It’s two full weeks since I got my tongue pierced and I’ve learned a lot about how my mouth functions. Observations from the day to day healing process:
Day 1 (Saturday):
Since I got this done late in the evening most of the swelling occurred overnight while I slept. In some ways this was good, in some ways, not so much. I figure my tongue was about twice its natural size by the time I woke up this morning. Breakfast (two eggs scrambled and a piece of white toast) took me a full forty-five minutes to eat. The mouthwash I picked up, Biotene, was definitely soothing. The piercer told me to try not to move my tongue so much in the first few days. This isn’t going to be a problem as talking is the last thing I want to do with this jewelry pressing down on the swelling like it is.
And, by the way, try chewing anything without moving your tongue. Go on. I dare you.
Day 2 (Sunday):
Still swollen but a little better. I can talk without too much pain, relatively speaking, but my tongue is like a slab of meat in my mouth. Very not flexible, which is making the formation of letters more than a tad difficult. I’m already sick of lukewarm soup at meals but the addition of the warm-ish salt water rinse to the oral hygiene regimen has helped comfort levels immensely. That and the two Advil every four hours.
Day 3 (Monday):
Very much better on the swelling. There’s been some discharge around the actual piercing but the aftercare instructions say that is normal. The mouthwash tastes kind of sweet and is sort of viscous but it’s worth going through all that for what it does in your mouth. Some speech practicing today. Rs are not such a problem. It’s L sounds and Sh sounds. Me and Daffy Duck…long lost twins.
Day 4 (Tuesday):
Significantly better on the swelling, and lunch out with an actual person without spitting or sounding like a Warner Brothers cartoon refugee. Salad…I never thought I would appreciate salad so much. Chewing is much better though when I move my tongue the barbell pulls in a rather alarming way to the right. Slow, steady, small bites are the key. And, apparently, so is avoiding mustard and other tangy foods for the next few days.
Days 5, 6, 7 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday):
Much improvement on the swelling, by Friday my tongue is actually, I think, its normal size. I’ve chomped down on the tip twice trying to relearn how to chew. Thanksgiving dinner was an interesting experience. I had to pass on the wine because the words ORAL and YEAST INFECTION should never be said in the same sentence.
My speech is mostly normal. When I get tired I can hear a bit of slurring but people how have listened to me drone on prior to getting the piercing seem to think there hasn’t been much of a change.
Days 8, 9, 10 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday):
Still noticing a bit of slurring when I’m tired. The depression in the top of my tongue, made by the upper ball when the tongue swelled, seems to be going away. Now that I’m moving my tongue more normally, and talking more, I seem to be developing a bit of an irritated spot on the bottom where the lower ball rubs most consistently.
As well, I discovered to my shock that it’s a bit difficult to get the bar completely out of my mouth. The lower ball tends to hook on my bottom teeth. Been practicing a bit getting it out by curling my lip over my lower teeth. That seems to ease the transition. Well, you try practicing sticking out your tongue. It’s a fairly ridiculous endeavor.
I’m still not sure whether or not I’m going to keep this thing. I am getting used to it. Easier to leave it in than get it redone, that is for sure.
Oy vey, you are nuts 😀 lol…