I love my tongue

At A Glance Author Darci Contact fishcrazy@email.com Artist forgot to ask Studio they keep changing the name Location Belleville, On

I've always thought that tongue piercings had a certain sexual mystique about them. I had been thinking about getting my tongue pierced for a few years and decided to take the plunge. When I had my navel pierced I went in blind. I thought they did the navel piercing with a gun. I had no idea that they used a needle, I didn't know the first thing about body piercing. I worked at a medical clinic at the time and when I saw the autoclave I realized that I was about to have a procedure, not a simple gun piercing. I ended up fainting during my navel piercing. Because I fainted during that procedure I ended up with a crooked navel ring. I later removed it because it looked really stupid.

Before having my tongue pierced I reviewed every account and piece of literature I could get my hands on so I would fully understand what to expect. When the big day finally came I was relaxed, calm and looking forward to my new piercing.

I had examined my tongue thoroughly and decided where I would like the piercing. Unfortunately I have a rather large vein under my tongue exactly where I wanted it. I showed my piercer and she suggested angling the piercing so it was closer to the front of my mouth at the bottom and closer to the back of my mouth at the top. The only other option was an non-angled piercing near the tip of my tongue, I chose the angled piercing.

I rinsed with the peroxide followed by the Listerine. She put a topical gel anesthetic on my tongue and used a pen to mark placement. I told her I could fee the pen, a good indication that the freezing hadn't taken effect. She added more gel, then applied the clamp. I told her I could feel the clamp, she said everyone feels the clamp. She told me to take a deep breath and she inserted the needle. I felt the needle pop in and go through my tongue out the top. It hurt but it wasn't excruciating. She had some difficulty screwing the ball on and called over the tattoo guy to hold the clamp. After my tongue was released to me the freezing took effect! Better late then never. I went in the washroom to rinse with peroxide and Listerine. I tried to spit and couldn't. I started to laugh and she asked me what was wrong. I said "I canth spith!" I kind of wish that she had done the piercing then and I wouldn't have felt a thing. I am highly tolerant to anesthetics, whenever I go to the dentist they give me 2 shots and wait 20 mins for it to take effect. I should have told her of my slow reaction to anesthetics, that much is in part my fault.

This is day 5 and I'm healing rapidly. I never stopped eating solid food, I just do it carefully. I rinse with diluted peroxide twice a day and diluted Listerine whenever I eat drink or smoke. I take ibuprofen every 4 hours. I haven't had any pain, but I have had swelling. The swelling lessons each day and my speech is nearly back to normal.

I really love the way it looks and feels. However since my tongue is still swollen I'm unsure of how the placing will work out. Right now it seems to rest uncomfortably on my lower gums. Hopefully when the swelling subsides it will be more comfortable.

A friend recommended that I follow the same procedure as he did when he had his wisdom teeth pulled. Avoid soft un-nutritious food and do try to eat solid foods. I think eating properly has quickened the healing process. I'm also taking a multi-amino-acid complex.

I was lisping quite a bit for the first few days. My Mother seemed to think it was pretty cute. I spend a lot of time on the phone at work and discovered I couldn't say my own name for the first few days, it kept coming out Darthee instead of Darci.

I'm looking forward to buying new jewelry especially a glow in the dark barbell. I had requested a 12 gauge barbell but my piercer said she would only give me a 14 gauge and I could have it stretched to a 12 gauge later. I though that was strange because my friend had a 10 gauge done in Kingston.

I will probably get my navel redone this month. I doubt I'll go to the same piercer because she won't do a navel pierce with a banana barbell. She will only do a navel pierce with a ring and switch to a barbell after it's healed.

Like I said, I was prepared and self informed before the piercing. My piercer told me nothing of the procedure, care of the piercing or the healing process.

I am also interested in having my nipples pierced but I haven't quite decided yet. I think I'd better wait for my tongue to heal first.