I have been counting down to my birthday for a good four months now. I decided to have it done on my birthday. I was already of legal age, so that was not an issue. I had just decided that I wanted my septum done for a birthday present to myself.
At A Glance Author McErin Contact McErin@bme.anon IAM whereisjustin When It just happened Artist Chris Hughes Studio A-1 Tattoo and Body Piercing Location Gladstone, MO The afternoon of my birthday, I awoke at 3 PM, after a much needed slumber. I ate a little food, jumped in the shower, and I was on my way. Since I have a slight fear of needles, I chain smoked the entire way to A-1. I can't say it helped calm my nerves though.
Finally, I walk in to the shop, pale as a ghost, and shaking like a chihuahua at the vet.
Chris smiles at me and says, "I take it you are here for your septum?"
I gave him a nervous nod, and told him I was scared as hell. He has two tongues, and a jewelry change before he can get to me, so I paced around nervously for a few minutes, eyeing the familiar flash on the walls.
Finally, he finishes changing the girls jewelry, and comes out and says, "I am starving because I have not eaten all day, so is that ok with you if I eat first?"
I just started laughing and said very harshly, "No!"
He laughed and replied, "Ok, so that means I will still have this pounding headache that makes me not be able to see straight while I am piercing your septum!"
So then I changed my mind, and told him it was perfectly fine with me if he wanted to eat. I had all the time in the world, as it was my day. While he ate, I filled out the normal paperwork, signed by the "X", and continued my pacing while he got everything ready. He stepped out of the room and told me he was ready, and for me to come back and have a seat.
I jumped up on the crinkly doctor paper, and we just made some casual small talk for a few minutes, while he finished setting everything up. By this time, my nerves had almost completely calmed down, due to his small-talk smoothness.
Although I was to be pierced with a 14 gauge circular barbell, he had a CBR ready to position for proper placement. He positioned it on my septum, and marked me with the purple ink, and the tooth pick. He picked up this really interesting object I am guessing is only for septums or similar. It was basically forceps with a receiving tube all rolled into one. My nervousness started to increase rapidly. He picked up the needle. Then the hyperventilation followed.
He took the forceps off, and informed me that it was impossible to do this piercing while I was moving. He asks if there was anything he could do to help calm me down, making sure to suggest "a punch in the head." (Of course he was only joking!) I told him I didn't think much of anything would calm me down, as I just have serious needle issues.
Finally, after a good ten minutes, I told him even though I was ready again, I couldn't guarantee the same thing wouldn't happen again. So the forceps go on again. I made sure my eyes stayed closed this time. I started to hyperventilate again, and Chris informed me he wasn't piercing yet, he was just checking some things. One second went by, and I was pierced.
Chris says, "All done."
Me, with my eyes still closed, said, "No you're not!" Then I opened my eyes, knowing I looked amusing looking down cross-eyed at a needle in my nose, and said, "I'll be damned. That was the least painful piercing ever!"
Chris started cracking up, and said, "Yea, I bet you feel stupid now, huh?"
Then after it took him a few minutes to get the other ball screwed on, I walked out of the room, grinning from ear to ear, with Chris following behind. I paid him for the wonderful piercing, which not to brag or anything, looks great on me! Since I felt bad, for all my annoyances, I tipped him $20, but he is very worth it.
I thanked him and walked out of the shop, heading home to attend some birthday festivities. Everyone complimented me on how great my new septum looked. I was happy, life was good.
It hasn't been a full twenty-four hours yet, but it is getting close. I have felt no pain whatsoever, not even when flipping up the jewelry. My aftercare will consist of soaking off crusties with saline solution on Q-Tips. I figure it will be easiest to just stick them in my nose, rather than submerging my nose in a bowl full of sea salt mixture. (I prefer saline solution to sea salt. For some odd reason, sea salt dries out my skin horribly, even when used 1/4th teaspoon to 8 ounces of water, and rinsing it off when I am done.) I will also clean it with Provon soap once a day.
All in all, this was my favorite piercing experience ever. I always tend to freak out quite a bit, so that part was no different. I was literally amazed at how entirely painless it was. I felt it and everything, but it was nothing at all to what I was expecting. I even went into the shop, with no eye make-up on, to ensure that I was not a big 'ol mess when my eyes watered, like I had heard so many stories of. Nothing at all. It was spectacular. Happy Birthday to me.