That Barbell is HUGE!

At A Glance Author SLH Contact SLH@bme.anon Artist Derek Studio Sadu Location Charlotte, NC

"I'm going to stop with my hood." For months while I searched for a new piercer to perfom a vertical hood piercing, I was certain that it would be my last piercing experience. Of course, I was wrong. Shortly after Derek did my vertical hood piercing, I found BME for the first time. I fell in love with several genital piercings I'd never even heard of, let alone considered, including the triangle and the Christina. Suddenly, the 14 ga CBR in my hood looked *very* lonely. So, about a month after getting my "final" piercing, I hurried back in to see Derek with several pictures of both the triangle and Christina piercings and said "Gimme!" Alas, Derek is not the type to provide instant gratification; despite my hopeful expression and use of repetitive "pretty pleases," I went home that day without any new holes. Of course, whiny posturing aside, I like his deliberate approach to piercing. He took the pictures and promised that we'd talk about the piercings again after he had done more research.

After a couple of weeks spent drooling over the "Other" section of BME's female genital pages, Derek and I decided to go ahead with the Christina piercing first. But, before the piercing could commence, he had to examine me to make sure I had an appropriate ridge to pierce through. I felt certain that I was suited for this piercing from my own thorough examinations, but I was still a bit anxious while he poked and prodded and measured. What if I was deemed un-Christina-worthy? If he said it wasn't meant to be, I think I would have cried. Luckily, though, he announced that I was well-suited for the Christina as well as several other genital piercing projects. Hurray for my genitalia!

We decided that for *my* Christina, the placement would go deeper than those in the downloaded pics, and instead of my usual stainless steel, he would use a barbell made of PTFE, something I was not completely familiar with. He assured me it was the most suitable material for this particular piercing because it was flexible and would move with my body, and it was autoclaveable. After this information session, we scheduled a time for the next day to do the procedure. I went home that night and tried to sleep normally, but I was too excited. I woke up on Piercing Day, a Monday, with the jitters. All morning I was downright giddy in anticipation. And believe me, for a Monday-grouch like me to be giddy takes something major. Finally, it's time.

After I get to Sadu, I have to wait for what seems like an eternity before Derek comes for me, "You ready, hon?" Several people in the waiting room ask me what I'm getting done, but nobody knows what a Christina is. When they ask for a description, I just grin. Finally, I get back into the piercing room, and of course, my excitement becomes fear. As Derek begins to prepare for the piercing, I see my jewelry over in the sterile field on the table. MY GOD! THAT BARBELL IS HUGE! Suddenly, the idea of a deeper placement doesn't sound nearly as good as it used to. Before I can wimp out, however, one of the junior piercers knocks and asks if she can come in and watch. I figure I'd be less likely to do anything wimpy if I had an audience, so I tell her to come on in.

While he cleans the area off, then measures and marks several times to get proper placement, Derek tells me to start my deep breathing pattern. I close my eyes and start to relax a bit, but as the clamps come on for the first time, I panic. He holds them there for a while, again going through with the breathing exercises, until I relax again. "Deep breath in - hold it - breathe out 3,2,1" and he pushes the needle through. Yes, it hurts, but it is not as intense a pain as I'd had with the vertical hood. Because there is so much flesh to pierce through, it takes longer (though just a matter of seconds) to get the needle through. I barely notice as he slides the jewelry in, but there is a slight tug as he removes the clamps. He gets the mirror for me to see my new addition, but I get light-headed when I start to sit up. After a few minutes of lying on the table listening to my heartbeat slow down to just slightly above normal, I prop myself up and admire Derek's handiwork. The bottom ball hides just above my hood, the top exits just below the center of my pubic mound. It's perfect!

Derek goes through aftercare instructions which include washing twice daily with antibacterial soap and avoiding contact with body fluids. I sit in the waiting room as my friend goes in to get her nipples pierced, relishing the endorphin rush and sticking out my chest proudly. Now, the healing begins. Despite its high rejection rate, I'm crossing my fingers that my Christina will last. And after this one is done, I'll remind Derek about my triangle...