It was my best friend, Christy's, idea and I have to say I was completely 100% against it...until I did a feature article for the newspaper I was working for on tongue piercing/body piercing. Then I was kind of smitten. The feature was on Christy's daughter who wanted her tongue pierced. So, with camera in hand and notebook too, I tagged along. It was a great feature with great photographs.
At A Glance Author mcclarsen Contact mcclarsen@bme.anon When Three months ago Artist Dan at Hemp2000 in Cranbrook, BC Studio Hemp2000 Location Cranbrook Shortly after that, Christy and I decided to get our tongues pierced together because I was moving across the province and this was one last wild and crazy thing for the two of us to take on. At 30 years old, some people thought we were crazy and trying to "recapture our youth" or whatever, but that wasn't it at all. We figured it was very "us" and so we acted on it.
We left early from work one day and drove the hour to the studio -- Hemp2000 in Cranbrook, B,C. Both of us were very nervous, but Dan (who did my VCH and my nose) is my regular piercer and the one person I felt most comfortable with sticking a needle through another part of my body and as ususal, things were no different. We chatted and laughed and picked out our barbells. Christy ended up with a rainbow titanium and I, a purple. The atmosphere was very light and relaxed.
I thought I was gonna cheat and purchased a tube of ambesol prior to leaving - using almost the entire tube to numb my tongue on the way there. But by the time it was my turn, it had worn off and Dan told me to suck it up, so I just closed my eyes and sat on my hands hoping I wouldn't accidentally punch him. (You know it's funny...I have a huge phobia of needles and pain, but tattoos and piercings don't bug me...go figure...)
As I watched Christy hop up on the seat (we flipped a coin - she went first) I watched, mezmerized and unable to turn away. Dan dried her tongue, marked the spot, she okayed it and then STICK! In it went. There was no sound from her whatsoever. She turned and looked at me. I thought she was gonna say OW or scream or something, but instead she simply said, "That didn't hurt at all," she said. "Theriously." Dan laughingly told her to shut-up for a second, threaded the ball and she hopped down.
Hmm. Alright. Up on the table I go. I stick out my tongue and Dan grabs it with the clamp and dries it off. He marks, I approve and hold my breath. I close my eyes and just when I'm about to tell him to do it already, he says "Okay. Done." I have never experienced a piercing with so very little pain. The only thing I felt was a tiny pinch on the bottom of the tongue which I had attributed to the clamp. The only thing I can compare it to is like picking up a jug of milk, expecting it to be full and discovering it's almost empty and almost throwing it through the ceiling,
I rinsed, it stung a smidgeon, Dan gave us the lowdown on care and with a hug, we headed out. All the way home we were constantly sticking our tongues out and looking in the mirrors and laughing. We had done it! And we were very happy with the results. When we pulled into town we got changed and then headed out to the bar, where we met a bunch of our friends who didn't think we were gonna go through with it. Since then, two of them have also gotten their tongues pierced!
We had absolutely no swelling whatsoever and no problems. We were very diligent with rinsing and icing and I believe that made all the difference. I've only bitten it once and have since switched to plastic balls -- some with words on 'em -- hee hee!. My 12-year-old son thinks I'm crazy but now wants a labret piercing when he gets older. Who am I to say "no"?
It's been three months since the deed and there's been no problem.I'm constantly answering questions about it and I find myself playing with it a lot -- usually when I'm nervous or bored. My husband isn't too big on it, but he doesn't complain. Between the tattoos (two...a third coming) and the piercings, he just shakes his head and laughs. My dentist, on the other hand, hates it. But as long as I continue to use the plastic balls on the ends, he's accepted it.
It was piercing number six for me (ears, bellybutton, nose and clitoral hood) and I plan to get another next year -- my labret. And I'll definitely go back to Dan. And Christy will definitely come with me. :)