Okay. Let me set the scene for you. I have had 15 piercings... I had to retire my tongue, tongue web, 2 helix's, my lip and my nipple. I'd been mulling over the decision to get my tragus pierced for around 30 minutes when I decided that, indeed, I wanted one. I just had to ask my dad, which was no easy task, mind you. It took 2 days of begging and I even showed him some pictures I'd found on BME. It's always hard asking him, "Daddy.. Can I have another one?"
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact roxy_rider@ureach.com When A week ago Artist Joe Studio Asylum Location Albany, GA He agreed to let me have it done, so I had the day set up and was ready to go when... neither one of my parents would take me. (I'm underage and Asylum has really strict rules.) I agreed I could wait until the following Monday (though it felt like it would never get here.) I had went to Asylum when I got my belly button pierced and went with my boyfriend when he got his snake bites done, so I felt comfortable there. It's kind of homey and the people there are really nice (and cute, to say the least.)
Monday approached and I was getting more and more nervous as it did. I was scared it was going to hurt like crazy.. So, me and my mum drove over to Asylum. My piercer was assisting the tattoo artist when I walked in. He came up to me and asked me what I wanted pierced and I replied, "I want one of those nifty little tragus piercings." I had to wait about 10 more minutes and fill out the forms, by this time I was ready to throw up. Joe told me to follow him to the piercing room and told me to sit up on the chair and so we made small talk. It was almost like he was flirting with me trying to make me relaxed. After a while, I meekly asked him, "Um. How bad is this going to hurt?" He explained to me that the hurting part is just hype and it's mainly pressure from the jewelry and needle. Yeah, okay buddy. What I felt last time was PAIN.
I watched him prepare all the stuff and he marked the placement and asked what I thought. I told him to put it where it'd sit in my ear comfortably. He got the clamp on and went to go pierce it and.... the clamp slipped off. He got it re-situated and told me to take a deep breath in. I felt the needle go through my ear and stop. He said something that I can't remember right now.. and I felt the needle pop through the other side. I can only describe this as, "OWWWWWW!!! SHIT THAT HURT!!! GET IT OUT!" He slipped the ring in and sent me on my way. He gave me some Satin soap to wash it with, (which I haven't been using like I should.) The drive home sucked. It started throbbing and about 15 minutes of being on the road I had a headache and was starting to get dizzy. I got really worried and made my mum stop and get me some McDonalds because I figured I was just hungry. I ate and my headache had went away, but now I was feeling nauseous. I went home, salt soaked my ear and took a nap. I woke up on the same side I had just gotten my ear pierced on. One thing that was awkward to me was that it didn't bleed.
I've had it done for 2 weeks now. It got infected the first week I had it, but I was used to that. I have a really, really sucky immune system now from getting bit by a brown recluse and getting a staph infection, so my body doesn't handle piercings so good anymore. I checked BME for what would be good and turned up with Vitamin C and tea tree oil. I applied my tea tree oil nightly and took my Vitamin C when I woke up and it got better within a few days. It's not as sore as it was a week ago. It's only sore if I bump it or when i clean it and it's still kind of blue around the piercing, but it's not swollen anymore. I interpret that as a good sign. I asked my really good friend if it looks normal, he relieved my paranoia and told me, "Yes dear, it looks fine. Quit worrying. Worry when you wake up and can't find your ear."
Only 4 more weeks until I can change it!! Anybody got any suggestions on what to put in it? (I want to change out the ring. It's annoying.) If you are thinking about getting it done, I say go for it! I get compliments all the time about it!