This has been in the back of my head for a few months now. I first saw it on BMEZine and it firmly lodged itself into my mind (no pun intended). I recently had the opportunity and decided to go for it...
At A Glance Author Petruchio Contact Petruchio@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Mick Studio Body Extreme Location Quincy Mass Aug 5: Day 1)
I got it done about 3:30 this afternoon; it's now 11:30.
"Pain is temporary, glory is forever. Pain is temporary, glory is forever. Pain is..."
Most accounts I've read say that it didn't hurt as much as you'd think. I don't know if they're all trying to be badass or what, but mine hurt more than I could possible imagine (and I've had my neck pierced twice). He told me to relax... that just wasn't possible. I was so anxious I was going to explode; I just wanted it done with. It took about 3 to 4 seconds for him to push the needle through, and then most of the pain was gone. When he was putting the barbell in and removing the needle-tube it was more my being extremely anxious and my heart racing than actual pain. He banded a rubber glove around it (I'm guessing to contain bleeding momentarily) and let it sit for a few minutes... my heart was about to fly out of my chest like a bat out of hell; it was an incredible rush. He then took off the glove and gauze-taped a paper towel around it, which didn't last me getting to my car before it had to be adjusted. I had to go straight to work and I knew that it wouldn't hold so I went to the bathroom and used a few Band-Aids. They did the job wonderfully, and the blood didn't leak through (although they were completely saturated), as I was worried they would. I haven't experienced more than a little throbbing here and there since the actual needle... it was like weeks of pain all at once... When I got home and in the shower, I let the water and steam soften the adhesive rather than rip them off, and they came off easily. Cleaning hurt much less than I was expecting; again it was mostly my own anxiety.
Aug 6: Day 2)
Early today I found that I felt the urge to pee but there was nothing to come out, it was an odd side effect of the piercing... I can't really explain it, but it was there. I was less timid in cleaning it this morning, and I also applied bacitracin for the first time (I didn't get any from the piercer... I think I should have). Wow, what a miracle. It hasn't bled at all since then! Before it was bleeding steadily, soaking the Band-Aids through. Also, I have noticed bruising towards the top bead. It's pretty dark, but not painful.
Aug 7: Day 3)
My first thought this morning as I woke up "Whoa, I have morning wood and I'm not it pain! Awesome!" I've been doing everything I could to avoid getting stiff; I was expecting it would hurt like hell, and that it would bleed (the penis is basically a pressurized blood reservoir). I have been half expecting to wake up in agony from natural stimulation during sleep. The bruising is still there, but it doesn't hurt at all during the day, and it's only a little sore during cleaning.
Aug 10: Day 6)
It's been healing well. The swelling and bruising is going down (although still a little red) and it's less painful to clean. It is however healing a little differently than I expected. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be like this, or of the barbell is too short but the top (the part towards my body, not away) is healing with a little dimple for the ball. It's hard to explain... Think of pressing a ball about one third of the way into clay, and then pressing a pencil or something down into the bottom, that's about what it would look like if I took it out... it's kind of like a recessed screw or something... I think you get what I'm saying.
Aug 13: Day 9)
It seems to be well on it's way to being completely healed. Sometimes when I walk it brushes against the front of my boxers, or even worse it pokes through the boxers and rubs against my pants; it is definitely still a bit tender. I've stopped using the bacitracin (it says don't use it longer than 7 days); I was worried that it would start bleeding again but it hasn't. There is only a little blood crusted on mainly the lower ball, but that's about it. If you have any questions feel free to contact me through BMEZine.
Over all I would recommend it to anyone thinking about getting it. Yea, it's going to hurt, but only for a moment and then voila, you have it!