Getting my nipple pierced
Sunday, March 08, 1998
After over a year of wanting to, I finally got my nipple pierced on Friday evening.  I waited til I was 18 to get it done, because waiting made me think about it.  Which is good because I used to want to get my toungue pierced, but now I"ve decided not to get it done.  But as I said, I decided to get my nipple done.  I went down to a place called Earth's Edge to get it done, because I had heard from people that it was a reputable place.  I parked in their parking lot with two of my friends and stepped out of the car with my knees shaking a bit.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but from what I had heard, it was going to be extremely painful, according to some, the most painful piercing.  After winding through some hallways to find the shop, we opened the door to find a few people just hanging out.  I told them I was looking to get my nipple pierced, and one of the girls sitting on the couch got up and went behind the counter.  She briefed me on aftercare of the piercing and whatnot (wash it with anti-bacterial soap a lot and if it gets crusty, just wash it off.) and helped me pick out the size of the ring (don't ask what gauge, I dunno, I wasn't paying great attention), and took my $40 and of course checked my license ("A new 18, eh?").  She told me to go around back to see Chris.  I went from a room and hallway that looked like a college dorm to the cleanest and whitest room I had ever seen outside of a doctor's office.  They apparently were serious about being clean and sterilization and whatnot.  Chris was an obvious piercer.  He had multiple facial piercings himself including multiple eyebrow rings, and earrings (one of those big spacers included).  I took off my shirt and he cleaned my left nipple up, made two marks with a pen and had me sit down.  He took a needle out of a plastic wrap, and had a pair of forceps, the ring, and a cork.  He took the forceps and put them on my nipple, and lined it up with the pen marks.  He grabbed the needle, which he had put a little bit of gel on for lubrication and/or sterilization, and told me to take a deep breath and let it out slowly.  While I was letting it out, he warned me and in went the needle and through until it hit the cork.  I felt some pain, but not even close to what I was expecting.  It was more of a shot of adrenaline, kind of like when you come inches from having a serious accident.  But rather than freaking out, I welcomed the adrenaline and gave a smile and let out the rest of my breath.  I felt like I was floating for the next few minutes as i walked out to the car with my friends.  I spent the rest of the night pulling up my shirt to show everyone.  The pain wasn't anything near what I thought it would be.  I'm guessing that when Chris was cleaning it, he put some sort of anesthesia on it.  The only real pain was a bit of soreness and because I was focusing on it too much.  It does still hurt a bit when I clean and rotate it (2 days later), but nothing too bad.  But then again, nobody's hit it and I ahve't snagged it anywhere yet.  (fingers are crossed)  So far I don't regret it one bit (other than the fact that it drained my wallet for the weekend) and I think it's pretty cool looking.  :)  Next on the list, possibly an eyebrow piercing, or a tatoo.

Links I found helpful when checking out nipple piercing:
Electronic Piercing Guide
Pleasurable Piercings
Flesh, Inc.
Infinite Body Piercing Incorporated
Body Modification EZine

How I got that picture at the top:
Well after someone suggested on the Angry-Psycho list suggested that I post a picture of my "sore little nub" I got to thinking.  After ruling out xeroxing and scanning my chest, I realized we had digital cameras at work.  :)  So today, while I was waiting for some stuff to finish printing, I snagged the digital camera, stuck it down my shirt and click.  :)  I wasn't too concerned though, cause it was my last day.  (03-13-98)

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