Well, I have been obsessing and reading experiences and looking through the archives of BME since I was 13. I at first thought that it was a weird and random thing to do when I was bored. Then it became kind of a goal; piercing something went to the top of my long-term To Do List. I wasn't going to get it done underage piercing because it seems that all the cleanly professional shops require 18. So I waited (and looked at pictures).
At A Glance Author Matt S Contact Matt S@bme.anon When N/A Artist Chris Studio Atomic Tattoo Location Baton Rouge, LA So now I'm 18. I considered Venoms, but decided they weren't for a virgin like me. So I settled for a center tongue piercing (which I had sworn was dumb and overly popular not long before). But I thought to myself, "How can I makemine different than all the other "cool popular" people?" So I decided to get pierced at 12 gauge instead of 14. The question of location and legality had been solved. Now for location.
So I decided on Rings of Desire. Unfortunately, it is too far of a drive. So I settle for Atomic Tattoo, located conveniently across the street from my apartment complex. After gorging myself on Chinese food as a "last comfortable meal for a long time," I walk in (it's conveniently next door to the Chinese place). I look at tattoos for a while, then work up the courage to talk to the intimidating super-pierced guy behind the counter.
I told Chris (piercer) what I wanted and he gave me the paperwork to fill out and the common-sense aftercare instructions. He told me that 12 gauge is actually a lot more comfortable than the standard 14. I nervously waited for the autoclave to finish sterilizing my barbell. As my girlfriend was rushing across the parking lot to stop me, I did it.
I walked back and sat on the same bed-like thingy that they have at the doctors office. He made me gargle the horrible bad nasty-funk green Listerine (he gave me too much in the cup so it went everywhere). He told me to stick my tongue out as far as it would go, marked my tongue with a toothpick with ink on the end (He didn't ask about placement, a definite reason not to get a tip). He put the clamps on, still being sort of quiet, which made me nervous. He told me to close my eyes then WHAM! The needle went through. Wholly Molly, what a rush. I was kind of light-headed as he pushed the barbell through (super weird feeling), but I was trying to Act tough. I looked down to see that blood had squirted (along with drool) all over my new white shirt (very attractive). I paid him and hurried out with my angry girlfriend across the street to the pharmacy for Biotene mouthwash.
So it has been two days. I gargle and swish Biotene almost constantly. I try to play with it minimally, but it is really really hard (like sitting a new toy in the middle of a kid's room and expecting him not to play with it.) Ice cream and Sonic Blasts are great. Chicken is bad, and so is rice, biscuits, long noodles, and french fries (salty or spicy things are nightmarish). Mashed potatoes, yogurt, ice cream, Icees, ice chips, and Ibuprofen are all on the A-Okay List. My tongue is swollen seriously. I have trouble with the letters C, S, X, H, Z, ST, SH, KS (You get the picture).
I told my mother, just in passing, "I got my tongue pierced." She replied with "You WHAT?! You're kidding me, right? You aren't serious, are you? Why would you do that? Oh my goodness." And so on and so forth. I didn't tell my dad yet, because last time I asked about it he said, "Anything you pierce I will cut off." My girlfriend loves it and thinks it is sexy. She keeps wanting me to kiss her, but that is a definite tongue piercing hygiene No (so I only kissed her once or twice). All my friends and roommates make fun of my newfound speech impediment. I am learning to be much better at half-ass sign language and angry looks. The hardest part is going to the grocery store and looking at all the wonderful foods that you can't eat.
I accidentally played with it in public. An old guy gave me a What the Hell look, two girls seemed interested as they passed by, and two people in line immediately asked me about how much it hurt and why I did it.
Even after all that, it was worth it. I think it is only the first of at least a few. If you are considering, go for it. Don't just sit there reading experiences and wondering What If. The pain is worth it (as long as you like yogurt and mashed potatoes and hate the letters S and Z)