This is basically my story for all you girls (and guys) out there interested in a nipple piercing.
At A Glance Author Tzitzi Contact Tzitzi@bme.anon When A year ago Artist dragon Studio all the rage Location alberta, canada Well I guess it all started in grade 10 when, in addition to 3 earrings in each lobe I decided to get my tragus pierced. Speed up to the end of grade 12 and a few ear piercings later, I had just finished stretching my first holes in my ears to 6 gauge and was bored. I needed something. I didn't want anything on my face and my ears were too full, but I needed something. I had thought of a nipple piercing, but because I was in dance classes I didn't think it would be such a good idea, do to all the movement excreta. Buy the end of the summer of 2003, I had decided not to go back in to ballet (actually my bank account made the final decision) and was dreading my first year at college. I needed something to boost my spirits.
One day my friend and I were walking down town and we happened to pass a piercing/tattoo studio where I had gotten a few things done so I said, screw it, I am just going to do it. I dragged my friend in with me to hold my hand and help me through the pain, and the next thing I knew I had a cute little CBR in my left nipple. When I got home and was admiring it, the first thing that I noticed was that when I had my bra off, it would not lay flat. I didn't have much experience with nipple rings, obviously, so I just dismissed it as still being so new. Well weeks went by and it still wasn't lying flat unless I had a bra on, which by the way was painful. I started to think that maybe it had been pierced too deep, which I'm sure now that it was.
After two or three months it still hadn't healed. I was doing sea salt soaks every day, usually 2 times, and cleaning it religiously, so I was starting to get concerned. I had noticed that it wasn't sticking out anymore, but that was because it had migrated about a millimeter downwards. It was then easy for me to pin point the exact reason for it not being healed yet; my bra was constantly pushing down the ring, there for it always needed to re-heal. After about 4 months it finally started to heal up and I was thrilled thinking, "Hey, it has FINALLY quit moving it is going to stay put now!" Very exciting, for one, my boyfriend had not been about to touch my boob for about 4 months now, and I was sick of the constant pain. Well, that lasted a few weeks and we were back to scrubbing the crusties off twice a day with soap and a Q-Tip, and still to no avail did it heal up. If anything, it was worse than before, constantly having abscesses around the exit hole (yuck) and bleeding every time I cleaned it.
I was finally starting to realize that maybe my nipple ring was more of a burden then a pleasure in my life. It had been over 6 months and it was not healing, and things were not looking up. There was a scar about 3 millimeters long above each hole from where the ring had migrated so far down. Now 3 millimeters may not seem like much, but in a nipple ring it is quite drastic, it goes from being pierced through the middle, to being closer to the bottom of your nipple. Which is usually not what you are going for.
So I think you all see what this is leading up too. I had been studying my piercing for about a month now, seriously considering taking it out. The hardest thing is just letting go. I know that it's just a silver little ring in your boob, but I had grown quite fond of it. It was something I had wanted for a long time, and had finally worked up the guts to go through with. Every time I took my shirt off, I was reminded that I was tougher than I thought I was. That the very idea of putting a needle through my breast STILL makes my stomach turn, but I did it. It was my private little confidence boost that was just for me, and no one else would understand that or be able to relate to why that was so important to me.
So yes, it finally came down to it. I had noticed that not only was it pretty far below the original placement, but the right side was still migrating making it crooked. I couldn't go on like that. I got out of the shower and told my boyfriend that it was time. I was ready to do it. He went and got the pliers while I said my last goodbye. After washing our hands and the piercing, I held my breast still and he slowly opened the CBR. I slowly slid it through the hole (making myself nauseous so I had to sit down half way through) and it was done. Instead of my cute little ring I had to gaping holes on either side of my nipple. So I cleaned my self up, put the CBR in the second hole of my right ear, and that was that. I spent a year of my life with it and it ended like that. Not what I was hoping a year ago.
Anyway, I guess the purpose of this story is to tell you that you should really do your research. If I had done enough I would have known that this was likely to happen to me with a CBR. If I had gotten it pierced with a barbell I highly doubt I would have had all the problems with migrating that I did. My advice to you is get a barbell, I loved the way the pretty little ring looked, but it wasn't worth the fight. And when you grow attached to something like that, it is very disappointing to have to say goodbye.
I would also like to point out that I didn't mention much about the cleanliness and the precautions that I took, I just didn't think it was that necessary in this story. But just to let you all know, I was sanitary and took care of my self that way.