I have always been addicted to body modifications, particularly piercing. My mother had let me get a tattoo at 16 years old, and my ears had been pierced so many times I lost count, but when I asked for permission to get my belly button and my tongue pierced it was a HELL NO kind of reaction. I was devastated but I knew that once I moved out I would do all the piercing I wanted.
At A Glance Author Queenie Contact Queenie@bme.anon When Three months ago Studio Viva Lark Vegas & Tom Spaulding Tattoo Location Albany, NY Well, my fiancé was totally against piercing and is the kind of person to have some control over everything in his life so I had some work to do. Of course I begged and bargained enough so that I finally got him to give in on getting my tongue pierced I researched the piercing and the more I read the more I couldn't wait. That day we decided we would go get it done.
I had gotten my self so excited that the first piercing shop we saw was the one I picked called Viva Lark Vegas. (I am a nurse I should have known better and did some shopping around.) But we went in and first thing she told me was to stick out my tongue. I did and she told me she couldn't do it because my tongue was to short. This broke my heart! All the research and time spent into getting permission for this was a waste. Luckily my anti-piercing hunny spoke up and explained that I just had trouble sticking my tongue out. (I have never been able to) So she took us into the piercing room and clamped my tongue... tah dah. She was able to pull a normal sized tongue out! So, once again excited for my piercing we continued.
First I had to rinse for a full minute with Listerine which was the worst part. After that she marked my tongue and let me look into the mirror. There was a huge blue circle in the center of my tongue.... I thought this was odd... but I let her continue, besides she pierces people for a living I assumed she knew what she was doing. After she clamped my tongue and pierced halfway through my tongue stopped and turned my tongue over as far as she could then finished.... Still not painful so I didn't question her technique. Within seconds the clamp was removed and I was all done. We paid her the $65 and went on our way.
Next was work... I work in a nursing home as Charge nurse (I'm 20 so don't think I'm some old nurse in a midlife crises) so I was a little worried what my managers would say if they saw it or noticed me talking funny, but no one noticed it unless I was showing it and I had no problems talking at all.
Day 2... Totally different. I was VERY Swollen.... I couldn't talk or move my tongue. And I was in a huge amount of pain. Thankfully after some VERY cold ice water and some Tylenol it went down and the pain eased enough so I could go to work. At work I continued with ice water and ice chunks and I was fine. Still swollen and painful but still able to carry on my work.
Day 7... Yes I mean day 7, still swollen and white stuff on the bottom of my tongue had started to form. This worried me, I read over and over again that after 3-4 days swelling was gone completely. So I got on the internet to find answers. I found that my piercing lady didn't give me proper care advice. All she told me to do was swish with Listerine after eating. I was never told about Sea Salt or Biotene. So, I began the correct care with hope.
Day 14.... yeppers.... Day 14 still swollen and still painful, although the white puss was all cleared up. And I did forget to mention that my piercing was extremely crooked! I was very unhappy with my tongue and I had my anti-piercing man saying "I told you so"
Day 15, I went to another shop to get advice. The guy told me he wouldn't even show anyone my piercing, that it was off center and still swollen. He suggested taking it out and getting it redone or getting a second piercing to make it look like a V kind of deal. Considering how much pain I was in, getting another one was out of the question so.... Out it came. This broke my heart... my mouth felt empty, and I felt like a part of me was gone. But, the pain and swelling went away in two days..
A month later.... I was on my way to Tom Spaulding's Tattoo to get my tongue pierced again, and the correct way this time. I was told by tons of people that Tom was the best.... And After dealing with Tom Spaulding's piercing guy (Named Gene) I agree... they are the very best! After ID was checked and papers signed I went into the piercing room, my man wasn't allowed in with me this time, rules are rules. Piercing was explained and I explained my nightmare with the first one.... And he guaranteed me if he couldn't do it the best way and correctly that he would get Tom Spaulding himself to do it. I felt confident that someday I would be happy with my piercing!
OK... in the piercing room Gene prepared and looked at my tongue, not once, over and over again. He clamped, unclamped.... Clamped, marked (which was the smallest little blue dot I could have imagined) and clamped.... This was so painful, but at least I knew it would be done the right way so I shut my eyes and let him continue. About 5 minutes later, after looking and clamping, and looking he was finally ready to pierce. He told me how he was going to pierce and why. He went from the bottom up, which was different from the first time, there was no flipping my tongue over, just up and then it was done. I was so afraid to look but he put a mirror in front of me and had me stick my tongue out. YAY! It was perfect! He asked me if I was happy and I almost kissed him with happiness!
Within one week there was no swelling and no pain at all! And its in the middle and it is straight! I still have to stop at the shop and thank him for doing such a great job!
Moral of my story, shop around and know what to expect and what SHOULD happen! I went threw so much extra pain that wasn't needed, so please piercing addicts, shop shop shop! And if your in Albany NY go to Tom Spaulding's Tattoo on Western ave or Central Ave! And of course, ask for Gene!
And one more thing, I am a pro at sticking my tongue out since my perfect piercing!