Pain is different for everyone

At A Glance Author Matt Contact Mongrel13@aol.com Artist Jayson Studio 13 B.C. Location L.A.

I guess the pain felt during the experience is is really dependent on the person. Some of the experiences I read that were posted ranged from worst pain ever to to no pain at all. To tell you truthfully I couldn't describe my experience as painful, come to think of it the sensation was one I can't really describe at all. Not pain, but not a wonderful happy feeling, rigid, yet smooth. Let me get to the actual story.

To start things off physical pain destracts ones mind from mental anguish, so if ever you're feeling depressed I guess a body modification could be a potential activity. Well I was looking at different pierceings online and thought nipple pierceings were pretty cool. It's odd actually a couple months ago I never thought I would ever want to get a nipple pierceing, Then I played around with the idea in my mind and figured I'd do it. Well 13 B.C. came highly reccomended along with Puncture from one of my friends, who I might add it very thourghly pierced. Seeing as I didn't have any pierceings and she did I thought she would know better than I would.

One day I decided to do it. Bear in mind here I'm a 20 year old kid, I juggle at parties and night clubs and went to college for a semester...well most of the time I just drove by the college, that counts though right. So I went to the shop and told the gentleman at the counter I wanted to get my nipples pierced. He had me fill out the paper work and read over the aftercare instructions. I then payed my money and went in the back room while he prepared. I asked many questions like "This isn't your first time doing nipples is it?" He said he had been pierceing for 3 years and he has done over a hundred under a thousand. He explained what he was doing and what all the equpiment was for. Then he had me stand up so he could mark my nipples. He asked me if I had a preference on which side he did first. I told him I didn't care so he said " Well I'll start with the left one then since I'm on this side already." I think the most uncomfortable as the clamp, but even that wasn't that bad. He told me to start breathing so I took a couple deep breaths...interesting feeling. I look down to see my left nipple pierced. He then asked if I wanted to take a break before I get the other one done, I declined because it wasn't really that bad. Then he clamped my right nipple and I started breathing again, then he told me he was going to pierce on my next breath woah. By the way the second one didn't seem worse than the first for me. I didn't feel light headed or anything, as a matter of fact I said " Let's do it again." He gave me some water to drink and I got back up put my shirt on and that was it, I think experienceing your own mortality is one of the most enlighting things possible. I didn't even bleed.

They felt a little sore afterwards, but that subsided after a couple of hours. It was in no way as painful for me as others had told me it was for them. I've been getting a lot of " You're very brave when people see I have two pierceings, apparently most people chicken out after they have the first one done. Like I said pain is different for eveeryone and the pierceing itself is only a fraction of a second. If I had it to do all over again I would go for it again, it was a very thought filled, spiritual thing for me. They are healing well and I tipped Jayson 10 bucks seeing as that's all I had left but he deserved it. He's excellent at what he does and keeps his studio in the highest condition possible. If you're thinking about it you may just learn something more about yourself. If you have any questions for me please feel free to ask. -Matt-

P.S. One of the most ironic stories I have. Two days after I got pierced I went across the street one morning to get some doughnuts. While I was there I got to talking with another gentleman there. Somehow we got on the topic of night clubs and I told him about my experience in a gothic night club. I don't wear the white makeup, I don't fantasise about death or anything associated with the culture. I find it fascinateing and it's my job. Then he said well you look normal you don't have any pins in your nose or anything and all I could do was smile and say,"Yeah I'm the designated normal guy at the club, They're required to have atleast one." Word to the wise, Don't ever judge a book by it's cover.

-Matt-