I know you're probably reading this because you want to know how much it hurts, probably because you're planning on getting your bellybutton pierced. Unfortunately, if I only told you that, it wouldn't be a long enough story, so you get the whole past and everything of it!
At A Glance Author Helena Contact psychosmurf6969@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist Adam Studio Psychotic Ink Location Clearwater Beach, Florida Since I was about 11, I've wanted my belly button pierced more than anything, but with my dad, ummm...no, that was not going to happen. He's very very paranoid on everything like that, I'm not even allowed a tattoo when I'm past 18, or he promises to cut it off with a knife. If he feels so strongly, I'm no one to object, but a navel piercing is very different than a tattoo, so I made up my mind that this would be my decision and no one else's, and when I make up my mind, I will get what I want. I'm spoiled as all hell, ;) I'm 14 now, but if my dad had his way, I would never get one, so he just wouldn't be able to get his way. My mom also always said the monotonous "NO!", but I was extremely persistant, begging and pleading and whining and complaining and essentially being an unbelievable pain in the ass for months on end. One morning I got up, fully prepared to whine for a few hours before I went to school over breakfast as I do every day hoping that one day they'll reconsider out of sheer annoyance. So I asked her again, and I almost fell over out of my chair at her answer. She asked me how next weekend was for me getting it done. I couldn't understand her change in opinion until she explained that her friend's daughter had gotten it done, so it would only be fair if I could get one too. Now all that was left was to convince my dad... haaahahahaha. Basically, he just flat out said no way jose, it's not happening. So anyways, the next day my mom took Dan (my wonderful, funny, smart, sweet, adorable, unique, perfect boyfriend... ok im done) and me to Psychotic Ink and let me do it. No one cares what my dad thinks, lol.
I picked out the barbell I wanted, a stainless steel bar with little green jewels on the ends. Adam, my piercer, was friendly, and clearly knew what he was doing. He told me to take one person back with me, so automatically I grabbed Dan's arm. So Adam marked me, and I was like wow, that's all it goes through? But looking back, he was right, I would have made it much too high. Then he cleaned me off and told me to lay down on the weird surgical death table. I lay down and Dan held my hand. I shut my eyes, but I still had a vague idea of what was happening. I felt the clamps, but they don't hurt at all, it's just a little pressure. He told me to take a deep breath, and as I did he slid the needle through. To be totally honest, it did hurt, but it wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be. It was about three times as bad as an ear piercing, and an ear is almost nothing. Being the smart one I am, I jumped as the needle was going through and almost made him screw up... Whoops. Dan later told me that because I had jumped the needle had gone all the way though the cork and almost stuck me in the stomach. He put the barbell through and screwed it on, and I was really suprised that it wasn't bleeding or making any signs that death was imminent. I walked into the little lobby thing and my mom looked like she was going to faint, and she hadn't even watched. Then we went back home and Dan glued himself to my PS2, which I have never touched. I was worried about eating, but we went out to Chili's and eating actually made me feel better and didn't affect me negatively at all.
The next day, today, it twinged a bit when I sat and stood up or bent down to get anything, but it was nothing unbearable. Adam did a great job, it didn't even turn pink/red. Last night I washed it with antibacterial soap and did a salt soak, which really helped a lot, mostly because it calmed my nerves so I wasn't so worried about lepracy or an infection, etc etc etc. Also, I sleep on my stomach, and it wasn't a problem in the least, although I've heard you aren't supposed to do that. *shrug* All in all, if you want a navel piercing, go for it. The tiny bit of pain is completely worth it and is almost nonexistent.
If you have any ?'s for me, my AIM sn is spidermime, feel free to drop me a line! Good luck and happy piercings!