quest for an ampallang

At A Glance Author dave Contact dave@bme.anon Artist Kerry Studio Holier han Thou Location Sydney, Australia

I started by getting my ears pierced about 20 years ago, first was twice to my left ear and then a third hole for my left ear and one for my right ear. These were originally pierced with a standard piercing gun but I have stretched them out slowly ( by simply adding extra standard sleeper rings, one or two at a time ) to take 8 ga rings.

Then five years ago I decided I wanted more piercings so I had both nipples and my navel pierced ( 14 ga ) , with both nipples now stretched out to about 10 ga using the same procedure as I used with my ears.

This was not enough so about 2 years ago I got my labret ( 14 ga ).

Then about 6 months ago I decided I wanted an ampallang, ( I have actually been considering this much longer , really much closer to 5 years ) so 6 months ago I walked into my local piercing studio and discussed it with the piercer who went through the procedure with me explaining that I had to take two measurements ( flaccid and then erect ) and then have the barbell made to size.

This and the fact that she said it was sometimes quite a messy piercing (with quite a bit of bleeding ), put the ampallang off for a while, but I was determined to be pierced so I asked about a PA and one hour later I walked out with my first genital piercing, a 10 ga , 22 mm CB ring.

This piercing was most enjoyable apart from the normal pain of the needle breaking the skin and bleeding for the first 24 hours I have had no problems at all ( apart from making it a bit hard to pee straight ).

So seven weeks ago ( between 3 and 4 months after my first PA ) I was back in the studio but this time I knew exactly what I was there for, a second PA , only this time my piercer advised me that she had changed her technique( now piercing with a needle one size smaller than the jewelry and stretching the new hole over the jewelry ) and that there should be less bleeding and better healing.

So I now have a double PA , both in 10 ga 22 mm CB rings with one to the left and one to the right , and I have found that it does make it a bit easier to pee again having the two rings. I found that it has healed a bit faster than the first ( especially if leakage is an indication of being healed ) as I have been getting leakage through the piercing while urinating after only about 5 weeks,where it didn't occur with the first PA till about 8 to 12 weeks. there was also

considerably less bleeding than the first PA ,really no more than a few spots on a sterile dressing lightly wrapped around the piercing.

Well 3 weeks ago I took the measurement for my ampallang , and ordered the barbell, deciding on a 12 ga bar with 6 mm balls.

I went through an anxious 2 weeks waiting for my appointment as I was both unsure of how painful it would be and yet eager to have it done .When the day finally arrived I found I was nervous and found it hard to eat well but managed to eat some lunch before arriving for my appointment.

I had been offered some local anaesthetic but decided that I would go without as I wanted to know what it felt like (I think if I had had the anaesthetic I would have always wondered just what it really felt like).

Well now I was in the chair and we went through the marking out procedure and I admit I was still nervous but there was no turning back, clamps in place, regular deep breathing, and then the piercing.

I have to say that the pain was nowhere near what I had thought it would be,there was the sharp pain (very brief) as the needle broke the skin, and then the sensation (not pain ) of the needle passing through the flesh and although I was not watching I could picture where the needle was and was ready for the needle to break the skin on exit, well that was it the "worst is over" I was told, and I felt relieved and yet let down as I did not find the pain as bad as I

had imagined ( although to prepare myself I had been trying to imagine the pain as worst as I could ).

I did find that the fitting of the bar a little painful to start as the skin had contracted around the needle , but once it was started through it was not too bad.

I had also decided to get a pubic piercing at the same time so after the ampallang that was really nothing at all, just a 14 ga CB ring .

As for the ampallang there was not that much bleeding , initially there was a small amount of blood which was cleaned up and a dressing put in place, but after talking with my piercer for about 15 minutes I found that I was feeling quite damp , a quick check found that the dressing had soaked in blood so I cleaned up again and had a new dressing in place with a rubber glove over the top. After this initial bleeding there was really no more, there was a few spots on the new dressing but that was all.

For the first 3-4 days I didn't notice the ampallang at all , but found that there was some discomfort from the pubic piercing but then I found some discomfort from the ampallang. After 5-6 days I found that there was a considerable amount of clear fluid discharge form one end of the bar, so I was back to my piercer for advise ( fearing that it could be the start of infection even though I had followed all after care instructions). She advised me that a clear fluid was normal but that I should stop using the antibacterial wash and just use a sea salt soak instead (also that I should take some zinc

and vitamin c supplement ). That was one week ago and it is looking much better now, there is still a small amount of fluid but I have found that by wearing two pairs of briefs (with my penis between the two to prevent excessive movement and also movement of the bar ) and a tissue placed to absorb any excess fluid it has started to dry out again.

I had originally decided that after the ampallang I would stop with genital piercing but I have found that I have already been contemplating which other piercings appeal to me and I would be able to fit. I have found that like tattoos it is very hard to stop at one or two (with twelve piercings and a definite two more to come (two more to my lower lip) who knows where or when it will end.