The decision to get my venoms done was a relatively easy decision. Unlike my nipples or my triangle, it seemed like a logical way to fix my yearning for new metal. I knew I didn't want a standard, centered piercing because it really wasn't me (or at least that's what I convinced myself of). So a Friday night, not too long ago, during a drunken night of debauchery, a friend and I decided that I just needed to bite the bullet, as well as a chunk out of my checking account, and do it the next day after I got off work.
At A Glance Author RabidKitten Contact RabidKitten@bme.anon When A month ago Artist Monte Studio Body Mods Location Omaha, Nebraska And thus, it started.
The next day I confirmed that he had remembered the night before and we were, in fact, trekking up to Omaha to see Monte (yes, the fine, fine gent that answers your QOD questions). Got off work a bit late, and was met outside by not just my friend, but three other people as well. As usually, the drive up was entertaining, but the closer we got to Omaha, the more nervous I became. I hadn't eaten in about 36 hours, and even though I knew I probably should eat something (considering solids would be out of the question for a while) I couldn't because of the standard pre-piercing bubbling in my stomach. As we passed my favorite fast food chains, all I could think about were the pieces of metal that would soon be residing in the muscle tissue of my tongue.
We got into Body Mods with no one in front of us. Monte's standard greeting was reassuring with a "Hey! What are you guys in for today?" I told him and the look on his face was not one of reassurance. He explained to me that piercing the two at the same time, while it had it's pro's, had many cons as well. For instance, both would be difficult to heal at the same time as with many venom piercings, one piercing may have a tendency to irritate the other. Also, eating would be significantly more difficult because I would not have an open side to eat with. I debated with myself while he helped another client and finally decided to bite the barbell and go for both while I had the money and the metaphorical nuts to do so. He didn't argue, as he knew that the risks had been explained to me and I knew what I was doing. He prepped the needles, clamps, and jewelry for the piercing and then invited my friend and I into the piercing room where I took a seat in his chair.
After discussing his trip to APP convention and his new position on the Nebraska Health Board, we finally were ready to proceed. We started with the right side of my tongue. He explained to me that you can rarely get your venoms symmetrical as your tongue is actually just two independent muscles divided in the middle. He made his marks and finally put the clamp on. He asked me to hold the clamp as he moved around to my left side and got ready to pierce. I was at the point of no return, so my nerves had calmed and I was ready to go. I breathed in, then out and in slid the needle. The pain was not as severe as I've had, but wasn't a walk in the park, either. I did, however, let go of the clamp when the needle had finally passed through. "Don't let go of that," Monte warned. "Everyone always wants to let go of the clamp." He inserted the jewelry and moved the clamp. My tongue was throbbing and hot. Again, he had be stick out my tongue...only this time, I wasn't nearly as brave as the first. My tongue was shaking so badly that I actually had to pull it out of my mouth. He put the clamp on and asked me to hold it, again. I had to put extra tension on it this time to keep my tongue out of my mouth so he could get the piercing done. Breathing in and out and we were done. Jewelry in and all was well.
I could taste iron in my mouth as I walked out to show my friends who had been waiting patiently on the couch. They cringed and giggled nervously when they saw my tongue, which I thought was curious. I walked into the tattoo studio to look into the mirror and there was my poor, purple stained tongue, gouged with two pieces of steel and blood, lots of blood, coming out of them. I couldn't stick my tongue out far enough to see the bottoms.
I downsized (in length) my barbells within the week because healing was much harder with barbells cracking against my bottom front teeth every time I tried to speak. After three days of fasting, I finally moved onto soft, solid foods (more out of necessity than choice, as I almost passed out a few times), which was painful, but necessary. Now, a month later, they're doing wonderfully and I couldn't be happier. I plan on gauging down and going a length shorter as soon as I can afford the jewelry.
Overall, a pleasant experience, with a very pleasing outcome.