For a long time I had missed having any genital piercings, having my VCH removed was the best choice, but I definitely missed it. I was quite sure I wanted something new, so searching on BME as always I came across the beautiful Christina piercing and fell in love instantly. I knew I had to get this piercing. So cut to near present: my Mum had asked me what I wanted for Easter instead of chocolate (as my diet still stood then...) and joking around I told her I wanted my Christina pierced. She'd asked where this was and I never know how to explain the placement to anybody. So instead I showed her the pictures on BME and strangely she loved it and said that it would be my Easter present. WOOHOO! (Pretty expensive Easter egg!)
At A Glance Author rufio Contact rufio@bme.anon IAM rufio When A month ago Artist Lou Studio Manchester piercing studio Location Manchester, UK.
Now.. Jump to day before of said piercing. To my complete frustration and disbelief, I had started up with cystitis (yes, the damn tweety birds) from using bubble bath so straight away my heart sank and I definitely wouldn't be getting anything out to be pierced. But as everyone knows, when you've been waiting well over a fortnight to have something pierced and then you can't, there's that pining feeling for a needle and a nice new shiny piece of jewellery. I began to wonder what I could get instead.. any more facial piercings were out of the question as I am already having trouble getting a job (society eh?), surface piercings don't appeal to me much, and any genital mods were also unavailable. It suddenly popped into my head that I hadn't yet had my tongue pierced. It had been my big fear since becoming modded, but something I knew I'd want eventually and maybe this was fates way of pushing me out there. Needless to say my Mum was jealous as she has wanted a tongue piercing for a long time now - but her job restricts her.
The day of piercing..: After reading up experiences on here in the morning, I got myself ready and traveled into town where I explained to Lou the pretty embarrassing tale of why I couldn't get my Christina. As I was having a think, it suddenly dawned on me that there was another option to my tongue piercing. Venoms. Now I'd not seen so many people with venom piercings, but when I did they looked fantastic and I knew straight away that was the piercing for me. Lou kindly gave me an excellent pricing quote and we were ready. The nervousness set in as the jewellery was sterilized and set up. A lot of things went through my mind - this was another big step for me. Not only was I having something pierced that frightened me somewhat (not to mention having it done twice!) I'd also never had a piercing without reading through experiences, but after giving it some thought I'd convinced myself it would be the same as a central tongue piercing... only plus another.
Then it was time! Lou called me in and I made myself comfortable. We discussed the anesthetic - I firstly decided I wanted my tongue numbed, but Lou had told me it can increase swelling and because of relaxation it can alter placement after final healing so I quickly dismissed the idea. I wanted them to be perfect. Then marking up - I was concerned that the jewellery would damage my teeth so to make sure, Lou told Tom to mark as close to the center as possible. This would also minimize swelling and make healing quicker which I was happy with, although at the beginning I wanted them a lot further apart. Marking up took quite a while, a lot of sticking my tongue in and out of my mouth, resting it inside my mouth to see where it lay (I presume this is where a numbed tongue would be a bit troublesome) and by the end I had about 3 sets of dots on my tongue. As Lou clamped up my tongue I had second thoughts and backed out, opting for the freezing. She was fine with it but said tha t as the exit holes were already marked up, applying anaesthetic would distort them and my piercings most likely wouldn't be straight. So.. after one big breath and go ahead we started again. No pain no gain.
I held tissue underneath my chin and closed my eyes tightly, my heart was racing so fast, but to be honest, from the central tongue piercings experiences I expected minimal pain - it was just the idea of having a needle pushed through my tongue that made me rush. So in with the deep breath... and out... and PIERCE.. Oh my.. It was the most intense pain I've ever felt. Only for a second, but it was blinding. I thought I had a rather high pain tolerance as none of my piercings have ever provided a pain that made me feel as sick as that. Tom slid in my jewellery which was almost as painful and I took a minutes breather.. Of course, the pain wasn't so bad that I couldn't have the other, but it crossed my mind! The second was just as tender, and I was definitely glad it was all over. My tongue throbbed and all I wanted to do was light up a smoke. Obviously, I couldn't. I was quite shocked by how much I felt it, and it was afterwards I learnt that the central tongue piercing is le ss likely to hit muscle, but either side (the venoms) IS muscle, explaining why it hurt like a bitch. I stayed around for a little while and sucked on some ice before heading home to show my Mum.
Healing: I'd heard this was the 'best' part of a tongue piercing.. so with two, it's even more of a nightmare. First off, I recommend reading the aftercare sheet and fully following the instructions. Maybe I would've had an easier time if I hadn't bent the rules! I tend to heal rather strangely. With any piercing, for the day after I'll have not much pain and very little swelling - so of course, I had a cigarette. Which then lead to a chain of cigarettes, and me leaping ahead as always with trying to eat some mashed up tuna fish instead of sticking to a liquid diet. DO NOT DO THIS! Stick to a liquid diet for a few days, you'll save yourself a lot of suffering. I took ibuprofen for swelling, and codeine for the pain when I needed it.. Which started on the second morning and lasted almost constantly for another 7 days. I also found sucking on ice cubes to feel heavenly, eating ice cream is a bonus too. I woke up to find my tongue had definitely swollen up (quite funny to try and speak with), and gradually over the day the 22mm bars had about a millimeter of give left. I knew this was perfectly normal and I was very good with my cleaning. Didn't over-do it or do it too little. I used the mouthwash Lou gave me 3 or 4 times a day, combined with rinsing my mouth out after every cigarette with luke warm water (and every other day a saline solution) to keep it as clean as possible. It lymphed, but after the 7th day, my tongue was not in too much pain to gently brush it off with my toothbrush then rinse again. I did notice my tongue started to turn a strange yellowish colour, and wasn't sure if this was a coat of healing mixed with nicotine, but I asked a few friends with their tongues pierced and this was also normal too. As the swelling and pain gradually got less, the bars and huge balls became pretty annoying, and about 10 days later (I waited a little longer to have them changed down because the swelling hadn't gone enough. Possibly through smoking and eating) when I could eat properly, I found myself biting down on the bars and knew it was time to change down.
I now have 18mm bars in, as last time we tried to change them for 16mm, the thread wouldn't quite stay above my tongue - but that's the next step which will probably be done sometime this week. At the moment, one of the bottom beads is rubbing against my gum and making a small blister so the quicker changed down the better. Venoms are a wonderful piercing, definitely a painful process but still very impressive! As long as you follow the aftercare properly you shouldn't find yourself regretting them. Remember: lots of anti-inflams, painkillers and ice cream. Next.... the Christina!!!