IT'S FINALLY OVER! (1 Viewer)

[RainbowMoon]

So I didn't tell anyone here about this (I don't think) but I got my ears pierced and about a week later, my earlobes started swelling so much to the point where my earrings got completely engulfed inside the earlobes. Both of them.

They were stuck like this and my family and I were very worried. My first resort after about a few days of this happening was going to the doctor's office and I made an appointment with a nurse practitioner. She thought it was just some infection and prescribed me some antibiotic (oral for 10 days and ointment until it healed). She thought that it would cause the hole to get big enough to just pop them out clean. But obviously, earlobes won't magically open up. But I guess it did help with any infection that might've been present.

I went about 3 more weeks just worrying about it. My follow up was with a new doctor at a new location and he took a look at it. It was finally a step in the right direction! He basically told me that would refer me to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) surgeon to get it taken out. This was last Friday.

Today after school, I finally went to go take them out! I ended up waiting more than hour because the surgeon had to run to the local hospital to perform one there (it's Mercy so it's all connected). It was completely worth it though.

He and his assistant administered some local anesthesia (the one that numbs that target spot completely but doesn't knock you out or effect your consciousness in any way). It's administered by injection into the vein that's closest to the target spot and all you feel is a little prick and there's no pain at all for the rest of the procedure. They struggled a bit with my right earring but I barely even noticed they took the left earring out. They were quick and I only felt a little pressure. Absolutely zero pain except when the back poked me in the neck a bit.

I was SO nervous. I was literally shaking but there was nothing to be nervous about. There was a lot of blood, obviously, but I didn't see much. They just prescribed me some antibiotics and put some bandaids on top (it was too small for stitches). And if I really want to get piercings again, I could in about 6 months (but y'all, this was tramautizing enough! LOL)

So if you ever get a piercing, please please PLEASE make sure you address any swelling AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! PLEASE.

 

[Selfmate]

first time I've seen someone have an issue with a piercing...

damn I'm glad your ok now my friend

let me guess you're never getting a piercing again huh? lol

 

[magikarp]

oh my goodness that is scary


i'm glad that you got it fixed and it's gonna get better now :)

 

[RainbowMoon]

first time I've seen someone have an issue with a piercing...

damn I'm glad your ok now my friend

let me guess you're never getting a piercing again huh? lol

Hahaha it was stressful but I might. But it's going to way more than 6 months from now. And I'm going to learn from my mistakes. 1) Don't get it done at Claire's or Icing, 2) Go to the doctor as soon as you notice any swelling or sign of infection 3) Make sure your earrings are made out of hypoallergenic metals 4) Make sure your piercing 5) Make sure they are small enough so you can get them out easier if this happens...

 

[RainbowMoon]

oh my goodness that is scary


i'm glad that you got it fixed and it's gonna get better now :)

Thank you!! I'm so happy to get them out 😁

 

[magikarp]

Thank you!! I'm so happy to get them out 😁

I'm glad :)

 

[Selfmate]

Hahaha it was stressful but I might. But it's going to way more than 6 months from now. And I'm going to learn from my mistakes. 1) Don't get it done at Claire's or Icing, 2) Go to the doctor as soon as you notice any swelling or sign of infection 3) Make sure your earrings are made out of hypoallergenic metals 4) Make sure your piercing 5) Make sure they are small enough so you can get them out easier if this happens...

yeah it's like my wife for example she can't wear anything metal that's not silver or gold (my poor wallet!!!) whether that be earrings or rings or bracelets or whatever

 

[RainbowMoon]

yeah it's like my wife for example she can't wear anything metal that's not silver or gold (my poor wallet!!!) whether that be earrings or rings or bracelets or whatever

Wow, that's very interesting. I was cleaning my ears everyday so it was probably a metal allergy. My dad is allergic to nickel and we didn't check the material of the metal of the earring (big mistake)

 

[Selfmate]

Wow, that's very interesting. I was cleaning my ears everyday so it was probably a metal allergy. My dad is allergic to nickel and we didn't check the material of the metal of the earring (big mistake)

does your dad like get rashes when he wears nickel?

 

[RainbowMoon]

does your dad like get rashes when he wears nickel?

Spot on!

 

[Ahsoka]

1) Don't get it done at Claire's or Icing,

this explains a lot tbh Im guessing they used a piercing gun?

 

[RainbowMoon]

this explains a lot tbh Im guessing they used a piercing gun?

Yeah...

 

[Ahsoka]

Yeah...

From what I read it sounds like piercing guns are problematic for a lot of reasons, if you do decide to have another piercing it might be worth looking into a shop that uses needles instead. If it’s an allergy thing the situation might have ended similarly anyways but overall the non piercing gun places may be a better idea safety wise. I’ve gone to both, but the piercing gun place was when I was young so I don’t remember that experience well

 

[RainbowMoon]

From what I read it sounds like piercing guns are problematic for a lot of reasons, if you do decide to have another piercing it might be worth looking into a shop that uses needles instead. If it’s an allergy thing the situation might have ended similarly anyways but overall the non piercing gun places may be a better idea safety wise. I’ve gone to both, but the piercing gun place was when I was young so I don’t remember that experience well

Yeah...I wish I knew this before. It was my mom's idea actually. We were in Texas staying with our grandparents and we went to the mall and she surprised me by taking me to Icing. Of course, I had to agree and everything but I didn't even think about doing much research. I definitely should've. I have a feeling I'd try again but it would be a long time (he recommended at least 6 months) but I'm 100% going to go to a professional piercing place that uses needles instead of a gun.

I heard that they rarely do extensive cleaning because it takes forever with the guns.

Also most piercers there aren't professional and have the equivalent training of watching a few YouTube videos and doing it yourself (of course, more personalized to give people piercings and get paid for it).

 

[Ahsoka]

Yeah...I wish I knew this before. It was my mom's idea actually. We were in Texas staying with our grandparents and we went to the mall and she surprised me by taking me to Icing. Of course, I had to agree and everything but I didn't even think about doing much research. I definitely should've. I have a feeling I'd try again but it would be a long time (he recommended at least 6 months) but I'm 100% going to go to a professional piercing place that uses needles instead of a gun.

I heard that they rarely do extensive cleaning because it takes forever with the guns.

Also most piercers there aren't professional and have the equivalent training of watching a few YouTube videos and doing it yourself (of course, more personalized to give people piercings and get paid for it).

I read that it’s downright impossible to fully clean and sterilize them, plus they aren’t nearly as sharp so they need to use that much more force, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to punch through the ear. But at least you know now, better late than never

 

[Yelena_Belova]

I heard about your ear getting infected, but not past that. I'm just glad it was fixed.

 

[alo]

oh gosh, that seems so scary :( glad you recovered!

i too recently got my ears pierced (technically re-pierced, the original piercings i got as a toddler were too high up for me to wear earrings and for them to look even halfway good, so i got new piercings at the centre of my ear lobe), thank god they didn't get infected! i went to a jewellery store (not some place like claire's... like, a place selling expensive jewellery aimed towards adults). they used a gun, but the person who did them was a professional, like, he certainly knew what he was doing. the earrings i used were gold-plated and tiny (expensive, yes, but i've retained them and intend to wear them in the future). they gave a cleaning solution too but tbh it still hurts a bit when i change earrings... i blame my age for that (i'm in my late teens, not a literal infant). though next time i get a piercing i'll see if i can find some place that does it with a needle, and is fairly hygienic.

anyway what you say very much applies. please do it at some place other that claire's or icing. find out what metal they're using, go for something hypoallergenic, and ask for a smaller earring if possible. make sure it's being handled by a pro. and yes - please! report! any! swellings! to! a! doc! asap!

 

[Yelena_Belova]

oh gosh, that seems so scary :( glad you recovered!

i too recently got my ears pierced (technically re-pierced, the original piercings i got as a toddler were too high up for me to wear earrings and for them to look even halfway good, so i got new piercings at the centre of my ear lobe), thank god they didn't get infected! i went to a jewellery store (not some place like claire's... like, a place selling expensive jewellery aimed towards adults). they used a gun, but the person who did them was a professional, like, he certainly knew what he was doing. the earrings i used were gold-plated and tiny (expensive, yes, but i've retained them and intend to wear them in the future). they gave a cleaning solution too but tbh it still hurts a bit when i change earrings... i blame my age for that (i'm in my late teens, not a literal infant). though next time i get a piercing i'll see if i can find some place that does it with a needle, and is fairly hygienic.

anyway what you say very much applies. please do it at some place other that claire's or icing. find out what metal they're using, go for something hypoallergenic, and ask for a smaller earring if possible. make sure it's being handled by a pro. and yes - please! report! any! swellings! to! a! doc! asap!

I had no idea you wrre in your late teens, I always thought you were in your late twenties or early thirties. No idea why, especially looking back on it.

 

[alo]

I had no idea you wrre in your late teens, I always thought you were in your late twenties or early thirties. No idea why, especially looking back on it.

huh, i've gotten that before from others. i have absolutely no idea why either lmao, especially when i'm often mistaken as slightly younger irl

 

[RainbowMoon]

I read that it’s downright impossible to fully clean and sterilize them, plus they aren’t nearly as sharp so they need to use that much more force, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to punch through the ear. But at least you know now, better late than never

Yeah...
It would've helped to have known it much earlier 😭😭😭 And I can't tell you how relieved I am to have these ones out...