I had been planning on getting my rook pierced for a very long time. Ever since I saw a picture of it here on BME and knew, that one day I would get it done.
At A Glance Author Samantha Contact Samantha@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Roger Studio Southern Boys Tattoos Location Houston Texas Ever since I have started getting piercings, I have always got them in pair's [two at a time] so that is what I planned to do this time. I had had my heart set on a rook and a conch, but at the last minute, I changed it to a rook and a tragus because I really didn't want to have my conch pierced with a barbel and since that is what my piercer uses to pierce them with, I changed my mind.
The time came to get it done. I really didn't expect it to be too painful; after all, it was just cartilage. My nostril and all my other eight helix piercings did not hurt one bit, even though my helix piercings were done with a piercing gun [side note: NEVER have a piercing done with a piercing gun, go to a professional] and six at a time at that, so I wasn't worried about pain.
My sister drove me there and was also there with me for support. She didn't plan on getting any piercings, because as she says, "I don't like ear piercings, so I pierce my face," so when it came down to it and we went inside so I could fill out all of the paperwork, she changed her mind and said, "I want to get it done." I think she did that mainly because I kept bothering her until that day by constantly showing her pictures of it, and I think she fell in love with it like I did. So she did all of her paperwork as well. When it came down to it, I changed my mind again and decided on just the rook and getting the tragus later on. (So it would not complicate the healing of the piercing in any way)
There was no waiting invovled since no one else was there, so back we went. I went first, as usual, and I sat in the 'chair of doom' [just kidding] and I waited while he got of the piercing equipment prepared and laid out on the counter. He then took the marking pen and marked where he wanted to pierce me at and then handed me a mirror so I could yay or nay the placement. I said yay because he put it exactly where I wanted it. He took the mirror and put it down, then got the tongs and placed it on my ear. Sitting still, as to not jostle him in any way (lest he pierce something else by mistake), I waited while he put the needle through the clear gooey stuff (not sure what it is called) and then he put it up to my ear. I felt the pop more than I heard it as he pushed the needle through. It was not fast at all and I kept gripping my hands together and recrossing my legs while mentally hurrying him along. When the needle was finally through, I thought, "Ok, no more pain now. The hardest part is over," however, I was wrong. The hardest part was putting the jewelry in; which was a 16 gauge Captive Bead Ring. He pushed on the CBR while pulling on the needle. I felt like a tug of war was going on in my ear. I really felt sorry for him, because it evidently took a lot of strength to get it in.
It still hurt while he put the ball on and while he tried to gently clean off the little bit of blood that was present on my ear, but I gritted my teeth and suffered silently through it all.
As always, when we went for piercings together, I always went first the sugar coated it for her, but after hitting me the last time, I opted for the truth and she STILL thought I was kidding. My sister's turn came up, and like me, she also had a lot of pain although she did not bleed. She learned, that next time, she will go first. We also agreed that if it has to come out for any reason, it is not being redone. (Although I have changed my mind now)
I will admit I slacked on the aftercare (I never do this normally, but it hurt a lot to rotate the piercing the clean it) and when I saw the dreaded 'bump' show its' face, I started doing my Sea Salt Soaks regularly and started doing hot compresses to draw the lymph out and I am happy to say that it is doing much better and the 'bump' is almost gone.
To anyone contemplating getting this piercing, get it. It may have been painful for me, but keep in mind that not everyone is the same and what may hurt a lot for one person, it does not necessarily hurt a lot for someone else. I do not regret it for anything and now realize, that I would do it again in a heartbeat and am now looking forward to when, completely healed, I can switch it to a curved barbel.
If you choose to get it, Good Luck, I am sure you will love it as well.