I didn't realize that I took eating regular food in a regular way for granted until today. At one in the morning last Thursday, I figured that I would be much improved with a center tongue piercing. Certainly, I was right, which I am definately happy about.
At A Glance Author thepiercedbird Contact thepiercedbird@yahoo.com IAM thepiercedbird When It just happened Artist Self Studio Dorm room Location Emporia, KS At the moment, I am home to twelve piercings (4 inner labia, septum, tongue, lobes x 5, conch), 4 tattoos (entire left side, partial right side, upper back, and lower back), and a scarification (right upper thigh). Of those, the inner labia were self-done, as well as the tongue, of which you will read below.
For a while now, I'd sworn to never pierce my tongue, although I'm now not sure why I'd said that. I never had a vendetta against it, nor had I any qualms about the pain or anything else. On that particular night, I figured that I could always try it, and if I didn't like it, is was as simple as the turn of a wrist to remove it.
Rewind. Thursday, one AM. I finish a paper, and stare at the computer screen. BMEzine offers me entertainment, and of course, an idea. Digging into my box of jewelry and piercing supplies, I emerge with a sterile, packaged needle, pair of fresh gloves, isopropyl alcohol, marking pen, and a set of clamps. Sitting myself down in front of the mirror in my dorm room, I check for veins, check for placement, and place the clamps on my tongue.
As a side note, I offer this- if you plan on piercing yourself in any way, make sure to NOT tighten your grip on the clamps. That will, in turn, cause a slight amount of pain. When I began to pick up the barbell to put it into the piercing, I did tighten my grip far too hard on the clamps, That seems to have caused me the most amount of soreness, since it wasn't the piercing site, but rather the area surrounding it.
Picking up my needle, and centering it directly over my clamped tongue, I inhale, and exhale as I push the needle through. I'd heard that it wasn't too painful of a procedure, and apparantly, I'd heard correctly. There was no popping noise, no stopping at some layer of skin at the bottom (I pierced top-down), no shaking or anything else annoying or cumbersome. In fact, it went far faster and far easier than the short-lived vertical labret that I had a month or so ago. I stopped with the needle in my tongue, and looked in the mirror. Imagine- a girl, in a dorm room, with clamps on her tongue and a needle in her mouth. Quite a sight, and I might have giggled a bit. Needle through, and a cork on the tip of the needle, I pick up the barbell and exchange the needle for the barbell.
Amidst the drool and bit of blood, I was happy. Actually, since the piercing is technically done between two pieces of muscle, it is a relatively painless piercing to be done. Granted, healing it can be a bit of a bother, especially when eating and confining yourself to not drinking, for the overall health of the new piercing.
Today is Sunday, and the barbell that I had originally put into the piercing to allow for swelling is feeling a bit long. While I know that three days into it isn't near enough time to think about changing out the jewelry, it's nice to see (and feel) the swelling go down a bit. Aftercare is typical APP recommended, sea salt solution swish after drinking, eating, and smoking. In about 8 days, I'll see if the piercing seems healed enough to change into a shorter barbell, and carefully make the exchange if the time is right.
Brushing teeth is interesting, and I tend to make sure that I am fully awake before I attempt it. My boyfriend told me that he bit his many times (which was very painful) while he was healing his...I'm trying not to, but I've come close a few times. Ice chips are wonderful, as is ice water. Food isn't that difficult today, the Sunday after. I've been able to eat pasta since day one, and today I had Skittles and chicken nuggets...albeit slowly, I still ate them, and they were wonderful after pasta for a few days. Ice cream is also fun, although I find it easier to use a fork than I do a spoon. Just something to get used to.
I suppose I should make the standard disclaimer of "don't pierce yourself", but I'm aware that it's a much-ignored admonition. After all, I obviously ignored it, and went on to write about it. So I say to you, good luck, and when in doubt, ask.