Adding to the list of "I'm probably the last person you would expect to get a piercing", let me start off with that I am a 37-year old male computer geek with a flattop haircut and a goatee, who until recently had no piercings. (I am also a Christian, but we'll save that debate until another time.) However, after reading many of the articles on BME, I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in finding out later in life how much fun piercings are.
At A Glance Author MikeV Contact MikeV@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Mark Studio American Ink Tattoo Studio Location Barberton, OH My journey stared off with what really couldn't be considered a "real" piercing, but I include it because it was really what got me started. On Good Friday of this year, my daughter and I were out shopping (yes, I take my daughter shopping; I'm a concerned father and I want to know what kind of clothes she is wearing) and we were walking by a Claire's Boutique at the mall. I had been joking with my wife and daughter about getting earrings in my left ear, so I asked my daughter "You want to go in and watch your dad get his ear pierced?" She thought it was a great idea, so after filling out some basic forms, I wound up with two white gold studs in my left ear. I decided they were really cool looking, and liked them even more because they really surprised a lot of people at work and at church, because me getting earrings SO went against what most people would regard as my personality. (I enjoy surprising people...)
Something "happened" after I got the earrings. I had the urge to get something done for real. So, I started researching piercings and decided that the studs were basically training wheels and I needed to move to a two-wheeled bike. After a couple of weeks of research, I decided that an industrial was what I wanted next, but I kept putting it off. About four weeks later, while I was shopping for my wife a Mother's Day gift (another mall, more shopping), I was waited on by a young lady who had her tongue pierced. We started talking about piercings and she mentioned that one of the other ladies there actually had an industrial. Up to this time, I had only seen them in pictures, so seeing one in person sealed the deal. She called her piercer, asked if they had the jewelry in stock and asked if they could get me in that night. Once they said yes, I was on my way!
I then went off to American Ink Tattoo Studio in Barberton, Ohio. Mark was the piercer that had done the one I saw that night, so I asked for him. We talked for a bit about what I wanted, risks, aftercare, etc., and once that was done, we got down to the paperwork. One question raised a red flag in that I am a diabetic. However, my diabetes is extremely minor and I don't have any issues with healing or any other diabetic complications. (Check with your doctor if you are unsure.) Once Mark was satisfied, we went back to the piercing area.
The piercing area was about what I expected: comfortable, very clean, not a lot of frills, but very professional. Mark showed me the sealed pack jewelry (2 1/2" barbell, 14GA), single-use needle, and so on and once I was satisfied with the equipment, he went to wash up, put on his gloves, etc. He then came back and I got ready for the piercing.
I had decided to get the industrial in my right ear, to "balance-out" the ones in my left. Mark cleaned my ear and marked the area where the barbell would be going. Once I was satisfied with the placement, we were ready for the piercing. I turned over on my left side, Mark asked if I was ready, and once I said yes, he made the top hole. After hearing about how painful cartilage piercings can be (by the poor, misinformed people that allow them to be done with a gun) I was prepared for some pain. It never really came. A quick pinch and the needle was through. He followed that up with the barbell through the top. He then lined it up and asked me if I was ready for the second one, I said yes, and bang, it was done. Again, a quick pinch at most. He pushed the barbell through, put the second ball on and cleaned up my ear.
When I got my first look at it in my ear, I thought, "This is awesome!" The balls on the barbell were pretty tight against my ear, but I didn't think anything about it. (Remember this point; it comes up again later.) And as I have told many folks since then, it looks like it hurt a lot more than it did. We again when through the aftercare instructions, I paid Mark (and added a good tip) and went home feeling great. That night, it was sore, as I expected, and I couldn't lie on that side to sleep. Again, no surprise, I knew to expect this. The next morning, I started with my routine of cleaning with anti-bacterial soap three times a day, etc. and continued the aftercare routine faithfully.
I wish I could write how I didn't have any more problems, cleaning and care was a breeze, and I was sleeping on my right side in a week. Unfortunately, that's not the case, which is one of the reasons I decided to share my experience. Mark had told me I could take Ibuprofen if I experienced any pain with the piercing (no aspirin, of course, as it's a blood thinner), but I was up to 800mg every six hours (that's prescription strength, folks) and it wasn't getting any better. So, after a couple of days of really bad pain, I went back to Mark, and, yep, I had gotten a nice infection in it. In fact, the ball on the top had created a nice crater in my ear. So, Mark took the barbell out (which hurt a bit), cleaned it up and said that I need to let it heal for a minimum of four weeks before we would try it again (at no cost, I might add). I was really disappointed, but at least I went back before it got really bad and I might have had to seek medical help. (Note here folks, if you have problems with your piercing, go back to your piercer or call them; I can guarantee they are going to be nice and help you out.)
My four weeks lasted two days. I went back that weekend and asked Mark if he would do my left ear immediately instead of waiting for the right one to heal. He agreed and we went through the process again. This time, we agreed to use a longer barbell (3", 14GA) to make it easier to clean and move. However, this time, it was a bit more painful that last time. (I had just had breakfast a few hours before and had several cups of coffee. If you have read that excessive amounts of caffeine in your body can intensify the pain of a piercing, believe it!) However, the pain was still easily manageable. I gave Mark another good tip and left feeling even better than the first time.
NOW I can write the part about not having any more problems, cleaning is a breeze, etc. It's been just under three weeks ago that I have had the industrial in my left ear. I have had to take nothing for pain, as there really hasn't been any. Yes, it's still uncomfortable to try to sleep on my left side, but that's as much due to the fact that I have a three-inch piece of metal sticking through my ear, as it is that it's still slightly tender. If I whack it with my hand while drying my hair, it's going to hurt. If I get it caught on something, it's going to hurt. But, otherwise, I don't really notice that it's there. However, other folks do!
I haven't seen too many industrials around this area, so when I'm out in public, I get a lot of strange looks when I walk by people. Often, if I am carrying on a conversation with someone, I notice their eyes keep floating over to my left ear. I enjoy the fact that they REALLY want to ask me about it, but they just can't bring themselves to do it. I want to get a shirt with a picture of my ear with the industrial through it and the caption "Go ahead. You can ask me about it."
Where do I go from here? Well, after reading some of the experiences on BME, I think I want a PA. In fact, unless I chicken out big time, I have an appointment next Thursday to have it done. I'm going to a new shop, so I want to meet with them and discuss everything before going through with it. Look for my next piercing experience when it happens!
MikeV
June 9th, 2004
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