2 weeks before the piercing. (August 26th 2003)
At A Glance Author Mina Contact Mina@bme.anon IAM mina When A month ago Artist Gizzi Studio Coldsteel Location London I was roaming around BME and IAM one day, and I realised that I hadn't been pierced for nearly 4 months. I thought that I should have something pierced to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I had just come out of a bad relationship of two years, and was about to start university. There were so many piercings that I wanted, that I thought it was high time I made a decision of what to get next. I narrowed my choice down to either my rook, nostril or labret. How was I ever going to choose? After much debating, I decided against my nose and labret because I don't feel quite prepared for a facial piercing just yet. So that left my rook. Having made my decision, I searched around BME, for pictures and experiences to get a feel for what to expect regarding pain and what jewellery I should choose (bar or BCR; I've chosen a BCR, for the simple reason that, in my opinion, they're easier to clean).
I rang 'Coldsteel' to make an appointment. Although I had been to Coldsteel, I had never had any work done there before, but it's very well known as possibly THE best piercing studio in the whole of London. Anyone in London (and possibly in the surrounding area) that's 'into' body modification, has either had some work done at, or heard of Coldsteel. It's very respectable! I made my appointment and now I'm anxiously waiting for the date to arrive!
D-day (Saturday, September 6th 2003)
When I get pierced I always like to have someone with me. For my navel, tongue and tragus, my boyfriend had come with me. Now that we had broken up, I decided to ask one of my best friends, Carla, whom I've know for over 14 years, to come with me. She gladly agreed, but only because, in her words, she wanted to see me in pain (she can be an evil bitch sometimes).
I've been thinking a lot about the pain of a rook piercing. I read very few BME experiences that didn't mention pain. Oh well, that's not about to put me off!
So Carla and me made our 90-minute journey to coldsteel. Walking into the studio, my heart was already thumping. (Don't you just love that feeling??) I filled in the necessary paperwork, had my ID ready and chose the jewellery. Someone else was being pierced before me, so I had a bit of a wait, but when I finally was called in, I walked up the stairs and into THE room. The first thing I noticed about the room was how bright it was. The walls were plain magnolia, the floor was white and everything looked spotlessly clean. I jumped up onto the bed and while Gizzi (the piercer) set up, she chatted with me and Carla, about my previous modifications, university and what else we had planned for the weekend. We even got on to the topic of piercing apprenticeships (which I'm really desperate for), and she mentioned that Coldsteel are looking for an apprentice, but a male one. Oh well, my time will come. While she was talking, I was checking out her modifications, and I not iced she only had one visible one. A Maddona piercing on the left side of her lip, that suited her perfectly. Apart from that, I couldn't see any other piercings or tattoos. It didn't bother me, but I thought it odd. Any other piercers that I had met, were covered in both tattoos and piercings.
I digress. Gizzi then took me through everything she was going to do. She cleaned my ear, and marked the spot, using a single use pen, and after changing gloves several times, she asked me to lay down with my head on the side. She said to me "okay, I'm just putting a receiving tube under your ear, I'm not piercing it just yet". Then came the words when you know it's about to happen: "take a deep breath in aaand....breathe out". Before I knew it, the needle was through. It was an odd feeling. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, and yet it was if I could feel the needle going through every layer of flesh and cartilage. I'm sure she didn't even use any clamps. "Okay, I'm just putting the jewellery in". This is almost always the worst part of any piercing. The tugging and squeezing and pushing, just plain hurts, and I'm not going to lie: I cursed and squirmed a bit (okay, okay I admit it..... I cursed and squirmed a lot) "is it over?" I asked. "Yep, it's all ov er".
I was quite comfortable where I was, and so while Gizzi detailed the aftercare to me, I just happily remained lying where I was. She told me the usual routine (2 salt soaks a day of 1/4 tsp. to 8 fl oz of boiled cooled water). She also suggested buying some of their benzalkonium chloride. I brought it, but I doubt I'll use it. I don't use anything other than salt soaks on my piercings, and they've all been okay so far, so why change it now? I left a very happy customer. I wanted to give her a tip, but I didn't have much money left, so I couldn't. I definitely plan on going back to coldsteel for the rest of my piercings, so I'm sure I'll see her again, and I can tip her for it then.
It's been just over 6 hours since the piercing now, and it still feels ok. However, I haven't cleaned it yet, or slept on it accidentally yet (you know how sleeping on a cartilage piercing can hurt like a bitch, so don't pretend you don't), so I'll see how it feels in the morning.
Second day after piercing (Monday, September 8th 2003)
I've cleaned my rook quite a few times so far, and I've found it really difficult. I don't know whether it's because it's still tender, because I'm used to cleaning my tragus (my tragus is on my right, rook is on my left) or it's difficult to see. It's hard to get to the exit and entry holes. I had to use a second mirror to see what I was doing and as well as using cotton wool, I had to use q-tips to get right to the holes. I'm hoping that will get better as time goes on. After I cleaned it on the first night, it throbbed a little and so I took two ibuprofen tablets and went to bed. Apart from that I haven't had any problems. It's not sore and it doesn't look or feel swollen, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will continue this way.
Third day after piercing (Tuesday, September 9th 2003)
Everything is still okay. It doesn't even look swollen. Looks, however, can be deceiving! Cleaning is getting easier. As it's not so tender, I'm more willing to try and move it to get to the holes. Accidentally turned over and slept on it last night. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt but soon as I realised what I was doing, I turned back over. It doesn't look like it caused any trauma to the piercing.
It's not secreting any lymph at the moment. But I'm not particularly worried. I remember that happening with my tragus.
I'm already contemplating my next piercing. My smiley, tongue web or my nose? Whichever I choose, I'll probably get it in a few months, hopefully just before Christmas
Fourth day after piercing (Wednesday, September 10th 2003)
I spoke too soon! My rook is hurting like a bitch today. It's very red, very swollen and very VERY sore! My god, I can feel the throbbing!! I still consider myself lucky, though. The throbbing is no way as bad as when I had my tongue pierced, and it's no where near as swollen as my tragus was when it was a few days old. I've taken some ibuprofen tablets and so far it's not done much good. I'm hoping my salt soak tonight might help. I don't want to do one now, because I only do two a day-I personally think more than that is too much. I don't remember knocking it or anything like that so I don't know what's caused it. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it gets better and it's not infected.
Fifth day after piercing (Thursday, September 11th 2003)
It's even worse today. I suppose it has to get worse before it gets better, though. The constant throbbing is giving me a headache, so I'm trying to take as many ibuprofen tablets as possible without OD-ing on them. Ice packs aren't really helping much with the swelling, but it's not the swelling that gets on my nerves, it's the pain. Cleaning is getting even harder because of the swelling and the tenderness. I had to have my hair cut today, and although I had warned the hairdresser to be careful, she did knock it a few times, which probably hasn't done it any favours. She could hardly avoid hitting it though, it's so hugely swollen, so I don't really blame her.
Sixth day after piercing (Friday, September 12th 2003)
I think it's getting better. I can't really tell, though because I'm drugged up to the eyeballs on ibuprofen. It says in the leaflet to take 2 tablets every four hours, which I'm doing regardless of whether it hurts or not. I'm not giving it the chance to start hurting. It still looks as swollen as it's been for the last few days. In comparison to my right ear, my left ear looks like a piece of meat glued to the side of my head. It's so fat! I hope it calms down by Tuesday because I don't want to go to university on my first day with a fat head, looking like I've gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson!
One week after piercing (Sunday, September 13th 2003)
Pain and swelling is going down. Finally. Cleaning is therefore getting easier and it turns now, which means I can really give the piercing a good scrub, making sure the salt water gets right into the piercing. I think I've taken too many ibuprofen over the last 24 hours. I was reading the leaflet in the pack of tablets, which said to only take 6 in 24 hours. When I calculated how many I had taken, I was shocked to discover I had taken 11!! Note to self: be careful! It didn't help that I had to take one in the middle of the night. The pain was so bad that it woke me up and kept me tossing and turning. Thank god that it's getting better.
Two weeks after piercing (Sunday, September 21st 2003)
The worst of the swelling is definitely gone now, it's just a bit tender around the immediate area, which means I'm still slightly apprehensive to be rougher with it during cleaning. I'm trying to be really good. I'm not touching it, picking it or sleeping on it. I'm just letting it get on with it's own thing. The only problem is that my daith keeps on itching, which I can't get to without knocking my rook, so that's really uncomfortable. Apart from that, it's all going well.
One month after piercing (Monday, October 6th 2003)
Everything is swell now with the piercing. It's not sore, the cleaning is going great. In fact, most of the time I don't even realise it's there.
If you're thinking about getting this piercing (and you obviously are, 'cos you're reading my story), then I'd say go for it. It can, however, be a tough piercing as far as cartilage piercings go, and they're pretty tough anyway. The actual piercing doesn't hurt but the few days afterwards can be very uncomfortable to contend with. Overall though, I couldn't be happier with my rook. And I would certainly recommend Coldsteel to anyone! Good luck and happy piercing x