Okay, so awhile back I wrote an experience about stretching my septum from 14g to 10g entitled "Those tribal septums rock". I said that I was excitedly awaiting a 6g pyrex non-flared plug for my next stretch (from 8g to 6g obviously).
At A Glance Author Jon P. Contact Jon P.@bme.anon IAM original_sly When It just happened Artist self-stretched Studio at home Location Palmerston north WELL... I'm writing this experience having just downsized from 6g to 8g for the fourth time. Four times I've tried to stretch to 6g, four times I've had what looks to be an infection.
Let me give you a bit of background. After having an 8g septum for about four months I decided I'd like to stretch to 6g. I followed all the instructions: warm water soak and compress to loosen the tissue, an insertion taper lubed with antimicrobial solution, and a 6g stainless steel plug to follow the taper. I stretched nice and slow, listening to my body, letting it adjust to the stretch before slowly pushing more of the taper through. Surprisingly enough, the taper went in quite easy, I then followed it through with the plug. Nice. A simple and easy stretch.
This is where the problems start...
For about a day or so, my nose always feels good, a little tingly, but good. I give it a sea-salt water soak the next day, and then apply some antimicrobial solution to make sure it stays clean. Day 2 sees my septum feeling a little bit sorer, nothing I can't handle though. By about Day 3 or 4 the pain has gotten to a worrying point where I think something might be wrong with the stretch. Day 5 is where the pain has got me convinced something is wrong, so I removed the plug and usually find that it is covered in a dark green mucus (not snot) mixed with blood. At this point, with my nose feeling sore to the touch, so much so my eyes water, I downsize to 8g and begin the process of healing my septum all over again.
It's over a year since that first stretch and I've tried stretching three more times, every three or four months. Each and every time the stretch goes exactly the same. I even tried stretching with Teflon tape, going nice and slow, but wrapping a 3/8" CBR isn't the easiest task, AND it basically gets stuck in my septum even if I lube it up. Not very comfortable at all.
This last stretch, Stretch #4, was the easiest stretch of all. I had naturally loosened my septum by constantly playing with the 8g CBR, so that when I pulled down on the ring and looked at my septum, I could see a space above the ring where light would shine through. I did the exact same method as I always have, and the taper basically went in without any stretch.
But to my surprise, the course of events went pretty much the same as always, ending with an infected looking septum and a down size back to 8g.
Now, I don't understand. Not one bit. I removed the plug at about Day 3 to check that my septum was all nice, and there was no inkling of an infection, no blood, and the skin inside my septum wasn't broken or torn or anything. I applied some antimicrobial solution and slowly put the plug back in, which slid back into place perfectly fine, the hole hadn't shrunk one bit whilst the plug was out.
Day 4 came along with pain. Day 5 presented itself with too much pain and an infected looking septum EVEN THOUGH I cleansed it daily and applied bacteria killing antimicrobial solution to keep it clean. I even thoroughly scrubbed my hands with the solution to clean them of any mean lil bugs. So I made the decision to down size back to 8g, even though the CBR was very loose when inserted back into my septum.
I have two theories on why my stretches don't work.
#1: I've got some bugs living in my nose with super-bug strength and antimicrobial resistant powers. They laugh at my efforts to keep my septum clean, mocking me and saying, "Pitiful human, why do you insist on playing these games with us? You are no match for our single celled fury!" Either that or the microbial solution I am using is completely USELESS!
#2: Although there is a yucky discharge and blood, it's not actually infected but an allergic reaction to the steel, one which only presents itself when I'm stretching. It's a reaction that doesn't flare up until I've irritated my nose by stretching my septum.
I know this sounds all very sad, but I do have a plan of attack for my next stretch in a few months. And I will be equipped for combat... ya damn skippy I will!
I am going to be purchasing an Industrial Strength premium grade steel taper with a concave end, this way the transition from taper to plug will be seamless. This will eliminate any chance of irritation due to the transition. I am also going to switch my initial jewelry to titanium, which will be lighter and less likely to cause an allergic reaction IF that is what is happening. Thirdly, I am going to make offerings to every deity I have ever heard about in my Religious Studies and Anthropology papers. These offerings will have to be made about a month in advance since I've heard of and studied so many I will have to make about a months worth of offerings to appease them all. So many gods, one of them has to be right, maybe?
Sounds like a plan, huh? Here's hoping it all works. If it doesn't, I'll no doubt be writing another of these experiences for all of you to read.