The first time I got my rook pierced five years ago was not a pleasant one. You can read about that experience here. Perhaps the fact that it was pierced September 11, 2001 was a bad omen. Long story short, after having the piercing for about 2 years, the thing migrated out. I'm stubborn and tried everything in my power to keep the thing, but there comes a time when a piercing is just barely hanging on that you have to admit defeat and take it out.
At A Glance Author *Kayla* Contact *Kayla*@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist BettyAnn Studio Icon Location Nashville, TN Jump to February 2006. I was at home in Nashville for the weekend (I go to school in Knoxville, which is where my previous rook piercing took place at a studio that is no longer in business) and was wanting new jewelry for one of my tragus piercings. I went to Icon where I am a regular (it's like Cheers - everyone knows my name) and talked to the wonderful Miranda who is always friendly and helpful. Let me just stop here and tell you how great Icon is. Other than my studio in Knoxville, I would never go anywhere else. Everyone there is so nice and comforting and it's a very nice, inviting place. Anyway, Miranda showed me some jewelry and I decided on a horseshoe barbell for my tragus. The whole time I was looking at jewelry, I was contemplating getting my rook pierced. At this point, a girl came in to get her navel pierced, so she filled out the paperwork and picked out jewelry which was sent to be sterilized. I decided to get my rook re-pierced and told Miranda I wanted to do it and have it pierced with a barbell. I filled out the paperwork and had to wait for the girl in front of me to get her navel pierced. At this point the adrenaline hadn't kicked in and I wasn't nervous, so I didn't mind waiting and I sat down and started talking to a man waiting to get a Celtic knot tattoo. It was his first tattoo. He was really nice and we talked for about half an hour.
Finally Betty Ann, the lovely and fabulous piercer, was ready for me. This is when I started getting nervous and started to breathe deeply to calm down. I told her that I had previously gotten my rook pierced, but it migrated. Getting it pierced the last time was not a fun experience at all and I was worried about getting it pierced this time. She told me to just relax and that this time would be better and that she would try not to hurt me. (She also didn't use clamps, which helped a lot.)
She had me lie down with my head turned so she could pierce me. (The last time, I was sitting up, and believe me, lying down makes it a lot easier to relax.) She told me to concentrate on breathing. Patti, another fabulous girl who works there, was rubbing my arm and telling me to relax. (She's going to school for massage therapy and will be wonderful at it because she is very soothing.) Then I felt a little prick and a lot of pressure. The pressure was the worst part of it. Then I felt more pressure as the jewelry was going in, but no blood and no real pain. (At least not much blood, and I tend to be a bleeder.) No craziness. No circus-like spectacle of madness. Just a nicely pierced rook.
I was still a little shaky from having gotten myself so worked up, so I continued to lie there for a few minutes and breathe. Betty Ann told me that she didn't know why such a hard time was had before because my rook was really soft and easy to pierce.
Afterward, everything was fine. I was worried about sleeping since I sleep on my left side, but it wasn't a problem. It is a bit sore sometimes, but I just have to find the right placement. Headphones haven't been a problem either, since my ipod is pretty much permanently attached to me.
Now it's about 3 months after I got it pierced. As I type this, my rook is a bit sore and stinging, but it's probably due in large part to the fact that it is finals week and I'm stressed. It's my newest piercing, so it's bound to act up.
I still love the piercing, though, and am so glad to have it back. Whenever I lose a piercing I feel as if I am incomplete until I get it back. Naturally, if you ever want a rook piercing (or anything, for that matter) be sure to go to a good, reputable piercer who will make it a pleasant experience.