When I was twelve years old I had my navel pierced for the first time. It hurt slightly, but the needle went through so quickly it was no big deal. I didn't take care of it as well as I should have, which led me to a puss and pain filled belly button. A couple of months later, all the infection was gone and I was left with a very cool belly ring, which I loved.
At A Glance Author livia Contact livirose@hotmail.com When It just happened Of course, being me, I couldn't just stop there. That brings me to today, five years later. I decided I wanted both sides of my belly button pierced as well. Eventually I want the bottom done as well, but I'm going to wait until the sides are healed to get the bottom done. So, I made an appointment, and I was on my way. I have developed an incredibly high tolerance for pain over the past few years, so I wasn't worried in the least. I have a couple tattoos as well, that didn't hurt in the least, so I figured I would be fine with a couple measly belly piercings.
I picked out the jewelery, and the piercer sat me in a room. I made sure to look around and see that everything was bagged and cleaned. The whole room smelled like disinfectant, so I took that as a good sign. He spent a lot of time marking out exactly where he would pierce. After cleaning the area, and putting gloves on, he gave me a warning. He told me that the sides of belly buttons are a lot tougher and pushing the needle through is very difficult to do and can take awhile. Great, I thought how very comforting to hear moments before he would do this to me.
Well, I had wanted this for a very long time, so I wasn't going to wimp out now. So, he handed me a teddy bear, and placed the clamp on. That felt fine, just some pressure, but nothing bad at all. Then he positioned the needle. I felt this slow tearing. He was pushing with all his might to get this needle through. It took a whole five minutes just to put the needle through. Five minutes of the worst pain I had ever felt in my entire life. I thought I was going to vomit from the pain. I tried desperately to think of something else, but nothing could stop me from feeling like I was going to die. The problem was that now I had to do the other side. I couldn't very well have on side pierced, and not the other, that would look completely weird. So, the other side was worse, if that's possible. It took longer than five minutes. I was in a daze, while he was forcing this needle into my skin. I started to cry and my body was shaking. After he was finished I looked like I had been hit by a train. My face was streaked with tears.
It's funny, but I don't even know if it bled when he pierced it. From the amount of pain I felt, I would have thought it was gushing blood. I was clutching the teddy bear to my face, so I didn't see what he was doing, except for the look of him desperately pushing. It didn't bleed on my way home, and it still hasn't blood. I don't know if thats a good sign, but it can't be bad.
I had to bike back to my house, which is about half an hour away. The entire half hour back all I did was cry, sob might be the better word. After I got home and cleaned it, it felt much better. The day after, it felt a little sore, but it was fine. I'm going to start my salt soaks tonight, so I hope that will help it heal better.
I know it sounds weird to say I'm happy I did it after all that, but I am. This is something I really wanted done, and I'm overjoyed that I managed to do it.
I completely realize that I sound like the biggest baby, but let me tell you I'm not. I literally laughed when I had my tattoo done. I practically never feel pain. So, when I say something hurts, it does! Let me say that I have an incredibly high tolerance for pain. So, if you don't have a high tolerance for pain think before you get the sides of your belly pierced. The top of your belly button is no problem. That felt like a tiny mosquito bite. Now that its done, I just hope it heals okay. I'm going to be very careful, but I'm so terrified it will grow out. I have heard so many stories about rejected belly rings. Anyway, sorry if I scared you, but that was just my experience and it really is worth it in in the end. Good luck with all your piercing adventures.