I have been stretching my lobes since I was 28. I started because my father has 5/16 inch lobes. He is African and my mother is Cherokee. Both ethnicities stretch their ears, thus I felt I wanted too. My sister has her ears stretched as well and so she gave me most of the jewelry that I had except for the pair of cats eye glass I got from Finland.
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Remember that, it will be important later.
Previously, I had safely and carefully stretched from 20mm to 1G. I have always believed if you are going to do something permanent it better take some time and money. I also am a relatively inpatient person, so I try actively not to rush into things, and certainly stretching was something I didn't want to rush. So it was not unusual for me to wait 2-3 months in between stretches.
I am a bit of a germo-phobe and I am picky about what plugs I like. I have my glass custom made (I don't drink, or smoke, and I am vegan, so I have the money for it) I almost always had new jewelry still in the autoclave package. If it was something that came un-autoclaved I was able to take it to the place where I worked and stick it in the autoclave with the surgical kits. This is exactly what I did with the white pair of cats eye plugs.
Before this experience all the stretches had been very comfortable, never causing pain of discomfort. Only one stretch, 8G to 6G, was sore and even that was just because it was cold and my ears were not pliable. I'd gone to my friend Colleen from Halo tattoo to get them stretched and they were sore afterwards, again, I believe the cold had much to do with that. I always did the sea salt soaks and massaged my ears with olive oil at least twice a day for 2 weeks. And even after that I always removed my plugs in the shower so I could thoroughly clean my ears. I bought appropriate sized silicone eyelets to bed at night and set my plugs in tea tree oil and water to have my glass plugs cleaned overnight. I was careful, very careful.
So when my one gauge plugs started to fall out I decided to try to place the 0 gauge taper in my ear after a shower. It slid in with only a tiny bit of burning. I placed my 0 gauge silicone in because I planned to go to bed.
My ears were hot but not uncomfortable. The next day my ears were painless but were a bit red. So I began to soak them and they were much improved. The next morning I took out the silicone and my ears were a touch sensitive. So I decided to put my glass plugs in instead (thinking that they would be more comfortable.) They went in relatively easily but seemed tight. I was confused but in a rush (note to reader: again I will say it, this is my new mantra, nothing good happens when you rush.) so I left them in and ran my errands.
My left ear began to burn and be very red and hot. I applied ice and Olive oil, and then tried a sea salt soak. They relieved the pain for a while but nothing permanent. I decided to go to sleep and deal with it the next morning. (again, repeat after me: nothing good comes from rushing!)
I woke up and my ear was hot and swollen. I immediately filled a small bowl with warm olive oil and began to massage my ears. The white plug fell out of my right ear and with it some blood and puss. My eyes went comic book wide. It was a shock, but part of me was slapping myself in the head screaming "Told you so!"
I immediately took both plugs out and started to soak them in sea salt water. Then I washed them with mild antibacterial soak and went to take a look at them. The left one was sore and a little puckered, otherwise fine. The right one however was completely blown out. By this I mean there was a puckered spot that had OPENED a wee bit and was bleeding. I had stretched too far. I was upset and confused and called my father who has his holes stretched.
I told my dad the entire story and he told me to measure the white plugs. I didn't understand why, but I measured. Turned out they were bigger than 0 gauge. In fact they were almost 00 gauge. I was shocked and couldn't believe my stupidity. He told me they were probably metric plugs, I agreed. In the back of my head I'd known that, but again, in my rush I didn't take the time to measure. Nothing good comes from rushing.
As soon as he told me that I realized my mistake and remembered the Finnish plugs. I knew from my sister having a blow out, as well as reading BME about Sea soaks and olive oil massages. I told him about soaking my ears and massaging them. He instructed me also to wash them twice a day with a gentle antibacterial soap. Since I'd just got a tattoo done, I was no stranger to washing and applying moisture so I readily agreed.
Although it is a small blowout and thanks to whatever deity you want it was only my right ear! I immediately went back down to my 1 gauge glass plugs. The swelling is already better. My dad is already going to help me to fix the problem if massaging doesn't end up helping. He is hopeful that it will and that I can avoid infection on my own with devout care and a strict routine. I've decided that 1 gauge is going to be the long time destination for me until this ear is healed and stays healed for 3 months!
I have decided also this may be a sign of another kind. Not only did this scare the poo out of me, but I also realized besides teaching me to be patient and listen to my body I didn't like how the 00 Gauge plugs looked in my ears. They seemed too big. For others it would have looked really nice. But since I know over the span of my life they will probably stretch on their own, I think I can wait until my ears outgrown plugs on their own, and not rush things.
0 gauge might be my goal in the future, but for now I am sufficiently chastised into staying RIGHT where I am.
Remember kids. Nothing good comes from rushing.