I thought long and hard about what my second piercing would be (my first being my septum.. which I am currently stretching, but that is another story/submission).
At A Glance Author trucker Contact trucker@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Jonny Studio Ritualistics Location Edmonton, Alberta I searched on wikipedia and BME for something that would be less visible and easy enough to maintain or hide if needed because it just isn't allowed at work. But I've taken enough crap from my job, and hey, I live in Alberta, so if they really have a problem with it, I'll just go find a new job.
Anyway, so after a couple weeks of looking and contemplating, I decided on the tragus piercing. I had also talked to my friend Danielle about hers, and she said that it was her favorite of all the piercings she had ever had and still has. And she has had quite a few. It is however, her last remaining piercing (well, that I've seen...) So I decided to go for it.
I'd been to Ritualistics once before. I was looking around for new things to put in my nose, and they had all been very informative and helpful there, so instead of finding somewhere else I walked in, asked a couple of questions and then made an appointment.
The big day was upon me. I had made my appointment for 3 pm, because i was (supposed to be) off work at 1. I didn't make it out of there until 2:30. So, that had already put a dent in my plan. I rushed home, changed out of my uniform and rushed into Ritualistics. Luckily I live about 7 minutes from my job, and 5 minutes from Jasper ave. So I made it in at 2:59 pm. I would have liked to be 10-15 minutes early... but clearly I didn't really have a choice in the matter.
I read over the stuff, signed it and decided on the barbell, as it would probably be the least visible. Jonny lead me into the room and explained about the stuff to do with piercing, healing, etc. (it was all on the paper i had just read, and had been up at 4 am, so it seemed like babbling to me.) I wasn't nervous because I was completely exhausted and had just run from my car.
Jonny then asked me what size bead I wanted (the smallest one, so 1/8") and proceeded to mark where he was going to put it. He then complemented me on my beautiful tragus (while reassuring me he wasn't hitting on me, explaining how some people would come in and want it done, but he just couldn't because there was little to no cartilage to pierce)
He asked about my cough, because I was getting over a cold at the time, and asked me if I still wanted to go through with it, explaining that it might take longer to heal because of illness, because the body would take care of the illness first and push the piercing off to the side. I said I was getting over it and promised I would be as healthy as possible and to go for it.
So I'm laying down with my eyes closed (still.. completely exhausted and ready to fall asleep) and Jonny was talking through the procedure (although I wasn't really listening) and then says "and I'm just putting in the jewelery now," much to my surprise. I hadn't felt a thing, but then realized that the crunchy noise in my ear was the needle going through. The crunch was the best part of the entire thing, by the way. It was thoroughly sickening.
It started to bleed, and continued... my blood just didn't want to coagulate, mainly because I hadn't eaten a whole lot in the last couple days, and had only a quick bite to eat earlier in the day.
It bled for about 2 days, but that night I went out and picked up some food and good juice that has about a million vitamins and minerals and began drinking that, and had dinner. Day two, I wasn't sick anymore (probably because of the large intake of vitamin c) and it was extremely easy to move around in my ear while cleaning, although it was a little sore.
Now, it's healing, and I was able to lay on it by the third day, although was careful not to apply direct pressure on it.
Ritualistics is a wonderful place. It is extremely sanitary, and they change their gloves several times (I think Jonny did it 3 times while i was there.) Even when he's stretching my septum, it is usually twice that he changes gloves. They are all extremely helpful and informative, and I recommend them for all your piercing and jewelery needs and queries.
I also recommend the tragus piercing because for me, it was relatively painless and easy to care for, plus easy to hide for work. In retrospect I wish it would have been a little more centered in the tragus, but I am happy with where it is.