Since I was fourteen years old, I wanted an industrial piercing. I knew nothing about it and only saw a couple people with it walking around school... mostly the upperclassmen. My best friend always told me she wanted one also, so we vowed to get one when she was 18. The reason was because her parents wouldn't allow her to before that and my parents would anytime. So I would be 17 by the time I got it, as well. Today, I am finally 17 and my friends birthday just passed a couple weeks ago. After waiting three years for her, she ended up deciding she didn't want one which left me kind of sad. But our friendship isn't really there anymore, so it wasn't too sad. The weekend we said we'd get it, I got it still, anyway.
At A Glance Author sarah L Contact sarah L@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Lacy Studio Needful Things, Inc Location Fort Myers, FL Yesterday, I drove up to Needful Things, Inc and scoped out the scene. I was there a week earlier for my two friends to get their Tragus piercings (which came out awesome). I had my notary and my mother (who of course left her credit card at the place). I met up with Lacy, my piercer, who told me a few things and let me know. As I was sitting and waiting for her to get the sterile equipment like needles, barbells, etc, I kept thinking about how bad it would probably hurt. I read so many stories off bmezine, as well, and rarely did they make the piercing sound delightful. I've also heard from numerous friends that it was "the most painful" but every one who said that also said it was their favorite to date. So of course, I had to have it, keeping in mind that "pain is only temporary."
Lacy took out her trusty marker and marked where each end would be going through on my left ear. Since my left eye is worse than my right eye, I could barely see where the dots were, but I trusted her after seeing her work the week before. I kept asking stupid questions like "does it hurt a lot?" or "do you think i'll black out" because I also heard a few stories involving unfortunate black outs. Let me add that this was my first piercing that wasn't my lobes, so I was a huge baby about it.
As she lined up the needle, I held my friend's hand while my palms were sweating rivers. I was nervous when I felt the tip of the needle as it slowly lined up with her purple marking. I couldn't close my eyes, but instead, I stared directly at a sticker that said "Disposable Needles" on a box against the wall.
That's when Lacy started, "Okay, I want you to take a deep breath in and a deep breath out." I kind of sat there, wanting to chicken out, but instead I took the deepest breath I possibly could in and let it out slowly. That was it! She said the first hole was through and I was very surprised at the outcome. I didn't even finish my second breath out. So far, I liked how this was turning out and I was gaining more excitement and losing nervousness.
Now, the second hole was up and this was the one I worried about most. I've been reading that the second hole was the most painful due to blood rushing to the first hole already. So I was worried but figured I already had one hole and just thought to hurry up and do it quick. The words started again, "Take a deep breath in and a deep breath out" and I felt the needle puncturing through. This time, it took a little longer and instead of one big breath out, I ended up doing about 5 mini breaths. It had more feeling, since it had a little more to go through, but still-- there was no pain! She said she had to put the earring through and it would be done. Within that second, everything was over. I kind of stayed staring at the "Disposable Needles" sticker for a while after because I was in shock. The shocking part to me was how it wasn't painful at all!
That night, I was out with friends driving around and I couldn't really feel it. Within an hour after, I didn't even feel any burning. Before bed, I followed cleaning instructions and got most of the excess dried blood out. I went to bed with a few pillows to elevate my head over my body and made sure it was covered with a clean t-shirt. I woke up the next morning and didn't even feel the piercing anymore. I didn't have any pain and slept like a baby!
I'm very cautious about it and try to remember its there for everything I do. When I'm home, I clip up that whole side of my hair so that air gets to it and I clean it three times a day. Once in the morning, once after school, and once before bed. If you follow all instructions and be cautious about what you're doing, then everything should go fine and you shouldn't have any pain or infection.
Of course, I only had it as of yesterday, so hopefully everything stays as cool as I feel now! Just thought I'd submit my story for those of you who were probably as scared and worried as me. Good luck if you plan on getting your industrial, too. Just keep in mind what I said earlier... "pain is only temporary."