My second tongue piercing was completely on impulse – that didn't mean I hadn't done my research and knew nothing about piercing though. I have read some scary stories on BME about kids piercing themselves with things like sewing machine needles, but I hope mine will be a little more encouraging and responsible.
At A Glance Author Poppie Contact charliedublonine@aol.com IAM Poppie When A month ago Artist Myself Studio My bed Location Somerset, UK I first got my tongue pierced about a week after I turned 16, I had been waiting months and was obviously impatient. The mistake I made was going to the closest, cheapest, open piercing place – one of those you walk in, get pierced and walk out. It was a horrible experience which I'm going to tell briefly.
I walked in and paid my £40, the queue was very long and extended out of the 'shop'(a reception and piercing cupboard). When I got to the front of the queue the man came and asked what I was having pierced, I told him and he the proceeded to 'force' anaesthetic into my mouth and pierced another girl's navel.
"This will stop it hurting" *points anaesthetic spray menacingly at me*
"What's in it?" I ask
"Anaesthetic"
"What kind?"
(Speaking slowly) "It makes your tongue numb"
"I'm not worried about the pain"
"Oh, don't worry this will take away the pain"
"But I'm not worried"
"Its okay you wont feel it with this"Yeah, I was so impatient I let this guy pierce me!
The healing went fine, I didn't bother going back there to get my bar changed, I just bought my own. Apart from one time when I attempted to retire the piercing, then decided I wanted it back 3 days later(it went in fine) I loved my tongue piercing.
About 4 months later I started thinking about having my tongue pierced again, but it was one morning it seriously came into my mind to do it myself. I took a good look at my tongue and realized I had more room behind my first one than I thought. I grabbed my clamps and decided it looked a lot easier to pierce with them on. I took a quick look in the BME multiple tongue section and I was completely set on it, I knew I was going to at least try.
I had just got up, so I ran into the kitchen and threw some toast on(always eat before getting pierced) then I went and got my original 22mm tongue bar and put it along with my clamps to steam in the pressure cooker (this isn't the most effective way to sterilize, but if you are set on self piercing try to do at least this).
About an hour later I was ready. I got myself and my stuff onto my bed in front of a large mirror. I washed my hands thoroughly, marked and clamped my tongue, and opened a needle(2.1mm cannula), this is when nerves hit me a little. I held the needle to my tongue and.... there was a knock on my door. Damn!
My cousin, uncle and grandma had come round but I was the only one awake. After putting the needle back into its packet and going down and talking to them for a bit I decided to leave them. I was going to get this done now! (:
This time to took forever to get the clamp on properly, I have two large veins either side of my tongue and it hurt with it caught them. I had to re-mark it but finally I got it perfect. Again I got a little scared when the tip of the needle was on my tongue but I really wanted to do this. as soon as the first few millimeters were over and the needle was sliding into the muscle I had this awesome feeling of I'm actually doing it! and the words that came to mind were "this is butter". The best part was seeing the cannula through my tongue appeared to be perfectly straight. I slipped the bar in, smiled and went back downstairs – no one noticed ^__^
The piercing seems to be perfectly placed, it is further from my front one on top but it slants forward underneath so that it is not directly on my saliva gland. I'm not sure I intended this but it's great. Also, it is pierced directly through my tongue web, which is okay because I have a small tongue web anyways and it doesn't affect movement.
Something I realized later was that it hardly seemed to hurt this time as opposed to when I had the numbing stuff. I believe this is because the only part that was numbed was the surface of my tongue and when the needle hit the muscle it was a real shock. I find with most piercing that the skin layers are the most painful parts, so if you are quick getting through them you wont find the rest of the piercing painful. If you have the option, I 'd do it without anesthetic (:
Tongue piercings are a great first piercings as they are defiantly the fastest healers. They can seem scary but once you have it done you will wonder why you worried. The most painful part is the day or two after when it aches like hell to eat or talk – you get through this and then forget about it(until you get another tongue piercing!). I tend to leave my piercings alone as much as possible, but its good to use warm sea salt water or warm dilute alcohol free mouthwash once in a while(if you use it too often you will get a white film on your tongue because too many 'good' bacteria have been killed). A warm drink of tea can ease the pain a little too.
Remember: if you pierce yourself make sure everything is sterile or as clean as you can get it. Never use a sewing needle, piercing needles are available cheaply on eBay(if you must pierce yourself) and be careful (:
Poppie