This is the story of my venoms... (Warning: a little lengthy.)
At A Glance Author Emy Contact emy_the_bass_chick@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist Karin Studio Pikes Peak Tattoo & Piercing Location Colorado Springs, CO I'd been thinking about getting my tongue pierced for awhile, but after numerous friends showed up at school with centered bars, the whole thing started to look pretty boring to me. I wanted my piercing to be exciting and unique (or as close to it as possible, anyway), so I decided against the tongue piercing. And then it happened, somewhere down the line I noticed the section on BME about 'off-center tongue piercings', and I fell in love with the venoms. My yearning for a hunk of metal (or in this case, two) in my mouth began again. Unfortunately, at the time I did not know of a nearby studio I could go to in order to get them done, so, I put it on the backburner. I was having more fun trying to get my eyebrow healed in the meantime anyway.
My husband was preparing to get his nipple pierced and so had enlisted me in finding a decent studio for him, since he was coming from out of town and did not know of any places to go. I had found a website for Pikes Peak Tattoo & Piercing about 6 months before, but had not been able to make it into the studio to check it out before, so I figured this would be a good opportunity. I went in and met with the piercer, Karin, and learned all about their sterilization techniques and their jewelry, as well as pricing, but focused mainly on my husband's nipples.
Fast forward a couple weeks. I bought my mom a tattoo for Mother's Day from Pikes Peak, and while she was in the back room with Catt (the tattoo artist) getting it done, a guy came in looking for a standard center tongue piercing. After he was done and out the door, I asked Karin if she did off-center work, since she hadn't any pictures of them in her portfolio. She said she did, and looked at my tongue to pre-approve me for venoms. Score! She recommended some jewelry and we discussed a little about healing but didn't set up anything then; I had to discuss with my husband and make sure I had some funds secured.
After talking with my husband and getting a less-than-enthusiastic response, I decided to start looking at my calendar anyway. I knew I'd have enough money, with my high school graduation coming up and the studio running a "May Madness" promotion, offering free piercing (with the purchase of jewelry) throughout the month of May. Perfect. I decided on the Tuesday after graduation, so I wouldn't have to try to talk to people while my mouth was healing, and my husband would still be able to be there to laugh at me, which was his only stipulation despite not being happy about me getting them done. I talked to Karin and got my appointment set for May 25th.
Two more weeks passed; I was getting very, very excited. Finally the day came, and I could hardly contain myself. We were running a little late, but no matter. When we got to the studio, Karin had my form ready to go. While I was filling it out, a woman came in to get a tongue retainer, and Karin asked if she could go ahead and do it, since it would be quick. By this time I was a little nervous, and not quite ready, so I said sure. 15 minutes later, after bouncing around the waiting room and looking at nearly every piece of tattoo flash on the wall, it was finally my turn to get pierced.
I plopped into the chair while Karin cleaned the tray and countertops where the instruments would be put. My husband came in too, and stood next to the door to take pictures. No hand-holding, but he kept me entertained at least. Karin went over some more aftercare, telling me to rinse with Listerine at least 3 times a day and various methods of keeping the swelling down, since it was inevitable anyway. She got out the pouches with the needles and clamps, as well as the blue dye and toothpicks to mark with, and a drool bib (much like the dentist's office), which she clipped around my neck.
We began by rinsing my mouth out with diluted Listerine, and the marking began. She first marked the underside of my tongue with no problem. The top was, well, a little more difficult. Her first set of markings were crooked, so she tried to wipe it off and started again. This time it was much better, and she pulled out her measurement tool to double-check her placements. I approved them in the mirror, and it was time for the needles.
She asked if I had a preference for which side she did first; I didn't so she started on the right. She clamped it off and told me to take a deep breath... and the needle went through with a 'squish'. I won't lie and say I didn't feel a thing, because I did, but it was no worse than biting it. Not so bad. The first barbell went in, a 5/8"14-gauge black plasma-coated titanium bar, closed off with a surgical stainless steel ball on the bottom. My husband took a picture of it all by itself while Karin looked for the needle, which had slipped onto my lap (this was the least sanitary part of the procedure!)
On to the left side; she said it would hurt less since my endorphins should have kicked in by now. It did, but not much less. The needle passed through and the next barbell, which was the same size as the first but surgical stainless steel with the black titanium ball on the underside. She dropped the ball onto my bib when she was trying to screw it on, but quickly snatched it and was done. At this point I was drooling (and bleeding) all over the place, and my husband snapped a picture of the blood dripping down my chin (thanks honey!) I rinsed my mouth out with water while Karin went over some more aftercare instructions, advising me what to eat (pudding, mashed potatoes and Slurpees are my new best friends). She snapped a picture for her portfolio, asked me to come back in a few weeks to get a healed shot and we were all done, I finally had my venoms! I paid and we were on our way to 7-11 to get me something to suck on, since the swelling was already setting in.
It's now day two. Last night I soaked my tongue in warm water and rinsed with diluted Listerine before going to bed, and then again both times this morning when I woke up. I've been able to talk okay, albeit slowly, though I sound like a drunken little kid and everyone enjoys making fun of me. I tried to eat some mashed potatoes and discovered that I have to practically smash them down my throat in order to swallow. After anything I eat I rinse my mouth out with warm water. So far the pain hasn't been that bad, but ibuprofen has been helpful in keeping the pain down.
The only major problem I've had so far was one of the balls coming unscrewed earlier this morning, at a rather inopportune time. We were driving to get food for my sister before she went to work when I discovered that the steel ball had fallen off, but luckily I had not swallowed it. After trying desperately to screw it back on in the McDonald's bathroom, my mom took me back to the studio and Karin had no problems popping it back on. Phew.
I've waited a while to get this piercing done, and although it's a little uncomfortable right now, I can't wait until it heals and I can sound normal again. Everybody is shocked when I tell them I got two done, but it was the best decision for me and I'm very proud of my venoms. My suggestion to anybody considering this is take your time doing research and find a decent studio who will help you out before and after the actual procedure, because it's really handy to be able to go to somebody who knows what they're doing. :)