At the time of my first piercing, I had just turned 20 years old. My nipples had always been very erotically sensitive. Starting in my teens, I experienced an almost constant longing to have my nipples pierced. My boyfriend at the time told me, "absolutely not". But as I approached my 21st birthday, I decided that I would celebrate by treating myself to a little badass-ness. I mentioned it to my present boyfriend and he wasn't at all too thrilled about the idea, being a very conservative guy. I ventured forth anyway and asked around about a good place for piercing. I don't even remember the name of it any more. I finally managed to procure the phone number and called to make an appointment. Needless to say, I was really geeked up on the way up there.
At A Glance Author anonymous Location Canada I had mentally prepared myself over the past couple days, so that I was in a semi trance-like state. Upon arrival, I parked the car, walked a few blocks and found the building, almost as if I knew where it was. It was a combination tattoo and piercing shoppe. A very nice young lady, who reminded me of a slightly thinner Mamma Cass, had me fill out the usual paperwork and tried to make me at ease. Apparently she did all the piercing work and her husband did the tattoos. She showed me the sterile needles and jewelry and the place seemed to be clean and orderly.
She had me take off my shirt and slip down my bra and stand while she clamped and marked each nipple. The clamps were just a little uncomfortable. She showed me the stainless steel, number 14 rings and I commented as to how they seemed overly large in diameter. She assured me that she used large rings because it was the proper way to do it. We agreed that she start with the left nipple. I took a couple of deep breaths and on the third exhale she plunged the needle through my left nipple. It's a good thing I was in a bit of a daze, or I would have passed out from the pain. It was over in a second and I only felt a light discomfort when she passed the jewelry through. I opened my eyes and looked at the piercing and I was delighted. She asked if I wanted her to stop. I said, "Hell no, go for it!!". I had been waiting half my life for this moment and I was not only savoring it, but I wouldn't turn back for anything. I breathed again and she plunged the needle through the right nipple. It felt like somebody had hit me with a car. It was even more painful than the first one. But once again though, it only lasted for a second. I opened my eyes and voila, it was done
I rubbed them gently a couple times and they felt fantastic.
I put my shirt and bra on, paid her, gave her a hug and thanks, grabbed my aftercare stuff and headed for home. When I got to the car, I sat for a few moments, trying to recover from the endorphin rush. My nipples didn't hurt and there hadn't been any blood. They did have an unusual "tight" feel to them, but that was it. I rubbed them gently a couple times and they felt fantastic.
Over the aftercare period, I kept them clean with anti-bacterial liquid soap and really had no problems with them. I did go swimming in the ocean a year later and one nipple got slightly infected, but a little neosporin worked into it for a couple days took care of the problem. I must remind people that in many cases, piercings can take up to two years OR longer to fully heal, as did my nipples AND naval. Unless you're sure your piercing is fully healed, be careful about where you bathe or swim. Pools, oceans and lakes are loaded with nasty little bacteria.
Now, my story is not quite finished yet. Despite the fact that the piercings were not quite straight and not perfect, I was still very happy with them. After a couple years I started to stop in at piercing shops in my travels, to see if I could find somebody that would up-gauge the rings for me. I was astonished at how many shops turned me away because they didn't have the proper jewelry. I finally wound up going to a place. They didn't have the proper jewelry either, but they ordered what I needed and I made an appointment to come back. They looked at the large rings I presently had and couldn't believe anyone had installed them on me. They said, "Those are for women". Well, I was back in a few days to get my 12 gauge CBRs installed and in a few months, back again to get 10 gauge CBRs. Shortly after that I had them give me a naval piercing and immediately install a matching 10 gauge CBR. To my surprise, the naval piercing did not hurt at all. My boyfriend has finally accepted my strange addiction to stainless steel, so all's well. The biggest problem I've had to wrestle with is being in a swimsuit on the beach. At first I had a real hard time with it, but after a period of mental adjustment, I just ignore the gawkers. At this point, I have no regrets about having my piercings.