I've always been fascinated by piercings. Ever since I became good friends with a guy I worked with who had many piercings (tongue, labret, multiple ear, etc.) I've wanted to get one of my own. Unfortunately, be it because of nerves or other reasons I never went through with it.
At A Glance Author Arkady Contact Arkady@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Jason Studio Electric Crayon Location CDA, Idaho I'ld decided that I wanted to get my tongue pierced, first and foremost. Against that idea however, was my girlfriend at the time. And to be perfectly honest I didn't like the idea of not being able to kiss or do other more pleasant things for 4-6 weeks. However, fast forward a couple years, and a decision to call things off, and suddenly I'm single and those same excuses just don't work as well anymore.
I tell some of my coworkers that I want to get it done, and they almost unanimously suggest the place that is literally, RIGHT next door to where we work, the Electric Crayon. After hearing their experiences I decide to take it into consideration although I'm still partial to another place in town.
Well the big day comes along and I decided to go where I had originally planned, but when I walk in the door and inquire about a tongue piercing they inform the person who does all the piercings there doesn't come in until 5:30. Well that just wont do, I work exclusively nights beginning no later than 4:30, and I have no patience anymore. I swing by work to talk to my friends there, and they convince me to head on over to the Electric Crayon. Marlene, one of my friends there takes her break so she can come watch and offer me some support for my first piercing.
We walk in the door and I have to admit, after reading here I wasn't entirely sure this was the place I wanted to get my first piercing, but I started to look around more objectively at photos and the cleanliness levels and was put at ease. In the end the friendly atmosphere and very personable piercer Jason won me over.
I told them what I wanted and he disappeared to the back to get things ready. It took all of five minutes and he called me on back and had me sit down on something like a big padded table you'ld find in a doctors office. He put on a fresh pair of gloves, opened everything in front of me, and in general made me feel quite comfortable. He examined my tongue and was very satisfied by it's "piercablility", as I had no problems with veins or my web.
He quickly marked my tongue and pulled out the clamps and instructed me to push my tongue all the way out and grabbed a hold it. He decided he'ld have to do it a lil forward of the mark, which was perfectly fine with me. He said he was set and asked me to push my tongue out one last time. I had a hard time doing this, pushing my tongue out to let it get stabbed by a needle? What had it ever done to me? Finally I got it out and very quickly felt an odd poke on the top of my tongue and a popping sensation as it exited the bottom. The pain, surprisingly minimal, before I even had the time to think "Wait, what was that?" he had the barbell put in and screwed on nice and tight. He had me look in the mirror and I was very satisfied. He walked me out and went over the aftercare with me, advising me to use the diluted Listerine technique and to avoid alcohol and enjoy all the cold soft foods I wanted. I thanked him, payed him the meager twenty dollars and tipped him five for making my first experience very pleasant.
All was well for the first few days, not a whole lot of swelling, some general soreness of my tongue though. I did have an interesting experience while I was first admiring it in the mirror at work though. I stuck my tongue out a little too far and got the bottom of the barbell stuck in front of my bottom teeth. This HURT and my tongue was trying to withdraw to safety, and for the life of me I couldn't will it out so I could dislodge the barbell. I eventually flicked it out with my finger and felt like a dumbass. Besides that I don't think I could've asked for a smoother experience. I could speak normally for the most part although certain words would trip me up now and again, still do for that matter. I made sure to use my diluted Listerine solution after everything I ate or drank. On day three I decided to try some solid food, it was very slow going but oh so delicious. It was then I realized that it's definitely as easy as people say to mistake the barbell for food, as I either tried to scrape it off into my teeth, which hurt, or just ended up biting it, which also hurt. I'm getting better about it though.
I went in two days ago because I had a sneaking suspicion I may be having an allergic reaction to the jewelry (my tongue felt tingly and I had an angry red line right below my lower lip). After discussing it with Jason we determined it was very unlikely it was a reaction but for safety's sake we chose a titanium bar for my replacement, which I was delighted to here could be put in that day since I had no more swelling. It feels so much better with the new bar, mainly because of the size change. Turns out it wasn't an allergic reaction to the bar, but to some food I ate, so that was a massive relief.
So going on nine days now I'm absolutely in love with my tongue piercing. I used to be really bad about putting things in my mouth (pens, pencils, small pieces of plastic, nailbiting, etc.) but now I have a toy in my mouth 24/7 and it seems to have cured me for the most part of those habits. I can't wait to get my next piercing. With any luck as long as I find a place I'm sure uses the correct techniques and equipment it'll be my nape. And if you want to get a tongue piercing, by all means, it's super. Marlene wants me to go with her to get hers now too.