I saw the first picture of an apadravya over year ago and somehow I knew I would eventually end up with one. About four months ago, I decided it was finally time, and I'd get one as soon as possible. Due to several things which would have made aftercare difficult or impossible, yesterday (Saturday) was the earliest possible day for this piercing.Although there were a lot of piercers much closer to home, I decided on Stainless Studios mainly because I've seen quite a bit of their work on BME, and knew that they were experienced. Although certainly not as complex as some other piercing, there are still many piercers who won't perform this piercing, and far more who shouldn't.
I called Stainless on Wednesday and spoke with c8tlin. I was immediately impressed with her professionalism and openness. She answered several questions, but admitted that she lacked the basic equipment to be able to explain the pain factor. I'd read many other apadravya experiences on the web, most of them conflicting in the reports of pain, but based in my previous nipple piercing experience, and what I'd read, I though I had a pretty good idea what I was getting into painwise. I was wrong.
I called back on Thursday and made an appointment for Saturday afternoon. I had a consult at 4:30PM and the actual piercing at 7:30PM.
This is the second time I've been pierced. Both times, the piercer and staff have acted very open and willing to discuss the procedures and options. While treating the procedure with absolute seriousness, they have also been very supportive. It's easy to be a little (or a lot) embarrassed when asking questions about a new piercing you've been considering, and I've started out that way both times. The way the staff have dealt with my questions has immediately eliminated that embarrassment, leaving me free to get all my questions answered easily. I just wish someone would finally sit down and write the book "Everything you've ever wanted to know about body modification but were afraid to ask" to make that first 30 seconds of the phone call a little easier.
Saturday morning, I got up at 6:00AM to make the six-hour drive to Toronto. After visiting a few other places in Toronto, I arrived at Stainless at about 4:20. At 4:30, Tom called me back and did an initial exam. I had already made the necessary measurements at home, having decided that I needed a 1 1/4" barbell. Tom suggested a 1 3/16" instead, which he said would be a little more comfortable. We also agreed on a 14-gauge barbell.
Due to another appointment Tom had made, my piercing appointment was changed from 7:30 to 8:00. I walked down to the lake and watched some ships and circus acts before getting dinner and walking back for the appointment, arriving at 7:45.
The waiting room was much more crowded than on my earlier visit. When I spoke to the person at the counter, she told me that everyone was running behind, with Tom's 7:00 appointment (a one-hour appointment) still waiting. A little schedule juggling got the quicker piercings, including me, in fairly quickly. Everyone was fully accepting of the delays and very patient. We may be modern primitives, but as a group, I've found we're frequently more polite than the general public.
While I was waiting, there was also a mother and her two daughters in the waiting room. The daughters were both getting eyebrow piercings, and had managed to convince their extremely reluctant mother to give her consent. She was looking very unhappy about it (sort of the "Where did I go wrong?" look), which caused several of us who were waiting to exchange knowing smiles with each other. Since I have no visible piercings or tattoos, the mother apparently considered me safe. After the girls went in for their piercings, the mother and I exchanged a bit of smalltalk. When someone walked in with multi-color hair, lots of facial piercings, and some good size tattoos, the mother said, "That's someone's future mother. I hope these people can change." I just smiled, as did a couple others who overheard the comment.
She had apparently decided that unlike the rest of the deviants in the place, I was safe to talk to. She asked me if I was waiting for my son or daughter. Immediately knowing any honest answer would seriously shock her ("But he looked so normal. I never would have expected HIM to be punching holes in his body...especially not THERE!"), I just looked her in the eye and simply said, "Nope." She leaned away quick and avoided any further conversation. Another customer across the room had been following our conversation, occasionally smiling, since he knew exactly why I was there. His biggest smile so far had been when he saw her realize that I was just one of the deviants. I considered explaining to her about the ability to conceal modifications, and also considered pointing out that if her daughters want to get rid of their eyebrow piercings in the future that they can just take them out and leave little or no mark. I knew this would perhaps make her more accepting of body modifications for about two minutes. I suspected, however, that in about two minutes, she would ask about my modifications, and what I was getting done today. I think this would have been too much for her. I just smiled.
When Tom called me in at 8:20, he apologized for the delay, then started preparing for me. I sat in the chair and started trying to relax (as much as possible when someone is about drive a nail through your penis). As Tom started cleaning, I asked about the pain. He said he'd rather have a piercing than stub his toe since the piercing is over in a few seconds. He described the pain as being strange, explaining that it's someplace where your body just isn't used to being stabbed, so it isn't really sure how to react. He also said it sort of hits your whole body.
He put the clamp on painlessly and reached for the needle. I put my head back, closed my eyes, and started taking deep breaths. He told me that the more relaxed I was the better, then asked if I was ready. I told him I was and, two breaths later, the needle went in.
The initial pain was about the intensity I'd been prepared for, but in a completely different form. As the needle went through, every muscle in my body immediately tensed up. The piercing itself lasted about 10 subjective seconds (probably less than 1 second in reality). Once the needle was through, and the barbell in, I forced my muscles to relax again. The only visible sign of what had just happened was my new apadravya. There was no blood at all.
The amount of the pain was about what I expected, but it wasn't the stabbing pain I had expected. I had felt this type of pain before, but didn't immediately identify it. Driving home later, I realized where I had felt this before. It felt exactly like high-voltage, low current electricity, the kind generated by electrical equipment, stun guns, tasers, and spark plugs.
About 20 seconds after the piercing came the most surprising part of the whole thing. It didn't hurt at all. I don't mean it was just a little sore, I mean it felt completely normal. It's possible that at least part of this was due to endorphins, but I think even more is due to Tom's skill.
I got dressed and started the drive home. Still no pain. About 45 minutes, I started to get a dull feeling at the end of my penis. Not really pain. More like the feeling of overworked muscles when you wake up the next morning. A few times during the drive, it felt almost like I had something stabbing into my penis. Not really painfully, but clearly noticeable. Sort of like having a small pebble in your shoe. It's something you want to get rid of when you get a chance, but certainly nothing you're going to go out of your way to deal with.
I'd heard that after a PA or Apadravya, urinating would be very painful for a while, and also a little bloody. I avoided the urinals on the drive home, but didn't really need to worry. It was completely normal. I'd also heard that sleeping the first night would be painful. It wasn't painful at all, but for some reason, I still didn't sleep well.
Sunday update:
It's now been one day since the piercing. The only pain I've had has been the occasional tugging when the jewelry catches on clothing. I've only used a bit of gauze to catch blood, but there's been hardly enough blood to worry about.
My advice to anyone considering one? 1) Measure the barbell length at home, where you'll be able to get an accurate measurement. 2) Don't let the issue of pain bother you, since it doesn't last long enough to really consider. 3) Don't be afraid to calling a piercing shop and ask them any and all questions you may have. 4) Go to a professional. Make sure whoever you're going to has done quite a few of your type of piercings before (let them practice on someone else). 5) Don't be afraid to ask questions, especially questions about aftercare.
Monday update:
I skipped the tissue this morning, which was fine since there was absolutely no blood all day. More pain than previously, but still not really much. It doesn't feel like I have a piece of steel through my penis or anything. It hurt the most when cleaning, which stings a bit due to the soap. The most annoying thing so far was sitting through a two-hour business meeting at the end of a ten-hour workday. It kept catching on my clothes, so I spent two hours trying not to squirm in my seat. I was only partially successful. In my job, I need to keep all of my modifications concealed from co-workers and clients. In other jobs, of course, this annoying feeling could be just the excuse to allow you to show off.
One other thing I learned today: No matter how good she looks, or what she says, getting an erection with a fresh apadravya will hurt when fully dressed. Of course, with the right woman, this can be an advantage (see 'showing off', in the previous paragraph).
Tuesday update:
No real changes from Monday, except a little more comfortable. Looks like the initial period is over, and now it's just the routine aftercare for the next few months. I did a sea-salt soak tonight, which seemed to make it feel better. I'll probably continue this daily for a while, in addition to the twice-daily cleanings.