If you've read any of my previous experiences ('One Man's Journey' pts 1-9), then you'll know the stories behind my metalwork. If not, here's a brief summary; I started with a single lobe piercing in 1991 and progressed to 8 more ear pierces, 2 horizontal nipples (1 retired), 1 vertical nipple, upper and lower navel, PA, lorum, 2 hafadas, guiche, 15 rung frenum/scrotum ladder and a pair of 3 rung side-frenum ladders (5/6 rejected) in September 2002.
At A Glance Author GothPaul When Six months ago Artist Lee Studio Savage Art Location Bedford, UK After the disappointment of the failed side ladders (my first failed piercings) I decided to take a break from being poked. I thought the break would be permanent and I would be satisfied with the piercings I had, but in April this year (2005), I discovered BME and the urge returned with a vengeance. In an attempt to satisfy the itch, I bought a load of new titanium jewellery including a 6mm (3G) x 12mm curved barbell intended for my PA and a pair of 2.0mm (12G) x 13mm smooth segment rings for my nipples.
I tried to fit these myself; simply removed the existing jewellery, lubed the hole and the new ring and attempt to force the ring through. 1.6-2.0mm (14-12G) doesn't seem like that big a step up and I previously went from 2.4mm (10G) to 4.0mm (6G) in my PA in one step, so I didn't think I'd need to do these ones in stages or with tapers. How different could they be, right?
Turns out; VERY DIFFERENT! Two hours of sweat and pain yielded nothing except VERY sore holes still with the original jewellery!
Shortly afterwards, I noticed that my right nipple ring seemed to be migrating quite badly (see 'One Man's Journey pt 5'), so, after talking to my current piercer, I decided to remove it and get it re-done in a better position at a later date.
Having failed to upsize the PA and been forced to retire the nipple, I concluded that a new piercing would be my only consolation so, after browsing experiences on BME, I eventually decided on an apadravya, on the other side of my frenulum from the PA, so I could wear both simultaneously.
When I first asked Lee (Savage Art, Formerly Artline) if he could perform this piercing he assured me that he could (he's the only artist in Bedford who performs the more extreme piercings) and gave me the smile that I've learned means 'This one's going to be painful'. Wonderful! We set the date for the following Saturday afternoon.
I arrived for my appointment with adrenaline already running high; I'd spent quite a while in the preceding week reading apadravya experiences on BME, so I was expecting pain (and quite a bit of blood). I'd eaten (burger, fries, several chocolate bars) before I arrived, to get my blood sugar spiking nicely.
Lee ushered me into the piercing room after I had signed the obligatory paperwork and I climbed into the chair, pants around my knees. Lee gloved up, produced some callipers and measured me. He then began searching for appropriate jewellery. We had decided beforehand that the piercing would be done at 1.6mm (14G), but after a couple of minutes Lee came up blank. He was in the process of moving to a bigger studio around the corner and had already moved most of his supplies to the new premises, so he told me to put my trousers back on and watch the store while he went round to collect my barbell.
Five minutes later, he returned with the jewellery; 1.6mm SSS barbell, initially massively over long (45mm to allow for swelling) and ran it through the autoclave. I stepped out for a smoke while waiting for the 'clave to cycle, then we were ready to go.
I climbed back into the chair, adrenaline peaking nicely and dropped my pants again. I asked Lee whether he needed to remove my PA ring before doing the new one, but he said he'd rather leave it in to ensure he got the placement right.
Lee put on some fresh gloves and cleaned the area before marking entry and exit points. I can't remember whether he used a clamp, although I suspect that he did (he normally does). I know we didn't use any anaesthetic (that's illegal in the UK now, although it wasn't when I had my PA done in '95). Lee warned me again that this would "probably sting a bit".
Anyway, after asking whether I was ready and waiting for me to close my eyes and nod, Lee said the immortal "On Three. One... Two... Three"
Slight pinching sensation from the underside of my penis (Lee was going from the bottom up to ensure his exit was placed correctly). I remember thinking "Hey, this isn't so bad!", then PAIN!!!
Hot, sharp and VERY unpleasant, as the needle began its journey through the top of my glans. It seemed to take about ten minutes to reach the exit point (probably closer to five seconds, but 'Piercing Couch Time Dilation Theory' was in full effect!), during which time I gasped, grunted and finally groaned "F#@K... MEEeee!" through clenched teeth, while leaving deep finger marks in the arms of the chair.
This was, without doubt, my most intense piercing experience to date. The sensation is very difficult to accurately describe; if you've ever had someone take a hot spoon (fresh from a cup of coffee) and press it to the back of your hand, this was kind of similar to that, I suppose, a burning, rather than stabbing pain. I vaguely recall Lee telling me to keep still somewhere in the middle of it all, so I must have tried to flinch away from it.
Eventually, the needle was through and retracted, leaving the cannula in place. I opened my eyes to see that Lee had (as usual) hit his marks perfectly and I watched as he inserted the jewellery, endorphin rush hitting me like a soft, fluffy sledgehammer.
I sat for a while, waiting for my brain to come back and reclaim control of my body, which it eventually did, although it seemed to be extremely reluctant!
There was no blood and the immensely long bar looked kind of weird sticking out of my glans.
Lee wrapped me up and ran through his standard aftercare instructions; keep it clean, sea salt soaks twice daily, ibuprofen for a couple of days to ease any inflammation, leave it at least a month before getting adventurous in the bedroom, otherwise LITFA.
He also asked me to return regularly over the next few weeks so he could keep an eye on it. With that I paid (£30 + £10 tip) and took a seat in the waiting room for a while.
Ten minutes later, I was on my way home.
Healing has been 'interesting' but uneventful so far. When I got home, I had a look and was pleasantly surprised to see very little blood; no more than a teaspoon full. Bruising was extensive however, as was swelling (Lisa, my better half commented later that it looked like I'd been in a car-wreck). Urinating was pink and painful for a couple of days (the usual 'Invisible Razorblades' common to all trans-urethral piercings) but apart from that it has been blood-free.
The bruising and swelling went down within the first week
The long bar stopped me from pulling my foreskin forward, so I developed a mild case of paraphimosis (swelling of the foreskin, caused by fluid retention), which I treated with iced water and by applying a tight (but not strangling) bandage around my foreskin to prevent the swelling.
After three weeks, we swapped the 45mm bar for a 1.6 x 22mm barbell with 6mm balls, but this proved to be a little too short and caused discomfort during erections, so I replaced the 45mm and ordered a 1.6 x 24mm which seems to be the perfect length. I can now roll my foreskin over the piercing, which has eliminated the paraphimosis problem, although I still sleep with it uncovered, more for comfort than anything.
I also discovered that the CBR in my PA had a tendency to twist in my pants and put pressure on the balls of the apadravya bar, so I swapped it for a 4mm x 12 mm circular barbell and have had no problems since. I can even pee standing up again, if I position the circular barbell right (turn it so that the top ball is just outside the mouth of the urethra and it's almost like it isn't there)! Bonus!
I used to be a confirmed wearer of briefs, but since having the apa, I've discovered that boxers are MUCH more comfortable; the briefs, while they hold everything together and prevent unwanted movement, tend to put pressure on the apa too, which can be unpleasant.
Sex, when we eventually tried it (see 'One Man's Journey pt 9' to find out why we were careful to wait until I was fully healed) was amazing; the apa has made me much more sensitive and also rubs Lisa in all the right places, so what we've lost in duration, we've more than made up for in sensation!
In September, about four and a half months into healing, I upsized the bar to 2.0 x 24mm and stretched my PA to fit a 5mm x 15mm circular barbell at the same time. The stretch was relatively easy; I bought a set of stretching nails (short tapers) and, after lubricating and inserting the nail, I followed it back through with the new jewellery. Unfortunately, after only four weeks, I lost a ball from the new apadravya bar and had to go back to 1.6. I am currently waiting for a new ball for the 2.0mm bar and, as soon as it arrives I'll be stretching back up because the thicker bar was much more comfortable.
The bottom hole seems to be stretching a little bit more than the top, probably caused by the pressure placed on the piercing by my foreskin, but that's OK because I'd eventually like to stretch up to at least 5mm (4G) to match my PA (I'd actually like to get them both up to 6mm (3G) but I'm willing to be patient).
It has now been almost eight months since I got my apadravya and I think I can add it to my tally of successful piercings. So altogether, in the last 14 years, I've successfully healed, and still wear, 35 piercings (22 genital) and had 6 failures, all caused by my own carelessness/impatience/abuse. Who knows where I'll be in the next 14 years?
My advice, for what it's worth; find an artist you trust and go for it. The pain is fleeting and, with proper care, the results can last a lifetime.
Meanwhile, Lee has just got some surface bars so I'm planning a set of six clavicle surface piercings, three on each side, a vertical pubic (or possibly 2) and maybe a vertical Madison. I've also been thinking about some 'real' ear work; so far I've only got nine gunned piercings in my ear, so I'm thinking maybe inner conch, a couple of outer conch, a couple more helixes and a tragus. I'm probably going to get my right nipple re-pierced and I'm toying with the idea of a pair of dydoes. Watch for experiences.
I also recently got my first tattoo (is 36 too young to be getting your first tattoos?) which is detailed in 'One Man's Journey pt 11'.
Enjoy.