*A note to all readers: If you are considering getting an apadravya - think hard - BMEZine was a fantastic tool that allowed me a powerful amount of both piercers and their clients experience with this amazing couple of holes. I encourage those of you interested to use everything that BMEzine, and the rest of the web, has to offer. The culmination of my research was with Vaughn and a copy of Gray's Anatomy.
At A Glance Author Groove Champion Contact Groove Champion@bme.anon When A year ago Artist Vaughn Studio Mom's Body Shop Location Haight & Masonic, San Francisco, Ca. I had first seen this piercing about a year and a half before I got it, my then roommate had pictures of his old apadravya as his desktop on his PC, and I thought he was crazy. But a year and a half the image of his apadravya bounced around my head while I got a few piercings along the way. I felt that if I were to seriously consider getting it done I would need to learn more. After a couple of days of searching the web (thank you BMEzine for providing wonderful articles and links) I called Mom's. I had had my septum pierced there and was impressed by the level of care their clients. Not just professionalism but actual care combined with their laid back approach and huge expertise had made a fan of me some months before.
I made an appointment and spent about a half hour chit chatting and smoking cigarettes with Vaughn, I told all the horror stories that I had read on the web and he volunteered some from his repertoire. We talked pro's and cons, looked at a copy of gray's anatomy as we went over what the piercing procedure would entail. Lastly he felt me up -- that is to say he looked at my penis and told if I would be a good match for the piercing. Vaughn's technique differs somewhat from others I had read about her on BMEzine and other sites. Vaughn prefers not to use tools when he pierces, he in other words does not use clamps. I had read several times that getting the glans clamped is quite possibly as bad as the needle. I was glad to be spared this discomfort.
I had settled on 12 gauge and I was pierced about a week and half later. I will spare the details of the actual piercing because (with the exception of clamps) it was the same as I had read from nearly everyone else - I will say that Vaughn was exceedingly quick, and his eye for detail, hygiene, and aftercare are impeccable.
I felt tender for the rest of the day; I didn't take any stairs - elevators all the way. I couldn't run. I found swelling to be minimal within an hour of getting pierced, bleeding was also minimal that afternoon and I was able to walk around have lunch with some friends all the usual. Everybody that has written that their first urination afterwards (in an extremely hot shower usually) was really an amazing experience. Mine was as well, I had never screamed louder. The whole process took about 45 minutes - it BURNED. I don't know I was different than everybody else on the website, but Vaughn shared similar experiences so I didn't worry.
The next day I woke with the sorest erection of my life and my boxers covered in old blood. I bled a lot in my sleep... but I cleaned up fine. Now how has it been since?
Awesome! That's not to say that it was without headache tough. The apadravya isn't getting your tongue or septum done. IT doesn't just heal and you've got it. It requires a lot of maintenance. Besides regular removal and cleaning and weekly salt soaks it can complicate sex. While I have never had a girlfriend that experienced discomfort from it does make them sore quicker. I was having sex in an office chair and my ex came down on me rather hard with the bone of her pelvis coming in direct contact with the top of my barbell. There was a little blood -- lots of pain, but I was fine the next day. Watch with the cowgirl sex it can be a little tricky.
Also, after having the piercing for a year I became complacent - I made the mistake of treating like an earring. I stopped regularly removing and cleaning it. After a year of this abuse I learned something very important - YOU HAVE TO TAKE OF YOUR COCK! I had initially feared that it had become infected, not the case. Lymph and calcium had built up on the wall of the barbell and had started to irritate the whole thing; it felt like fire when I peed, it sucked. Vaughn swapped the bar for me (OUCH!!! the lymph and calcium deposits on the bar made it feel exactly like I was having it stretched.) for free. He was awesome.
I love this piercing, not only has it made me more sensitive but it has made me more aware of how we treat our sexual identities as thing, something to be taken off and put on when appropriate like a shirt. It has also made me more aware of how I have sex and has enriched the experience for me.