And The Red Blood Cell Race Begins

I love piercings! Ever since I was a young girl (or younger anyways) in elementary. I dreamed of having my tongue pierced, and one day I achieved that dream all on my own. Then one day I felt the need to stick some metal in my chest. I felt the need to pierce my nipples!

I had wanted my nipples pierced for about a year before I actually got the courage to do it myself. I love the way they look on girls and consider it such a turn on. I wanted more than anything to pierce my own. Even though I really enjoy doing my own piercings, I would have gone to a shop but seeing as how I'm too young... I decided I couldn't wait any longer. I had pierced them once before but I used safety pins and the piercings were unsuccessful. Then one day while my big sister was away (I unfortunately share a room) I locked myself in and prepared myself for my second piercing. I had acquired an actual piercing needle from a friend of mine and figured that was the best thing to use. It was 14 gauge and looked a little too big for me but my only other option was sewing needles so I figured that would be the best choice. I didn't have any type of clamp whatsoever so I used ice to make it as hard as possible and I slowly worked the needle through the left nipple. I was sc ared to go very fast so I took my time and eventually I got it through.

I was very excited and all I had left to do was put the jewelry in. I had a small curved barbell so I just decided to use that and I would buy better jewelry later on. When I tried to take the needle out it was really hard to do. My only guess was that the hole had already begun to shrink. I slowly pulled the needle out and prepared myself for the insertion of the barbell, but when the needle came all the way out it began to bleed. The blood was pouring out really fast and I wasn't expecting any blood so I was completely unprepared for it. Fortunately I had toilet paper in the room. I tried to stop the bleeding but was very worried that the hole would close on me. For a moment everything was going blank and I felt a sharp pain both in my head and in my stomach. I don't know if it was from the sight of so much blood or from something else but I felt as if I were to faint. I tried to insert the barbell as soon as I could in fear that I would collapse then and there but I coul dn't get it in. As much as I tried it would not fit. So I used a large safety I had near me as an emergency utensil and left it on.

I felt really bad and light headed so I put my shirt and my bra back on and fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning (almost getting caught by my mother) my nipple was feeling only a little irritated until I moved the safety pin. Ouch that hurt. I left the safety pin in for about five days then I finally got the barbell in. I would move it around once in a while and clean off the crust that would gather with a q-tip. After a few more days it didn't hurt anymore and it felt great. I had pierced the right nipple also but that one did not work out for me. I had used a sewing needle for that one and put a safety pin in as well but I could not replace it with a barbell because I didn't have another one and I did not have the cash or the access to any body jewelry. I knew it might not work out but I left the safety pin in anyways. It was fine the first few days but one day I noticed that one of the openings was getting a bit bigger. I simply disregarded it and thought the hol e would go back to normal and heal just fine. I was wrong. A few days after I first noticed the increasing size of the opening, I had begun to realize that it was just getting even bigger and that the safety pin was tearing my nipple apart. The hole was very stretched out and was migrating both down and out toward the front of my nipple. I was worried it would rip right through and decided to finally take it off.

Even though the right nipple was unsuccessful, the left nipple turned out great. I still have it now and I now have a 14 gauge surgical steel horseshoe in it. I am completely in love with it and cannot wait to do my right nipple once again. Even though I have tried about three times to pierce that stubborn right nipple and have failed, I haven't given up and I refuse to give up. I am very happy with the results I had with one and don't mind trying the other again.

Even though I really should have waited until I could get them done at a professional piercing parlor, I enjoy the thrill of doing my piercings on my own. I have tried many different piercings, and believe me when I say many, even though I can only keep the ones you can't see because of my parents. I do my own knowing the risks I am taking but I strongly suggest that anyone planning on getting a piercing should really get it professionally done. There are many chances for mistakes and infections if you're not careful so it is best to leave it in the hands of professionals. If for any reason self piercing is still the #1 option, I suggest buying the appropriate utensils, equipment, and jewelry and hope that you have a successful and memorable experience. I know I have.

If you have any questions or comments regarding my experience, feel free to e-mail me at any given time.

- Liz