A year and some change ago, my younger sister - then aged 18 - asked me to pay for her to get her tongue pierced in lieu of a more traditional present. I must admit, I flipped my lid. Not even having been influenced by any negative media, religion, or anyone else's experience, I read her the riot act.
At A Glance Author Threed Contact Threed@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Lisa? Studio ACME Location Cincinnati The core of my argument was perfectly logical in my mind. If a piece of metal goes through something as well-innervated as a tongue, it stands to reason that some of those nerves could get clipped and there could be a loss of function. In addition, I'd had my ear done on a whim many years ago and soon took it out because it constantly itched. I didn't want her to do something regrettable at such a young age. "It's probably cool as hell, but it seems too dangerous!"
She later got her eyebrow done and was happy with it for a while. I didn't give her any grief over it because it was small and in an apparently less dangerous location.
..Some time passes...
Three weeks ago, for some unknown reason, my mind wandered onto tongue piercings. My older brother had one, his girl's had her's for years. I have a friend or two who've had it done as well. So I started researching. Google led to R.A.B, and then to BME.
Here's a wellspring of information I can sink my teeth into! I read everything. I checked out the pictures. I read the stories. The more I looked, the more my thoughts turned from "this isn't so bad" to "I think I want one myself!" Nerve damage? Geez, how'd I come up with that BS? It turns out, it's just like anything else. You do your research, you learn the right way around any potential problems, make up your mind, and just do it!
After about a week of this, I mentioned it to some friends. Opinions were mixed. All those who actually had one said, "Go for it!" Others said "Gay!" My older brother, especially, detested the idea. His had been a painful experience that culminated in a cracked tooth before he took it out. His girl recommended ACME.
So I called up my sister to apologize for all the crap I'd given her a year ago. She said she knew I'd come around. I offered to take her to the place, and we could both get our tongues pierced at the same time. "But you're going first!"
This plan would have worked, except she had to go in for some minor surgery in a month. She was afraid she'd have to take it out and it might close up, which would be a big waste. I had no idea about the change of plans though, so I started lining everything up. I requested a week off of work (so no one would have to hear me lisp and complain about not being able to eat).
The appointed night came and I stopped over to pick her up. She wasn't there. I checked with my younger brother (yes, I have three siblings), but he didn't want to go. I tried a friend around the corner, not home. I didn't want to go alone, but I wasn't going to give up on my plan for lack of company!
On the drive to the place, the thought kept circling... "I'm driving to the place, I guess I'm actually going to go through with it!" ... "I'm on the highway, I'm really going to do this!" ... "I'm actually in the door, there's no way I'm backing out now!"
So then I'm in the chair, nervous as hell. The young lady piercer is speaking calmly, informing me of all kinds of things I'll need to know. Half of my mind is an anxious mess, the other half is totally aware that she's speaking slowly and hypnotically to calm me down.
I sank into myself and forget everything I'd read. Imagine this: I knew all the safety precautions that should be taken. I knew about the mouthwash, the marking, and the clamps... But it was all gone. They could have used a rusty fork and I wouldn't have known better. Fortunately, the recommendation was spot on - the first thing she did was to change gloves. She actually did that a couple times.
During the "any questions" phase, I told her how I'm something of a perfectionist. Like, say, a little obsessive-compulsive about things being well centered, squared, and lined up properly. I figured if this tongue thing can't be done perfectly on the line, I'd just give it a miss. She agreed and the procedure began.
She dried off my tongue, marked it, and then did this weird tongue massage. She rolled and pinched my tongue in her fingers, to separate the muscles she said. She clamps me, then it's breath in and out twice, and the pierce will be on the second breath out.
I don't recall any pain at all. I know it stung a little, just a little, but it didn't really hurt. It was just weird. I panicked a bit, thinking there was blood where there was none. Thinking I couldn't swallow, when all I needed to do was calm down.
After I'd paid and tipped, there was some confusion. I'd already got my change back, but my brain was totally scrambled. I stood there for a couple minutes, thinking they were entering me into their computer or something. I finally asked, and they told me I'd already got my change. I reach in my pocket and sure enough there it is! "It's ok, you just have a post-piercing buzz. Enjoy it!"
Over the next couple of days, I subsisted on applesauce and soup. By day four, I was eating french fries. After that, I graduated to baked salmon - manna from heaven after a fast! The swelling, what little there was, went down fast.
Now, it's been two weeks and I really love it. I haven't followed the aftercare to the letter (which will probably cost me in terms of healing time - follow your aftercare instructions!), but I've had absolutely zero problems so far. I attribute the care free nature of this piercing to the piercer's skill. I can't find anything to complain about, it's just perfect!