OK, well I'm going to start from the very beginning. When I was 10 years old I got my ears first pierced. Just a standard lobe piercing with a gun at a jeweller with some gold studs. Now because I was only 10 I didn't know that guns were a bad idea, so when I got a voucher for my birthday 4 days before, I was happy to get them pierced. Even though it was ages ago, I can still remember them not hurting too bad and about half an hour later, them not hurting at all. They were done in May and it was only in December, when I got my first pair of earrings for Christmas, that I changed them. Doing this meant that when I did change them, there were no problems as they had fully healed.
At A Glance Author Rachel Contact Rachel@bme.anon When N/A Artist Me Studio My Bedroom Location England I'm now 14 and since Christmas of 2002, when I got my first pair of 1mm bcr's from my sister, I've been stretching my ears and 5 days ago they were stretched to 8mm. All of my ear stretching has been done on my own. This is only because once your over 5mm, you have to have parental consent to have stretching done at the shop near me, and I know I wont get it. The only reason I didn't get it done by someone else before I reached 5mm, was because I thought the rule applied to all stretching, whatever size.
Now going back in time again, it was only about a year and a half after I had them first pierced, when I asked my mum if I could get my second holes done. When I asked her, she yes without any persuading. I was very happy about this, until she said I had to ask my dad. So I did. But my happiness only lasted a few minutes though as he said no straight away, and said it looked cheap. For the next few months I tried explaining to him that it didn't look cheap and every time we went past someone with 2 holes in their lobes, I would point it out. However this didn't work and I knew that it probably never would. So in the end I gave up trying, even though I still wanted it done.
Now fast forward to about 8 weeks ago. At this point my ears were at 6mm (my ears heal very quickly after stretching so I can stretch them quite quickly, but that isn't always a good idea). I was bored of having one hole in my lobe, even though it was 6 times bigger than the normal stud. So one night (pretty unplanned) I decided I would pierce them again. I boiled up some water and put the studs that pierced my original holes, into the little bowl. This was the best I could do for cleaning the studs. For cleaning my ear I simply cleaned it with an antiseptic wipe. I never really thought about marking on where to pierce, because as soon as I had cleaned my right ear, I took out a stud from the boiling water a stuck it to my ear and pierced just before the cartilage started (3rd hole area). My hands started shaking after this so I decided not to continue with my left ear. But 4 days later I decided to do it. I did the same thing as I did before except I forgot to che ck that when I pierce it, it would be inline with the other. Like my right ear, it went through quickly and easily with no pain at all. However, when I stood back from the mirror, I noticed that even though it was only a small difference, the left ear was slightly lower down than the right. So, I decided to take it out and try and pierce it again. I managed to get in it the right place this time, despite the amount of blood that was coming out of the previous hole.
A week later, I was fed up of the studs as they kept getting caught and this made them hurt. So, I went down after school to the tattoo and piercing place with the 1mm bcr's that I got for Christmas, and asked the lady to change them for me. They went off to get cleaned and a few minutes later I was called and asked if I was ready. I got up onto the chair and she then cleaned my right ear. Taking out the stud only hurt a little as they were still sore and soon after, that one was changed. With the left ear there was a little problem. Because I had to do it twice, I had done it at a funny angle. This meant the bcr wouldn't go in at first and this caused a lot of pain. Eventually, she decided to put a tube through my ear and then let the ring follow. As the tube went through the back, I heard a pop, which, even though it hurt, I found quite amusing.
Like all new piercings, I did a salt wash 3 times a day. Even though they don't hurt now, they hurt for about 6 weeks. Soon after they stopped hurting however, I got a small lump by the entrance on both of the holes. After attacking these with hot salt water, a pin and cotton buds, they soon went away (but I don't think that is always a good idea)
I now have 3 holes in each ear as a week ago I decided to pierce in-between the top and bottom hole. Even though I marked on where to pierce this time, I still managed to get it wrong. So with both ears I had to take them out and do it again. Luckily, there was no blood this time and they stopped hurting after about an hour.
I probably wont get the new ones changed as they don't hurt at all and they aren't getting caught on anything. Also, I have no money and the bcr's are still in my top holes, as I would like to keep them in for a lot longer before I change them to something else.
My new holes are still a secret to my dad, as if he ever found out he would probably go mad. My mum found out about the first ear piercing 5 weeks ago but she said she doesn't care what I do to my ears. She still doesn't know about my newest ones but she'll find out on Saturday when I help her by being a waitress (as for hygiene reasons have my hair tied back)
The only reason I did these myself was because my mum wasn't prepared to come with me to get them done professionally. This is because that would mean she had something to do with it and so if my dad ever found out, she would get shouted at too if he took it badly.
So if you can get it done properly, do it (even if it does cost money)