Finally, after the decision being made last year and subsequently delayed for a few more months my apadravya finally comes into being. When I decided to get this piercing last year, Not having found anyone that I was comfortable with to do the piercing. Nothing had any done for a about a year and the last person to do any piercings was difficult to get to. I had, at the time, a PA on the right side of seam and as it was the first non lobal piercing that I had done, the possibility of using it for a possible apadravya was out of the question. The only solution was a "just in case" PA done on the other side. It was a win – win situation, I like the look of venom PA's and if I did get the apadravya done it could be used instead.
At A Glance Author bcglider Contact bcglider@bme.anon IAM bcglider When A week ago Artist Jody Studio Anatomic Adornments Location 848 Granville, Vancouver, BC In the meantime, after the second PA was done, I started to get to know Jody and felt quite comfortable with her and she did a couple of frenums and added two guiches to start the ladder. As she also managed the shop she asked if I would be OK with Nelinda doing my piercings and that Nelinda was good and I would like her work. She was right and Nelinda ending up doing thirteen piercings on me including my vertical nipples. When Anatomic Adornments was opened, I followed and Jody was able to pierce on a regular basis once again. By this time Jody had done some more on my ladder as well as a pubic piercing and we were having a chat after one of those when I mentioned that I had decided to get the apadravya done to celebrate my forty-fifth birthday. She told me that she would be happy to assist Syx in doing it, she misunderstood, and that she was going to do it. "But I've never done one" was what she came back with, "well then, it would be a first for both of us" was what I answered. I knew that she would do the research and confer with Syx and other people who had done them about the best method of doing the piercing and there was still three months before the time of the piercing would arrive.
We both did the research, continued work on the ladder, the occasional other piercing for variety and became accustomed to how each other did things that the actual piercing was rarely discussed, we both knew exactly what was happening and what came next. Jody knew without asking how I was doing, I think she would ask just to be polite. The time of my birthday approached, we were ready, fate stepped in, the piercing needed to be postponed, and circumstances beyond any ones control stepped in and I got a birthday daith instead. The best laid plans of mice and men... The next window of opportunity came on the Remembrance Day long weekend, this one also signified my 25th anniversary of completion of basic training in the Armed Forces as well. I had time off and the appointment was made.
One would think that if someone had been pierced over fifty times (including retirees and suspension hooks) and had over forty bits of stainless steel piercing his thick hide, nerves would be a thing of the past, not so. It's strange though, I wasn't nervous about Jody or the aftermath of the piercing, I was nervous about my reaction, this wasn't one of routine scrotals that I was so familiar with, this one was going through the head of my penis, not just a bit of skin. Everything that my research had shown was that this was one of the major piercings, it had to be done right or serious problems could occur, that it was painful, could be bloody and be very uncomfortable afterward. I was prepared for all of this.
The day arrived, I left work early, went home, had a shower, I expect the piercer and piercing area to be as clean as possible, so having a shower is the least I can do for them. A glass of two of mango juice and I left for downtown, dinner was a couple of sausage rolls but with the fruit juice with it I figured that I had enough food and sugar in my system. One last nervous smoke and it was time, the three of us entered the piercing room. Pants off and on the table, Jody and Syx discussed what was happening and got everything ready. As usual the gloves went flying into the trash on a regular basis and the equipment was taken out of the packages that they had been sterilized in and the rest of the items were single use. While I was trying to herd the cats that had been released in my gut Jody removed my PA's, cleaned the area and administered the Xylocaine that had arrived just that afternoon. I was trying to figure out was what to do with my hand, normally when we d id piercings below the belt, I would hold things out of the way, didn't need to do it this time, inhale lavender, concentrate on getting my breathing under control. Everything was set, Jody and I have a rhythm when I get pierced, I slowed and deepened my breathing, Jody started her count to match and in went the needle, taper and jewellery in one shot. Even with the Xylocaine, I knew that I had been pierced, it helped though, some of the previous piercings that I have had hurt more, most less. The eight gauge CBR was put in the other PA to keep things open. A glove was put over the new jewellery just in case it bled and I got dressed. Needle into the sharps container, tools put away to get autoclaved for the next time and the rest thrown out. We were done.
Since the shop was now closed, Jody and I went for a drink to celebrate our apadravya, I needed to make sure that the first pee after the piercing would be long enough to help clean the urethra. When I got home I ran the tub for a soak with the sea salt, I did have some difficulty sleeping though, that was because the mind just would not shut done. The apadravya was comfortable and I could move around without having to carefully place it in the right position.
The morning after showed that it had bled a drop or more during the night but still no pain swelling or discomfort. A hot soak got rid of the blood and it was painless to clean. The eight gauge that was used in the two hole looked way too small to me, so I went back to Anatomic to have my six gauge circular barbell put in, didn't want to put a four gauge back in as I wanted to make sure the apadravya had the room that it might need. In the week since, this piercing that I was so nervous about, turned out to be a lamb so far. In fact the last three scrotals that have been done have given me more crusties and discomfort than this one.
With all of the piercings that I have been most nervous about, I have discovered that the result was always less pain and discomfort than anticipated. With the numbers of piercings still planned and other little experimental forays into beading, branding and whatever else may be down the road, I am sure that one day my expectations will be lived up to. Till then, I hope everything goes as it has been.
If you live in the Vancouver area, or plan on visiting the area and have the need to be pierced, I would highly recommend visiting Jody and Syx at Anatomic Adornments. They and their staff are experienced, knowledgeable, friendly and easy to deal with.