I always considered myself a trend setter. I was one of the first guys on the block to pierce my nipples, got a PA before I had ever seen one for real, pierce my navel, septum and scrotum for something to do on a wet afternoon. But I had wanted an ampallang since I first saw one in an adult book when I was 13. I doubt the picture was genuine, but I wanted it just the same.
At A Glance Author rickamp Contact rickamp@bme.anon When Ten years ago or more Artist David Edwards Studio his place (now closed Location Sydney Australia I finally found a piercer who was on the edge in 1990 who was prepared to do it. He had done one before me, and had photos to show too. I was sold. Remember back in 1990, body piercing was relatively new, few people were involved in it, and it was hard to find jewelry beyond the usual rings etc. I did find a barbell, and what a horror story it was, not that I knew it at the time. Sterling Silver of all things, 30mm long, 1mm gauge and an external thread the screwed into one of the balls, meaning that thread would one day have to come through my piercing. But I never gave that a second thought. It was the only jewelry I could find and I was getting pierced the next day.
I turned up at the alloted time, David put the jewelry and all his equipment on to cook, and we went to his studio to prepare. I took off my clothes and lay down on a surgical absorbant mat of some kind and he proceeded to clean my cock, and then apply some xylocaine jelly (not that it did much good) to deaden the pain. He then left me alone for about 10 minutes while he went to prepare everything else.
I was propped up and able to watch what he was doing, at best I can recall it was like an out of body experience for me, although it wasn't really, but when you want something badly enough you will tolerate anything. I still hate going to the dentist, and even if I think of my ampallang it doesn't make being at the dentist any better.
First he marked the positions, then clamped my penis, and then put the first needle through. I doubt anyone would do it this way anymore, or perhaps ever did do it this way, but as I said it was all unknown and new back then. He pierced with large gauge syringe needle, then used that as a guide to insert another larger gauge over that one, then slipped the jewelry through that. It only started to bleed as he went through the urethra and there was a way out for the blood, but what would you expect.
Pain, well, anyone who sees it asks if it hurt(what a dumb question), and it did. There is no way of explaining it, but you want it, you do it, and removing it wont make it hurt less, nor will canceling it half way. It was extreme from start to finish, but relevant. If it were intolerable I would not have an ampallang today.
When it was all done, I lay there feeling quite pleased with myself, I was bleeding like a stuck pig, and he gave me some pads and told me to apply some gentle pressure to it and it would stop eventually - catch - was the word he used, and it did.
After he had dressed it with this enormous absorbent dressing, I was able to stand up from the table, and then I sat down to compose myself before leaving to go home. I was pretty light headed, whether that was from blood loss, endorphins or both Ill never know. The cab ride home was uncomfortable but okay. During the night I must have bled a lot more because when I threw the dressing into the bin the next morning it hit the bottom like a brick. My penis was very tender on day one, very little blood, day two I managed a very gentle wank.
Healing time took 14mths for me to say it was complete. I blame the small gauge of the jewelry on this fact, as it was just like wire, but it did heal after all. It was when I removed it I realized the problem of the thread being on the post, and was forever grateful I had never had to remove this jewelry before hand.
My piercing, although it did migrate slightly, healed uneventfully, and has not given me a minutes trouble since it was done in 1990, save for the time you would hit into things whilst it was healing.
Unlike other stories I have read, I've never had problems with urine leaking either, although I can piss through it if I remove the jewelry.
When I first removed the jewelry, I started stretching straight away, I had some special jewelry made for this purpose, and got it easily to 3mm within a few months, and have been very happy with it. I had some disk made instead of ball-bearings so most of the time I have flat little disk on the outside of my penis, and they don't catch on things nearly as much. As for sex, I change these to larger balls - my biggest being 1cm diameter (quite a weight too). My partner loves this the best.
It was funny, I removed all my piercings after getting this one, the PA would pinch it inside the urethra so it had to go, the nipples seemed inadequate, and so did the rest. I felt like I had done the ultimate, the rest didn't matter. I have both ears pierced a few years ago, and stretched them to 6mm. Im happy with those.
I'm now about to start stretching it to 6mm, don't know how long this will take, but I have plenty of time.
Advice, well, I can't really give any, as things have changed so much since I had it done, but I'm certainly lucky that jewelry didn't cause me any grief. It was way too small, the thread was deadly and to top it off it was made of sterling silver. I know better now.
I'll keep you posted with my stretches once they are under way.