At A Glance
Author	highanddriving
Contact	highanddriving@bme.anon
When	It just happened
Artist	Myself/Chemist Lady
Studio	Chemist Studios
Location	Central Coast NSW Australia

Well, here I am.

The origin of this story lies with my notion of having large holes in my ears. Admiring others' stretched piercings, though I knew few people with them (part of the appeal, I must add). I talked about it with my girlfriend, and she gave me a stern limit to the size of the stretch – 4mm, approximately 6g. The next step of course being my mother, who was surprisingly cool with the idea, as long as, of course, I could keep it small enough to not draw too much attention and still be employable.

After the choice was made to go ahead, I went to the local piercing studio, without any money, and inquired about the procedure. She did not talk of higher gauge piercing, or immediate stretching, so I didn't know that was an option. So When I had the funds, I went to the store with my girlfriend – closed much to my disappointment, as it was a public holiday. So we wandered around aimlessly, when my girlfriend brought forward the idea of trying a chemist. We rocked up at the first open chemist we saw and got straight to it.

I had worked myself up to think it was going to hurt. I must add my girlfriend didn't help me much there, telling me how much it hurts. The lady asked me to choose the studs. I went for the smallest silver things I could find. She loaded them up and told me to sit still. She marked my ears, and asked if I was ready. With a sort thud and click sound, the stud was through my right ear. It didn't hurt at all, let alone as much as I thought it would, the ear just had a sort of mild burning, warm sensation. Thought I was in a state of slight shock, I was not in pain. She loaded the second stud and gave the gun a wipe down with some alcoholic wipe and went again, on my left. Walking around toward the car, we stopped off to get some clothes or something for my girlfriend, I just kept looking in the mirror. My ears had swollen a little, but I must say, I didn't see how that wouldn't be normal.

Over the first few days post-piercing, I used the spray given to me. And it was in this time, I realized how serious a reaction my skin has to alcohol. My skin was irritated, so I discontinued my use of the spray. I began salt soaks, as I had read in the FAQ I found on One Tribe (http://www.onetribe.nu/catalog/stretching.php), and I continue to do so up 'till this day.

After four weeks, I again went to the studio, not making mention that I had my ears done somewhere else, and struck up a deal with the owner. I come home with two tapers (12g and 6g both SSS with bulbs on the front, and and O-ring on the back of both), a pair of 6g tunnels (again, SSS) and a big smile on my face.

That night, the first taper went in my left ear, as this ear was the first to fully heal. I had been sleeping on my right side, so it had had more movement and was still not with a complete and healed fistula. I didn't feel a thing when the taper went through. Later that night however, there was a definite sense of 'burning', or 'stretching'. It is not a pain, but a strong knowledge of it being there.

For the record, I used Lucas Papaw ointment as a lube, as it is awesome as healing things, and it is all natural. Call me crazy, but I thought it would work and it really did. I would recommend it to anyone.

Five days later I was so flipping keen to keep going that I put in 4mm (6g) taper. Okay, it really hurt. I did it so slowly that nothing ripped or tore. But over the next three days or so, I was constantly at the mirror, freaking out. I was so desperate to not blow out, and I didn't, but I was so scared. The 2mm (12g), again slipped easily with lube through my right ear – now fully healed. Due to my fears, and a greater feeling of balance (with tapers in both ears) my ears stayed in this state for a short while.

A week later I tape wrapped my smaller taper (I just used back electrical tape, no problems with discharge of chaff for me), which was in my right ear, as it was completely ready for another stretch. Two wraps of tape and it went back in easily with lube. Not nearly as much burn as the second stretch on my left, though, of course, it was much smaller. But at this point, I lost the O-ring. I was very angry. But a solution presented itself – Dental Elastics, which worked a treat.

Two days later, I tried to get the tunnel in my left. The tunnel must have been slightly bigger than the taper, as it proved to be a pain. I didn't force it in, as I had already stressed the ear with the huge gauge jump, getting it to 4mm. So a dead stretch seemed like a bad idea. So I tape wrapped. Two wraps of tape again, some Papaw ointment and it was a treat. No pain, like the first stretch. I also stretched the right with one more wrap of tape for good measure.

Again, two days later, I put the tunnel in. Slipped in a treat. That was the end of the story for that ear. The next day however, I put the 4mm taper in the right ear and there was no pressure, because I had taped it, reducing the stretch.

The last stretch came another two days later, as I wanted to wrap again before trying to put the tunnel in my right ear. So I did! A day later I was so keen, I whipped it in. Slid in a treat, and I was DONE!

My recommendations to anyone who is keen to stretch, especially without it taking forever (which was my preference) are:

- Tape wrap! Less stress with more regular, small stretches, than with bigger gaps between larger stretches. There is less pressure, and therefore less chance of a blowout.

- Sea-salt soaks! Draws out the crap, and disinfects. It is also soothing, at least for me!

- Clean your ears often! Just as a rule. You will stink if you don't!