Approximately three months ago, I was starting to yearn for another piercing. I really enjoy looking at the pictures on BME, and trying to decide what I want to do, and what I could get away with it at work (most of the stuff you can see easily I probably can't). I decided that I'd like to get my nipples pierced. No one would know, and I'm sure my husband wouldn't mind.
At A Glance Author Maladjusted Contact Maladjusted@bme.anon IAM Maladjusted When Three months ago Location Central Illinois Now, when I decide on a new piercing or tattoo, the thought completely absorbs me until it is done. I spend hours reading up on BME experiences of it, and looking at pictures, and reading the FAQs, etc. This was no different. By the time I went to the shop (I have gotten all my piercings and tattoo work done by the same shop and I'm very happy with their work on all fronts), I had a fairly good grip on what I was in for.
I called up my husband at work the morning I decided "this was the day". I told him I wanted to get my nipples pierced that day (we had talked about it already) and that I would treat him to getting his done if he would drive for me (I get such an adrenaline rush from tats and piercing that I really don't like driving with it; I'd rather sit back and enjoy). Now, aside from standard gunned ears from when he was younger, my husband has no other piercings and I figured he would say no way, but to my surprise, he was game.
We called up the shop and got pricing information so that I could stop by the ATM on the way for the cash we needed, and set an appointment with the piercer for that afternoon. I didn't really want to return to work after, so I made it for about an hour before I usually get off (I work conveniently close to the shop, just a few blocks away, and much of my work I've had done has been over my lunch hour or right after work).
The appointment time finally came around and I was excited and a little nervous, but was totally prepared to go through with it. We got to the shop, and were greeted by the tattoo artist who has done our work, as he was working out front on someone. He called back to the piercer, who came out and asked if we were ready. We were.
We walked back to the piercing room, which is the back of the office space, fully enclosed, and closed the door. The piercer asked who was going first and I willingly volunteered so that I wouldn't have time to rethink it or back out. My shirt and bra came off, and I sat up on the dentist chair-like seat and leaned back and tried to relax.
The piercer set out all new equipment and jewelry, fresh out of the packages. I have never had a problem at this shop with the cleanliness and sterility. They are very professional. He marked my nipples using the purple pen, and I double checked the placement in the mirror. He told me that he goes as fast as possible, while taking time to make sure it's straight, between the two nipples, to minimize the time for pain, so if I needed a break between them, to let him know right away after the first one.
The clamps were then applied to one of my nipples (can't for the life of me remember which side) and we got everything together. I looked up at the ceiling, as I really wasn't sure I wanted to watch the needle sliding through. He asked if I was ready, I said yes, and bam, the needle was through. Ouch. This was definitely more painful than my tongue piercing (I knew it would be) but it was a short pain and once the CBR was slid in and closed with the ball, it faded a bit.
Time for the second nipple. There was no way I wasn't going through with it. I am really big on symmetry and having only one nipple pierced would have messed with my psyche. He asked if I needed a break, and I said no, just finish what we started. So we repeated the clamping, and poof, the second needle went in. This one hurt substantially more than the first. I had expected that from reading other people's experiences, but the difference still caught me a little off guard. The second CBR was in, and we were done.
I was given folded up paper towels to stick in my bra so that I wouldn't bleed through (I had worn a black shirt purposely just for this reason). I got off the chair, and checked out my piercings in the mirror. Very nice. I put on my bra with the towels, and my shirt, and waited while my husband got his nips done. The guys at the shop love to rag on him about being less pain-tolerant than I am (in fact, they say they know I LIKE the pain).
When we were both finished, we got the standard talk on aftercare, and the piercer said we were great customers, and gave me a handful of antibacterial wipe pads to use while I'm at work since I can't exactly whip it out in the bathroom and wash my breasts.
Healing has gone pretty well, with some ups and downs. My nipples didn't bleed after the first night, and I slept shirtless as usual with little discomfort, although I almost always sleep on my back anyways. They seem mostly fine, although they do still have off days, and tend to lymph on occasion still. The worst part right now is that they itch like mad sometimes, and just try scratching your boobs at work with no one noticing. I still wash them good each day in the shower, and haven't tried to change the CBRs just yet.
I believe I had a fairly standard nipple piercing experience, would do it again in a heartbeat, and am always grateful for having a piercer and tattoo artist who I totally trust.