Here beginth the lesson: be prepared for up to a week of not being able to eat properly, and several weeks of talking like an idiot.
At A Glance Author Von Contact jmchich@hotmail.com IAM Von When A month ago Artist Tally Studio Stylish Skin Location Chichester, West Sussex, UK About 4 months ago, I decided I wanted to get a double tongue piercing. Why, I don't know, but who needs a reason? At the time my Mum was going through a bad patch, and she hates tattoos and piercings, so I decided to leave it for a while. In the time between then and now, I got another tattoo (pics on my IAM soon), and got the urge to get it done again. I'm sure most people here can understand that urge, when you find a mod you really like the look of, and can't imagine yourself without it. Yeah, that feeling.
I knew my Mum would still hate it, but at the end of the day, I have my own life to live. So I planned carefully when I would get it done. It would have to be after the weekend, because my weekend job is in a cinema box office, so it involves a lot of talking, whereas my weekday job is as a mechanic, so talking is less crucial. The piercing shop being closed on a Monday meant it had to be Tuesday. Read on below:
Day 1 (Tuesday): Went to the piercing shop during my lunch break from work. As I expected from a quality studio, the preparations were scrupulous, and I was talked through the process fully beforehand. My only slight criticism was that the aftercare instructions were only given to me after the piercing. Tally checked whether my anatomy would support two piercings, and luckily it did, as I had my heart set on this piercing.
I was told to put my tongue out, and it was carefully cleaned and wiped dry. Then the clamp was put on, and almost immediately the needle went through. I didn't even feel it, and the 22mm bar was through, and the balls being screwed on before I noticed. Clamping for the second piercing was a little trickier, due to some swelling, and the shock of the first. It was a bit painful doing the second piercing, and my tongue had had quite enough by the time the second bar was put in. Thankfully, it was all over soon enough.
Double tongue piercing done, aftercare instructions absorbed, and back to work. First day wasn't too bad. Was able to eat alright for the whole of that day, and talk fine. The instructions I were was given were to gargle with a weak mix of water and mouthwash once a day, and with a weak salt solution every time I ate or drank anything other than water. Also, no alcohol or kissing. NO ALCOHOL!?!?!
Day 2 (Wednesday): Slight swelling. Was still able to talk reasonably and eat almost comfortably. Got worse towards the end of the day, though.
Day 3 (Thursday): Felt alright when I woke up, but my god did it hurt when I drank or ate anything, swallowed, tried to talk, or yawned. Problem is, you get loads of saliva in your mouth as your tongue swells up, and it's difficult to get rid of it. Went to the piercing shop to check whether swelling was causing problems with the barbells. Apparently not...
Day 4 (Friday): Tongue even more swollen. Hurt just as much doing anything involving my mouth :(
Day 5 (Saturday): Went to the piercing shop again before work to talk to the piercer. Apparently the swelling had gone down slightly... sure didn't feel like it. Decided we'd wait and see how it was on Tuesday, when I was supposed to come in for a checkup anyway.
Day 6 (Sunday): Swelling had gone down slightly, able to drink and eat more comfortably. Still couldn't talk normally though.
Day 7 (Monday): Definitely better, I could eat almost normally now, and my speech was improved. Had a lot more solid food (soup was starting to get boring :P) and the swelling was visibly reduced.
Day 8 (Tuesday): Went to the shop during lunchtime. Apparently looking very good. One more week, and I can get the bars changed.
Week 2: Swelling getting much better. Got the bars changed on Tuesday (2 weeks on), from 22mm to 18mm.
Week 3: Can hardly notice it anymore.
Week 4: Had the front bar changed on Tuesday, now down to 16mm, and small plastic balls on both ends of the bars. Much better. Stops me being able to feel it on the bottom of my mouth all the time. However, the bars don't seem to be perfectly in line... maybe this is just the way they've healed. If anyone else has any experience with this, please get in contact.
And the future? We will see...
Just a warning for anyone who works in a job where you have to talk a lot: this piercing can make it very difficult to communicate well. It's taken me nearly a month to get to the point of being able to talk normally, so watch out!
John