Some of us don't learn from our mistakes. Then again, some of us do. I'm one of the people who learned from my mistakes and can now look back and say "What in Hell's name possessed me to put ~that~ in ~there~?"
At A Glance Author Patience Contact NorthStarPolaris@yahoo.com When A week ago Artist Me Studio Computer desk Location Milwaukee (god I hate this place.) I decided to pierce my tongue web because the last person I saw that pierced their tongue by themselves had it swell up. We laughed at her a week straight because people kept thinking she was with the special ed kids. I was not about to repeat her error (which eventually got her locked into a locker). Besides, I had never overly liked the thought of getting my tongue pierced straight through. So, thinking that piercing my tongue web wouldn't swell up nearly as much and that it would suit me much better, I grabbed a trusty needle and a good deal of rubbing alcohol I rammed the needle through. There was no pain. Unfortunately, the needle was big and my mouth is smaller than I previously suspected. I had to remove it and try again. It took about 4 times for it to get through my skull that I was an ass and a needle was just too big.
Enter: The Safety Pin. Watching Terminator 2 and drooling excessively on the keyboard (something I should have expected) I cleaned off the little sucker and stabbed myself once again. After getting it through and clipping it shut I left the safety pin there for roughly 20min before working on getting a ring in, all the while giving a running commentary to a friend who was both horrified and oddly fascinated. However, all was not well.
Once again, though, my stupidity shone brilliant. What kind of idiot sticks an earring in their tongue? Well, me for one. My tongue swelled up to about 3 times its normal size and turned a nice shade of red. After an hour or two and a good deal of Tylenol it was down to almost normal size. This went on for roughly a week--even with the constant brushing and rinsing. Nothing seemed to make the swelling go away. When eventually the hole was large enough for the ring to slide freely though the swelling and pain got even worse. Eating anything salty or grainy hurt like a bitch and I'd have to run home to wash out my mouth three or four times to dull the pain. It finally dawned on me that I desperately needed the proper kind of ring.
Off to the mall I went. I went to Spencer's and picked out a tiny little ring, 5/16 of an inch; 20 gauge. Niobium or something...I had wanted steel or silver, but was willing to settle for $8. I took it out of the package and put it straight in. Not the most sterile thing, but I was perfectly willing to risk it if it'd make the pain stop. I wasn't able to get the ball in right then, but at that point I really didn't care as long as I had something in that wouldn't rub like hell. I walked to the other side of the mall and set up in the bathroom. Sitting on the bench in the bathroom I pulled out my powder compact and put it up on my knee, getting a good look at my tongue. Finding the tiny ball I struggled to get it in. It wasn't easy with long nails. Biting the ring firmly between my teeth there was success. It took about 30min, but I was finally able to slip the little ball in...sweet relief. Unfortunately, I kept thinking that the ball had slipped lose. By now I've gotte n over that fear, but there are times when I'll start playing with it and panic for a second or two.
Anyway. Walking home I was able to once again stick the tip of my tongue through the ring without undue pain--which was a great comfort after nearly getting run down by those bastards doing their Christmas shopping in too much of a hurry. I can also now run my tongue along my uvula once again and I'm almost to the point where flipping my tongue upside down doesn't hurt anymore. Quite frankly, I think it looks great and the swelling and pain have gone down considerably. I'm now a fanatic about brushing and rinsing, doing it up to 5 times a day, but it really helps. My friends, although still confused and disgusted for the most part, are adapting to it. The only problems I have is occasionally getting it hooked around a tooth and looking like and idiot trying to get it unstuck. I can deal with that though. I mean hey--if my ex (who despises oral piercing) can get turned on by it, I've gotta be doing something right.
~Patience