Let me begin by saying that I have had my tongue web pierced before, and it rejected. The studio that I went to last time was amazing, the staff were lovely and the procedure itself painless and quick. Also, it was through no fault of the studio that it rejected, it was my own and I fully accept any responsibility.
At A Glance Author Rhiannon Contact Rhiannon@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Rather Not Say Studio Rather Not Say Location South Wales For a few weeks now I have been feeling pretty low and down about myself, and I believed the answer to be having my tongue web re-pierced. I fixated on it until it seemed like the only thing that would make me feel better - something to look after and like about myself.
The initial plan was to go to another studio with my boyfriend, one of my friends and the guy she's seeing. I would get my tongue web pierced, and she her tragus. However, she was completely skint, so I went on Monday with my boyfriend, and instead of choosing the professional, slightly more expensive, caring studio I went to before, I went to a chain store, that doesn't have the reputation that you would go looking for.
Now, I'm kicking myself for even thinking about it, let alone going through with it. I went in, asked how much it cost [yes, the fact that it was about £13 cheaper than the better place is what lured me in] and signed the consent forms.
I was told that the room was being cleaned, it would be ready in about 20 minutes, and I was welcome to have a look around or come back. I was asked if I had eaten, and as I had, Matt and I decided to have a look round some shops for PS2 games.
When I went back in, the nerves were just about starting up. It hadn't hurt before, why would it now? So me and Matt walked down to the end of the shop and sat on the bench outside the room.
Within a couple of minutes I was called in, and I waved goodbye to Matt and followed the piercer through.
There was absolutely no small talk, no comforting, no joking to calm me down, which set warning bells off in my mind. I just put it down to the piercer having done lots of piercings that day, and that she was bored.
I didn't see the needle in it's packaging, I didn't see the barbell [10mm x 1.6mm] get autoclaved, I didn't see the clamps get cleaned. I had no proof that any of it was even clean, which I didn't think about until afterwards, as I was so nervous after seeing the needle.
She asked me to open my mouth, and just shoved the needle right in. No, it was not painless. It was horrific. I felt like I was going to be sick and pass out and in my mind I was screaming at her to stop, but I couldn't do anything. I sat there in absolute shock, as she tried to put the ball on the end of the bar. Eventually the bar slid out and she said she could try again. There was absolutely no way I was ever going through that again, and I was so relieved it was over I just shook my head and walked out. Call me a wimp but I have a low pain threshold, and a piercing is voluntary, isn't it?
I got a refund and walked out of the shop, feeling absolutely terrible. I felt like someone had actually cut my tongue web out. It was swollen up to my tongue and aching horribly.
By the time we got on the train I couldn't talk. I couldn't swallow and I was dizzy and faint.
When we got back into my house, I was a complete mess. I couldn't drink, or swallow, and eating was out of the question. I eventually managed to eat a yoghurt and in the evening ate a plate of chicken and rice, albeit very slowly.
That night, I couldn't sleep. My tongue was swollen, underneath my chin was swollen, my ear was killing me and I just felt incredibly ill. I couldn't lie down because it made my entire face ache, I couldn't take any paracetamol because I couldn't swallow and I'm unable to take ibuprofen as I'm asthmatic.
When I woke up in the morning, my face was still swollen but I could manage to eat some toast and a yoghurt. I felt a lot better, even though swallowing was still not as good as it could have been. Matt and I were just generally messing about and I hoped it would be better by the evening.
That night, I woke up with a temperature, unable to swallow, unable to sleep, feeling very sick and dizzy. I kept walking back and forth from my room to the bathroom, bawling my eyes out and screaming with pain. Eventually my mum came out and called the doctor, saying that she was really worried about me and could I come into the hospital.
So at 3am this morning, my mum rushed me into hospital, and I saw a doctor straight away. He said that I have a mouth, ear and throat infection with tonsilitis, and prescribed me antibiotics.
The swelling hasn't gone down, I still can't swallow, and because of some stupid piece of skin that I wanted pierced I'm very, very ill.
The moral of this long story is that you have to understand the risks of a piercing before you think of getting it. Just because my first tongue web piercing experience was painless, doesn't mean it was again.
Also, a piece of advice - go for the more expensive, nicer studio. Choosing the cheaper is something I regret wholeheartedly.