of me I would be upset to lose. Although I may not be able to blow my nose like I did a year ago, and the vendetta it has set against my nostril may be one I wish to not be stuck in the middle of anymore, it is not enough to make me regret my decision or wish to be rid of my septum piercing.