The Daith, a discreet little piercing that sits quietly in the middle of the ear. Unlike the septum, this one is out in the open if one cares to look, another big step. I don't really want to draw too much attention to my piercings but at the same time, I loved the look of the daith and decided to add it to the list of things to pierce. It seems though that the list never gets shorter, but I'm not one to complain about that, I'm having fun.
At A Glance Author bcglider Contact bcglider@bme.anon IAM bcglider When A month ago Artist Jody Studio Anatomic Adornments Location 848 Granville, Vancouver, BC As my forty-fifth birthday was coming up, and the apadravya was postponed till November, I needed a little something to celebrate it. The genitals were waiting for the apadravya and needed a break, I had talked to Jody about this one before and it was decided that the left ear would get the daith for my birthday. My first cartilage piercing and having heard that these were not as fast as I was accustomed to and not much fun.
As the time grew near, Jody checked to see if my ear was suitable, it was. I took my hand mirror, went to a wall mirror and wondered how she could get the needle in for the approve and the needle receiving tube in place. In fact I was still wondering after the piercing was done. All became clear when I saw the pictures afterwards, apparently these things are "Macguyvered" into being.
This was a Wednesday piercing, my day off so there was no rush, I had a good pierce day meal, my usual pot of coffee and off I went. Nervous? Yes,I had no experience with cartilage piercings and was unsure of what to expect. I arrived, after some idle chatter the three of us went into the piercing room, Jody to give, me to receive and Teagan to observe and take the pictures. I was ready to go first as all I had to do was sit on the table, Teagan, who is learning to pierce, watched and listened as Jody explained things as she got the tools and equipment ready for the piercings. As always, glove changes occurred after every step of the procedure, the autoclaved tools were unsealed and the single use items were laid out. While the 16 gauge needle was still in the package, Jody bent it into the correct shape needed for the piercing. After checking several times to ensure that everything was perfect, the marks were made and I laid down on my side.
Jody got the needle ready to go, Teagan got ready with the camera and I worked to slow and deepen my breathing. Even though I have been pierced dozens of times, there is always some apprehension on my part. Never about the piercing but always about my reaction, this time was no different. The light touch of the needle on the mark, the signal that it will be on the next breath, breathe in deep and though the nose and out, fast and noisy through the mouth, the needles through. Hard to explain what it felt like, more a slow grinding pain than the fast in and through that my usual skin piercings are, I was glad when the jewellery and the bead were in, not really a comfortable piercing for me. There was no bleeding, apparently there quite often is some.
With a throbbing ear I got off the table, Jody gave me the hand mirror and I went to the wall mirror to look at my latest edition, my birthday present to me. It was truly beautiful. We went over the aftercare as this was my first cartilage piercing and left the room. Jody reminded me to get in touch if there were any problems and if I had trouble cleaning, to come back and someone at Anatomic would help me. This is standard procedure, as they are available by email and of course by phone and in person when they are open. Some fortified sea salts were added to the bill, I paid and went out with a new piercing to show the world. I had dinner that night with friends, nothing was noticed. I made it a short evening, a good thing as it had started to bleed after I got home and a nice drop had gone down to hang from one of my lobes. A soak in the tub solved the problem and there was no more blood. Jody did a thorough cleaning to ensure that it was free of blood, aside from getting rid of any crusties that I could reach and the occasional soak, I left it alone. It was tender for several weeks afterwards and it took a while before I could use my ear buds in that ear.
It has been a few months since the piercing, the ring was changed to a quarter inch from the five sixteenth that was used for the piercing, another one finished. The daiths, there will be a second one on the right side next year and my pubic piercings are the only piercings that will not be stretched. I said at the beginning that this is a discreet piercing, it is, only one person at work has said anything to me about it. If anyone else has noticed, they have not said anything.
If you are in the Vancouver area and want to be pierced, go visit Jody, Syx and Teagan. Jody and Syx have many years of experience, Teagan is just beginning to make her presence felt. Anatomic Adornments is one the best places to get it done. They love their work and it shows, and I know I will be back.