OK, so 6 months ago I got a pubic piercing with a 28mm surface bar - it's pretty easy to find on BME, called "Metal In My Pants". 3 months on from that, it was healing pretty well. I was pretty damn happy with it. Then, during a lazy evening browsing BME, I decided that hey, an apadravya would be a pretty cool addition - pretty much out of the blue.
At A Glance Author Cam Contact Cam@bme.anon IAM csimpson When Three months ago Artist Rob Studio Polymorph Location Newtown, Sydney, Australia Genital piercings are probably my favourite type of piercing, for the reason that they're not visible, yet when they are seen they look pretty special. They're also functional, one way or another. So of the genital piercings available in my mind, the apa is and was one of my favourites, along with pubic piercings (one of which I already possess) and foreskin piercings (several of which I'll be getting soon enough). Without a doubt though, the apa is the most invasive. Which meant that this decision probably wasn't to be made lightly. So, I devoted myself to learning more and more about what this would entail.
I spent the next couple of days looking at pictures and reading experiences (as well as the wiki) non-stop. Running the idea past my girlfriend produced positive results, so the decision was easily made. I dropped down to Polymorph a few days later to get my surface bar looked at, and also made an appointment to get my apa done. All locked in now, I went home and waited apprehensively for the remaining days to whittle away.
On the day of, I (as in previous experience) made an excuse about going to uni to my parents, and drove in to Newtown with my S.O. We met up with a friend of mine, and after some lunch and mandatory lemonade, the three of us went in to Polymorph. I filled out the form, and after a few minutes of Rob prepping the room we all trooped in.
Now, this time I was less hesitant about dropping my pants, but still a little hesitant at the thought of the needle. Rob and I had agreed upon 10ga being the best size - he said 8ga would also be possible, but I felt that I would personally prefer 10ga - at least to start.
So, there I was on the chair, and Rob got to marking out the placement of the upcoming holes. It was at somewhere around this point that I got very aware of the room being slightly cool. Combine that with a hand fondling and poking the head of my penis with sharp things... the result, basically, was my penis wanting to disappear inside me. But through sheer force of will it was marked to everyone's satisfaction, and the piercing proper began. I lay back in the chair, a few seconds passed, and then Rob said he was going to start piercing. I took a deep breath, and gave him the OK.
My god, it hurt. Imagine a dull ache from the head of your penis, but multiplied by a hundred and with a central point of sharp stinging pain :) After 5 seconds or so of this pain (at least, I'm guessing around that much) the barbell was in and it was done. It looked pretty incredible... a very real, long metal barbell was through the centre of the head of my penis.
Now, it didn't bleed to start with. I stood up, put my boxers and shorts back on, and stepped into my thongs (warm Australian summers, yes :) ). After a few more words to Rob about aftercare - already known of course, but it's definitely appreciated to have it on hand - we were ready to head back out to the studio itself to pay and leave. Or not. I heard a tap, and in pretty much the most cliched fashion ever I looked down, and saw a drop of blood on my foot. Oh, yes. Down go the pants again, and my boxers (though thankfully not my shorts) were quite wet with blood. It was certainly a shock, to be sure. Anyway, once all the blood was cleaned up, a glove and rubber band went on, to stop any more trouble.
So, that was that. All done. We snaked out to the reception area, paid, got the requisite bag of salt and aftercare info, and went back to my house to recuperate.
Over the last three months, it's only been a positive. After the first week of horrible bleeding (which included the first time I pee'd with the barbell in, nearly making me faint) it was largely uneventful and trouble-free. After the first month I changed from a 30mm bar to a 26mm one, which is much more comfortable at all times. From then on it's been absolutely fantastic. I'm about to stretch it to 8ga, and I intend to continue past that. I would do this again with absolutely no hesitation. :)
I think that together with my pubic bar it looks fantastic, too - which certainly doesn't hurt. :)