Title: 2nd hole
Author: Lindsay
Complications: Forgot to numb it
End Result: Healed well (for 2 weeks, until my mom found out)
Happy with the Result: I would recommend a self-piercing to anyone
Date Done: About a month ago [as of January 28, 2004]
Story: I had already had my first holes done at Claire's, and I wanted to get 2nd holes (near the top of my ear), so I asked my mom first if I could get it professionally done. But she has an objection to any piercings, but your first, so she wouldn't let me. Then a friend told me how she had done her own, and how it was really easy. So one night when my parents were out, I decided to do it myself.
I found an old sewing needle on my mom's dresser, so I sterilized it with a candle flame, then with rubbing alcohol. I also dabbed my ear with rubbing alcohol, on the front and back of the cartilage. I was still a little unsure that I wanted to do it myself, so I pushed the needle through slowly. I heard a pop when it pierced the first layer of skin, and I kept pushing. I felt like I was getting nowhere, until I felt it touch the last layer of skin. The problem was, it was streching the very last layer instead of going through it. This probably happened because I decided to pierce it slowly instead of fast, like most people. To remedy this, I got an apple wedge, because it is stiff enough that it would hold the skin in place but the needle could go through. I held the apple wedge to the back of my ear and pushed really hard and the needle went through.
I got the earring, a silver stud, and sterilized it with a candle flame, then with rubbing alchohol, and I pulled the needle out so that I could put the earring in. But as soon as I pulled the needle out, it started gushing blood all over my ear, because I forgot to numb it. There was so much blood that I could not see through it well enough to see the hole to put the earring in.
I grabbed the nearest cotton ball and held it to the front of my ear, where all the blood was coming out. Then I ran to the kitchen and grabbed an ice cube. I held the ice cube to the back of my ear for about five minuetes, to stop the bleeding. When I could hardly stand the coldness of the ice anymore, I removed the ice cube and the cotton ball, and the bleeding had stopped. I quickly wiped off all the extra blood, and I saw the hole. I re-sterilized the earring and pushed it through, but it got stuck on the last layer of skin, just like the needle had. I got the apple and held it up to the back of my ear as I pushed the earring through. It worked. My ear was throbbing, and I was shaking all over, but I finally had it done.
To keep my mom from finding out, I kept my long hair down over my ear. I kept up with it for 2 weeks, hiding my ear behind my hair whenever I was around my mom or dad, and it seemed to be healing pretty well. But then, when my mom and I were talking one day, she saw the earring glimmer behind my hair, and she made me take it out. The good news is that it never got infected, and it healed back very well.
Needle: Sewing needle
Gauge:
Purchased: In a pack of 40 at Wal-mart
Cost: No more than $3 or $4
Jewelry: Plain, ordinary silver stud
Gauge:
Purchased:
Cost:
Aftercare: Rubbing alchohol
Purchased: At a drugstore
Cost: About $4 a bottle
TOTAL COST: No more than $8
| Contact: AIM givePeazAchancee |
| Bio: I did it because my parents wouldn't let me get it professionally done, but I would probably do it again instead of getting it done by a pro. It gives you a great feeling once you're done, especially since you've done it yourself. Also, to anyone who's considering doing the same thing, make sure you always numb it before you do it! That way you won't have to deal with all the blood like I did. |