I had the piercing done when I was 18 as a Christmas present from my friend. Both nipples, done within 10 minutes of each other (horizontally). I first talked about getting them at Halloween while working at a haunted house. Jokingly, I stated that somebody should get that as a gift for me... not knowing that anyone really would.
At A Glance Author Jen D Contact Jen D@bme.anon When Two years ago Artist Fred Studio CMB Location Florence, Alabama The night of the piercing, I was REALLY nervous!! When we got to the shop, they were still running the tools through the autoclave, so we had to sit around for an hour while the anticipation grew. I took up smoking that night. Finally, they called me inside. I had been waiting so long, I was no longer nervous; I just wanted to get it over with. I had 4 friends in the room with me in addition to the piercer and his apprentice.
The first piercing didn't hurt-- my friends were squeezing my hands harder than I was squeezing theirs. I just let out a slight sigh/gasp while the jewelry was being put in. Since I had them done one at a time to be sure everything lined up perfectly, my adrenaline was almost all used up. The second nipple hurt... Bad...
When it was over the piercer told me I should have been thinking about sex. During sex you can have your nipple almost pulled off and it still feels good-- he explained that the euphoria is great if you can just come in while you're turned on.
Once I replaced the round jewelry with bars, everything seemed to heal a little more smoothly. When I had in the round jewelry, every time it flipped up, it hurt the entry holes of the piercing. This kept the area inflamed and raw. Not only that, but with the swelling from the piercing, the rings that were used were a little too small for my nipples & had started to make the jewelry migrate out & down VERY Slightly (nobody else notices, but I see the scars- it was like the jewelry was pinching the sides of my nipples).
With the replacement to standard 14 gauge straight bars (short versions of a tongue ring), all signs of migrating stopped, swelling reduced, tenderness went away, and I just had beautifully decorated pieces of art.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THINGS I HAVE COME TO REALIZE AFTER HAVING MY NIPPLES PIERCED:
* Never take for granted the ability to face forward in a shower. My nipples are so sensitive now, if I face the shower head and the water beats on them it's almost orgasmic.
* BEWARE OF CHENILLE BLANKETS!! My husband and I have a tendency to curl up naked on the sofa to watch movies while covered up in the blankets. One night he got up to grab the popcorn out of the microwave and pulled forward, nearly pulling me off the sofa with him. My jewelry had become entangled in the fringe of the throw & yanked on the piercing-- PAIN...
* Thumping the barbell hurts like no other pain. Pinching, fine, tugging, fine, nibbles, GREAT... thump my jewelry though and I'll come unhinged.
* When you're cold, not even a padded bra will save you. Since I have in straight bars, it looks like I have 6 nipples when I swim, or get cold. 2 beads and the actual nipple on either side protruding.
* Warm salt water rinses are your friend. After awhile, the piercing slightly stretches. Even after regular cleanings while in the shower, somehow stuff still comes out of the hole. While it may look funny, take out your jewelry and get 2 shot glasses with warm salt water, hang your boobs into the cup & then lean back... the saltwater will do the trick-- it dries out anything that may be in the piercing.
* When you go to get pierced, think of sex during the procedure- it will turn any bad pain into a good pain.
* People give you funny looks when they can see the shape of your bars under your clothes.
* You can think of your piercing and almost instantly feel naughty, knowing nobody around you has any kind of clue.
* Men will always be fascinated.
* You can be your own personal Christmas tree & hang ornaments according to the occasion.
* The mesh sponges in the shower are a BAD idea. The netting gets looped around your piercing and you inadvertently pull the piercing.
* Your nipples do not stay on perma hard like most people warn you about before you get them done.
* "Bird-dogging" hurts like hell... You'd rather be scorching in the summer heat rather than be cold.
* Don't try to take the rings out yourself unless you have the right tools. If you don't get the ring spread open wide enough, you can pinch your nipple from the inside out while trying to change your jewelry.