To celebrate my newfound independence (turning 18 and going to college) I decided that I wanted to get something pierced. I was not quite sure what though, I had already had two lobe piercing in each ear and a cartilage piercing. All of which I had gotten in the mall. Thanks to my experiences with my rook I now know better, but what can I say I was a dumb teenage girl.
At A Glance Author Nicole Contact Nicole@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Mikey Studio Danny's Ancient Art Tatto & Body Piercing Location Blacksburg, VA Ok so the day after my B-day I go and check out a local piercing studio and look through the large photo album that was on the counter. That is when I saw the rook piercing for the first time and knew that I had to have it. Being Ms. Spontaneity I of course wanted to get it done that very same day, but I was not able to because they did not have the right curved barbell that I wanted. I was told to come back in a few weeks because a shipment was coming in and they might get it then. So I was really bummed out. I had been all psyched up about getting a piercing, so I settled for another cartilage piercing. To make a long story short I ended up having to special order the barbell because it was not coming in through the random selection that the jewelry store was sending. This whole process takes me about five to six months. While waiting for my barbell to come in and my need for more piercings I now have a total of eight other piercings in my ears besides my rook. Ye p I know, I go in for just my rook and come out with three unplanned holes. Be careful! Piercings are addicting and I can fully attest to the fact that one is never enough.
So the day finally comes I get a phone call saying that my barbell has come in. It has taken so long that the receptionist girl asks me if I wanted to be pierced with it or just to come pick it up. It kind of hurt my feelings that they forgot about me, but through my 3 other piercings I grew to trust Mikey and did not want anyone else to pierce my rook. I was then told that I would have to wait another day so the barbell could be autoclaved. So I skip my class and bounce over to the piercing studio. Fill out all the necessary forms and do not forget to have your ID because all respectable places make sure that you are legal. I head back to the little room with the freaky dentist like chair. Lay my head all the way back as I am told. All the while Mikey is setting things up; you know putting gloves on all and that jazz that makes everything clean and safe. He cleans my ear, and for some reason unlike my other piercings he does not make a mark of where he is going to pierce me. That is the one thing I found odd. I assume that since it is such an awkward spot he would find the best place anyways so I rolled with it. We did the whole inhale and exhale thing. On the third exhale, I knew that it was coming so I begin to exhale slowly so the breath will last longer. I was really nervous about getting this done because I had been reading all of these testimonials where people claimed it was their most painful piercing or that they heard a popping noise. I can honestly say that it did not hurt anymore that my other cartilage piercings and there was no pop sound for me. (My cartilage piercings were a piece of cake, no pain whatsoever.) There was some extra discomfort when he put the barbell in because it was being put in such a small area. There was also some minimal bleeding. As I walked out of the studio, my ear did not hurt at all. I even ended up having enough time to go to the class that I had planned on skipping.
So far, I have had no problems with it. One day I looked at it, there was some crusty blood around it, but some warm water and Q-tips took care of that easily. So now as for sleeping on the side of your piercing, it is not a good idea. Not that it hurts, but there is the potential that you could snag it. That would most definitely hurt. The very first night if I hit the top part of my ear there was a little pain, but now a week later I can sleep on the same side as it because it is sort of inset into your ear some so direct pressure is not put on it if you lay your head down in certain positions. I hope this is helpful to some people. Oh and I do have some advice, go in scared and a little nervous so when you finally get it done it seems like nothing compared to what you were imagining. My rook is my favorite piercing, I know I do not have much variety in piercings to say favorite but I honestly love it.