At A Glance Author Seth Contact Seth@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Tattooed guy Studio Nomad's Location Bend, Oregon Ok, so here's my experience with tongue piercing...
I had wanted to get my tongue pierced for so long...probably about 3 years. The thing is, my mom has something against tongue piercings. I have had eight other piercings (including my lip), but the tongue, for one reason or another, was off limits.
The reason she gave to me was that it would probably get infected, and if it did...(insert stupid motherly reason here).
Finally, I decided that I would just get my nose pierced instead. Well, again with the odd reasoning, she thought that nose rings were just too "feminine," so she said that she would rather I get my tongue pierced than my nose...I immediately took advantage of the situation, and within the day, I had convinced her into taking me to get my tongue pierced.
So off we go...our primary destination was supposed to be this place called "Acro Deco," but when we got there, it appeared to be closed...I was fuming! I didn't want to wait anymore! I had to get it that day!
So we looked in the Bend phone book, and found a very professional looking place called "Nomad's" (I had forgotten that my friend had gone there to get her belly button pierced, and said they were good).
So off we go again! When we found our way there, they were pretty close to closing. When we walked in, I got a really good feeling from the place. You know, one of those homey vibes, where it just feels right.
We get to the counter, and I told the guy I wanted my tongue pierced...forked over my $60, had my mom sign the papers, and all that other stuff...he had to call the piercer in, because he was out, but within ten minutes, I was sitting on the bench waiting to be pierced.
He started giving me the rundown about the aftercare what he was going to do while he got out the needle. I wasn't all that nervous, because I've been through a lot of piercings already. I got my little dixie cup of listerine, which I proceeded to swish around in my mouth, and spit back out.
I stuck out my tongue, and got clamped, all while the guy was still chatting to me. He was really good at distracting you away from the fact that you were about to get pierced. He didn't mark me or anything like that, he just eyeballed it I guess. And while he was in the middle of talking to me, all of sudden my tongue was getting pierced, and within 10 seconds, it was over and done with. Seriously, I don't even remember that much pain. Compared to getting your cartilage pierced, this was no biggie at all. A little bit of pressure, but he was so fast about it that there was little to no discomfort or pain. Two thumbs up! He told me that I could come back in a week and get it changed out to something smaller...for free might I add! Not to shabby at all...
When I got back out to the counter (my mom didn't watch :D), we talked for a little bit...the guy behind the counter, when we mentioned Acro Deco, told us that the place was really filthy and they used bad jewelry....icky! I'm so lucky I didn't get infected when I got pierced there! So, FYI: don't go to Acro Deco if you're ever in Bend, Oregon...go to Nomad's! They've actually pierced famous people...you know that chick from TV's "Judging Amy?" They did her nose ;) Even through they are a little pricy, they know what they are doing, they're really nice, and clean, and very professional.
Well, when that was all over and done with, we still had some stuff to do, so we were around town...it was really sore. I couldn't talk to much, mostly because when I moved my tongue, it sort of felt like my tongue was ripping where the barbell was...hmmm....
I got an Orange Julius to try to sooth my poor tongue, and I started sucking through the straw like normal...NOT A GOOD IDEA! Man that was some intense pain....no straws right after you get your tongue done.
I couldn't eat anything the day I got it done, and the pain was pretty intense when I got home...I do not recommend letting your mouth dry out. Always be drinking cold water or something to sooth your tongue and keep the piercing calm.
It's been about 4 days since I got it done, and for the first 2 I could only eat soup and ice cream. Now I've gotten used to eating solid food if I eat small pieces and don't use my tongue too much...turning it certain angles and using it in certain ways still causes some "tearing" sensations, but for the most part, it feels pretty good as long as I leave it alone.
I can't really talk all that well still...but I figure when I get it changed out to something smaller, it will be much easier to talk and eat, because the barbell won't be getting in the way as much.
Suggestions:
take ibprofun religiously to keep the swelling down (every 8 hours or so) suck on lot's of ice, or drink iced water don't try to eat solid food too soon, or you'll just make your tongue bitchy at you When I started to get brave enough to look in the mirror and examine the piercing, I noticed that it was slightly crooked on the bottom (meaning that it was slanted away from the top hole; the top hole is dead center in the middle of my tongue). I figure this is probably to avoid hitting my tongue web, which I'm very thankful for. I guess it is pierced pretty far back, but I would rather have that, so that it doesn't hit my teeth as much.
All in all I would say that I am satisfied with my tongue piercing. It may be a little hard to acommodate for, but once I get it changed out, all of the things that bug me should be better.