OT: Tongue piercing = EPIC Fail
So, Tuesday was the 7th anniversary of my ex-husband leaving me for a 20 year old student of his professional ethics class. *Eyeroll*
I was in a bit of a bad mood even though I am so much better off without him. I decided to do something to memorialize my new life, and decided WTF, I'll get my tongue pierced. I've been thinking about it for a few years and have some time off from work so I spontaneously went into a local smoke shop to have it done.
The piercing itself was not bad. Some swelling the following day, but no biggie. I did notice the balls on the surgical steel post looked really small and it was really far back, but what did I know? I hadn't had anything pierced in 28 years; I had my ears done at 13.
I bought the special rinse they sold and followed aftercare directions, rinsing out my mouth after anything other than water went into my piehole.
Wednesday evening I noticed my tongue was roughly the size of New Hampshire. Worse yet, I couldn't find the bottom ball. Yikes. So I called the man that did the piercing.
Yesterday, my tongue had gotten worse and I didn't receive a call back from the piercer. I called a friend that had hers done years ago and she said it didn't sound right. She suggested I eat lots of cold things and if it wasn't better, go see a guy at a shop that does nothing but piercing.
[You may ask, Kim, why didn't you go there in the first place? Well, I didn't know it existed and it was a bit of a spur of the moment thing to get it done. I myself as asking why the hell I was so impulsive when it comes to something as important as my tongue, which is in the same vicinity as my brain!]
Yesterday afternoon, the bottom ball had been MIA for more than 24 hours. I didn't want my bottom hole to heal up, so I went to the piercing only salon. The gentleman who works there was very nice when he told me he had never seen a piercing job like mine. Not only was it done at a weird angle, it pierced far into my frendulum. The pro piercer said I really needed to get it out and let it heal up, then I could later get it redone right.
Deep breaths, then I said go for it. Well, he tried for at least 10 minutes and got the top ball off but then couldn't even find the bar and bottom ball. He told me that although he had never suggested it before, since my piercing was so effed up, I should probably go to the ER because it needed to come out.
So I tromp off to the ER. Where after waiting for a couple of hours, they made an incision in the top of my tongue and proceeded to dig around in it trying to find the offending object. They could feel it after probing but couldn't get it out either hole and by this time I'm bleeding like a stuck pig.
The ER doctor was about to refer me to an Ear,Nose, & Throat specialist when I begged him to try sticking an explorer into the bottom home and trying to pull it out the top. After about another 5 minutes, he was finally able to get it out. Whew. The doc too said he couldn't believe how little the bar was to have caused so much trouble.
My tongue piercing experience was an EPIC FAIL. However I now have a nice $85 memento in my purse. Thank goodness I have good insurance so it didn't cost me a fortune to have my folly removed.
On the plus side, I had a Sonic chocolate malt for dinner. Nope, not on the DS diet plan, but it was doctor's orders...
Ladies and germs, let me be a cautionary tale if you ever get the urge to get a piercing without investigating the skill and credentials of the piercer. (or tattoo artist, etc...)
Kim
P.S. - on the happier side, I had a couple of blood tests done Monday because I'm displaying perimenopausal signs. One of those tests was for Vitamin D - which is a rocking 101!!!
I was in a bit of a bad mood even though I am so much better off without him. I decided to do something to memorialize my new life, and decided WTF, I'll get my tongue pierced. I've been thinking about it for a few years and have some time off from work so I spontaneously went into a local smoke shop to have it done.
The piercing itself was not bad. Some swelling the following day, but no biggie. I did notice the balls on the surgical steel post looked really small and it was really far back, but what did I know? I hadn't had anything pierced in 28 years; I had my ears done at 13.
I bought the special rinse they sold and followed aftercare directions, rinsing out my mouth after anything other than water went into my piehole.
Wednesday evening I noticed my tongue was roughly the size of New Hampshire. Worse yet, I couldn't find the bottom ball. Yikes. So I called the man that did the piercing.
Yesterday, my tongue had gotten worse and I didn't receive a call back from the piercer. I called a friend that had hers done years ago and she said it didn't sound right. She suggested I eat lots of cold things and if it wasn't better, go see a guy at a shop that does nothing but piercing.
[You may ask, Kim, why didn't you go there in the first place? Well, I didn't know it existed and it was a bit of a spur of the moment thing to get it done. I myself as asking why the hell I was so impulsive when it comes to something as important as my tongue, which is in the same vicinity as my brain!]
Yesterday afternoon, the bottom ball had been MIA for more than 24 hours. I didn't want my bottom hole to heal up, so I went to the piercing only salon. The gentleman who works there was very nice when he told me he had never seen a piercing job like mine. Not only was it done at a weird angle, it pierced far into my frendulum. The pro piercer said I really needed to get it out and let it heal up, then I could later get it redone right.
Deep breaths, then I said go for it. Well, he tried for at least 10 minutes and got the top ball off but then couldn't even find the bar and bottom ball. He told me that although he had never suggested it before, since my piercing was so effed up, I should probably go to the ER because it needed to come out.
So I tromp off to the ER. Where after waiting for a couple of hours, they made an incision in the top of my tongue and proceeded to dig around in it trying to find the offending object. They could feel it after probing but couldn't get it out either hole and by this time I'm bleeding like a stuck pig.
The ER doctor was about to refer me to an Ear,Nose, & Throat specialist when I begged him to try sticking an explorer into the bottom home and trying to pull it out the top. After about another 5 minutes, he was finally able to get it out. Whew. The doc too said he couldn't believe how little the bar was to have caused so much trouble.
My tongue piercing experience was an EPIC FAIL. However I now have a nice $85 memento in my purse. Thank goodness I have good insurance so it didn't cost me a fortune to have my folly removed.
On the plus side, I had a Sonic chocolate malt for dinner. Nope, not on the DS diet plan, but it was doctor's orders...
Ladies and germs, let me be a cautionary tale if you ever get the urge to get a piercing without investigating the skill and credentials of the piercer. (or tattoo artist, etc...)
Kim
P.S. - on the happier side, I had a couple of blood tests done Monday because I'm displaying perimenopausal signs. One of those tests was for Vitamin D - which is a rocking 101!!!
~ Kim ~
HW - 283 SW - 257.5 Goal - 156
Thanks to all the DS vets who have paid it forward - I <3 you guys!
Looking for DS support & information? Check out : http://weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi
HW - 283 SW - 257.5 Goal - 156
Thanks to all the DS vets who have paid it forward - I <3 you guys!
Looking for DS support & information? Check out : http://weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi
You poor thing!!!
I've had my tongue pierced for over 11 years. I had removed it when I had my VSG in 2004 and missed it so much, I had it redone (did not swell at all the 2nd time). T
he OR anesthesiologist was all disgusted when I had my clear plastic retainer in there and wouldn't take it out for my 2nd part of DS surgery.
The good news is that your tongue heals incredibly fast and you should be ready for it again by the pro in no time (if you still want it done... hehe)
Hugs,
Ratkity
I've had my tongue pierced for over 11 years. I had removed it when I had my VSG in 2004 and missed it so much, I had it redone (did not swell at all the 2nd time). T
he OR anesthesiologist was all disgusted when I had my clear plastic retainer in there and wouldn't take it out for my 2nd part of DS surgery.
The good news is that your tongue heals incredibly fast and you should be ready for it again by the pro in no time (if you still want it done... hehe)
Hugs,
Ratkity
J.C. . . . you poor thing. Very glad indeed that it has all turned out well. When I was in my early 20's, I decided - quite impulsively - to get my nipples pierced. That **** hurt. AND my body did not like the metal. After trying to let them heal for 8 months, I finally gave up. Still have the (closed) little scars. What's really stupid in hindsight is the fact that I KNOW I can't wear fake/ metal earrings b/c, even though I got them pierced when I was 11, the holes will still start itching, swelling, and ooze yucky crap the next day. Why I ever thought my nipples would fair better with the same material is way beyond any logic I can come up with!
HW / SW / CW / GW 299 / 287 / 160 / 140 Feb '09 / Mar '09 / Dec '13 /Aug '10
Appendicitis/Bowel Obstruction Surgery 8/21/10
Beat Hodgkin's Lymphoma! 7/15/2011 - 1/26/2012 
Ran Half-Marathon 10/14/2012
First Pregnancy, Due 8/12/14 I LOVE MY DS!!!
I have that same problem with my ears.
I thought about having my nipples done a few years ago, but given that my nipples frequently say hello to everyone regardless of the temperature, I figured that piercing would make it that much worse. Plus, given my history, I'd probably rip them out somehow. So for me, the only other piercing below the neck I'd even consider would be a navel ring amd only if I had a cute tummy - right now I've got lots of extra bulge and skin. Maybe, someday, after plastics...
K.
I thought about having my nipples done a few years ago, but given that my nipples frequently say hello to everyone regardless of the temperature, I figured that piercing would make it that much worse. Plus, given my history, I'd probably rip them out somehow. So for me, the only other piercing below the neck I'd even consider would be a navel ring amd only if I had a cute tummy - right now I've got lots of extra bulge and skin. Maybe, someday, after plastics...
K.
P. Poster
on 7/1/11 6:57 am
on 7/1/11 6:57 am
Wow, um OW! I've had just about everything pierced at one time or another. I miss my tongue piercing, but it was causing my gums to recede on the bottom, due to the ball constantly rubbing on them- so it had to go.
I hope you heal up very quickly!!! Will you go back and try it again?
Oh, and your ex sounds like he needs a class in IRONY... Jerk.
I hope you heal up very quickly!!! Will you go back and try it again?
Oh, and your ex sounds like he needs a class in IRONY... Jerk.
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