Hey everyone! I started my stretching journey about a year and a half ago, way back when in January/February of 2005. At that point, I was at a 12 (which I had been at for a year previous to that from the normal 18/20 gauge). I decided I wanted to go all out and stretch my lobes larger, although I had no ending goal in mind. But as we all know, after a few weeks (or even days) at a new gauge, you can't help but want them a little bit bigger.
At A Glance Author Steve Contact Steve@bme.anon When Two years ago Artist Myself, and also Black Hole body piercing Studio Black Hole Location Portland, OR So I started by stetching to a 10, no biggie. No pain or any irritation. So after a little while went to an 8. No pain, no struggle getting them in. Now here is where I learned my biggest lesson: DO NOT SKIP SIZES! In my haste I decided to skip 6 and attempted to get a 4 in. Well, it went in, not very easily but I got it in. It was infected, swollen, and very painful the next morning but I decided to tough it out (I was stupid. DO NOT DO THIS).
Eventually it got so bad so I had to pull it out and let it heal. I let them heal for a few weeks and put my 8s back in. This time, I didn't skip gauges and I got to a zero within a few months. I was so psyched to be at a zero and actually have PLUGS in my ears. I felt soooo cool haha. But I decided to stretch ONE last time and go to 00. At that point I thought I was done.
Well that didn't last long. Within a month or two I was at 7/16ths, happy and proud of my new size. Well, one night I decided to attend my local music venue to watch Underoath. Well, some stage diver hit me RIGHT in the face, knocking both plugs out, never to be seen again. So the next morning I ventured out to get replace them, only to see the 1/2's calling my name. "Steve...stretch...Steve...stretch". I just HAD to get to 1/2". So that day I stretched (one last time I told myself) to 1/2".
And actually, I stayed there for quite a long time. I had them for about 3 months until I had an interview at a new job which told me I couldn't wear them while at work. Well, I was desparate to get out of my fast food job and not to mention this new job payed me $3.00 an hour more. So I decided to take out my plugs for this job.
A few months went by, my holes were closing. Oh well. So one day, a new batch of newbies started at work and one of them had earrings. I asked him, "Hey, dude I thought you couldn't wear earrings at work?" Granted, his were normal size but when I was hired, guys could not wear earrings. He told me, "Nope they change policies". Hmmmm...this intrigued me.
So I decided to put some plugs back in my ears. Unsure of my size, and having had my house recently robbed and all my plugs and stretching stuff stolen (don't ask me why) I went to a buddy working at this tattoo/piercing place and got some 0's. They went right in, but were snug too.
I stayed at this size for a few months, and my job didn't say anything. Later on I decided to stretch back up. It was way easier this time around, seeing as how they were stretched to 1/2" just 3 or 4 months earlier.
Fast forward 7 months, here I sit at 5/8" (yes I passed my 1/2 record) and I couldn't be happier with my ears. Work doesn't care, my supervisors find stuff to fit in my holes and it's ok. Occasionally I get the old lady who freaks out at the sight of them, but I get a kick out of it. Some lady yelled at me, telling me I was stupid, an idiot, retarded. Well, I guess all of those things are better than being closed minded.
It's amazing how people who know you and know what kind of person you are, regardless of gauged ears, treat you as apposed to someone who just meets you. People who knew be before the stretched ears still know I'm a good guy. But people I'm just meeting for the first time automatically assume the worst. For what? A large hole in my ear? But I guess it goes with the territory. Right now I'm contemplating stretching larger, I really like the way a 7/8" looks. But right now, I'm happy at my 5/8 and I'll be here for a little while!
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
--Steve--