The horror story's horror story (I appologize for the length)

[Ookami]

I've decided to share my awful and quite shocking experience with one of the most commonly agreed to be dangerous piercing tools - the stud gun. And in my defense, until I did adequate research once I started having issues, I had no clue that piercing guns were so potentially problematic. I'd had problems with my first set of lobe holes (also pierced with a gun), but I figured that it was due to my choice of stud (they were kind of like this:

)

and due to the shape, they got caught on everything. Clothing, towels, my hair - it was a nightmare! So it took nearly a year for them to truly heal, and over two years before they ceased having any kind of issues (itching, flair ups, etc). You would think that I would have realized then that getting my ears done with a gun at a mall was not the best idea. In fact, my best friend who's Godmother works in the piercing industry told me that it wasn't a good idea because the guns aren't sanitary. He suggested I go to a tattoo shop. Well, I did consider it, but the thought of possibly coming into contact with contaminated needles possibly carrying Hepatitus, HIV, and other blood borne pathogens really bothered me. I don't know why I figured my chances of catching such ailments were increased in a tattoo shop. Maybe it's because there are more needles everywhere, maybe it's because all of the tattoo shops around this area that I know of are run out of homes, or look really unclean (talk about irony - you may begin laughing now). Either way, I decided to get my second holes done at a jewelry parlor in the mall.

On January 2, 2008 I entered Claire's Boutique and discussed getting a second set of holes with the "trained" piercer on staff. She assured me that everything that would be used was sanitary (the only thing that was possibly sanitary were the studs, but after loading them in the gun that was even compromised), and she cleaned my lobes with antiseptic (probably alcohol) "as well as the gun." At that time I had no idea that alcohol, bleach and the like only sanitize, not sterilize, so I felt confident about everything being sterile. I choose a set of white gold ball studs (at least I learned from the flower stud incident, but white gold is another big mistake for fresh piercings, which I learned with later research), and she marked my ears. The placement looked like it would be pretty good, but unfortunately instead of centering the studs on the dots, she went a little too low; now my first and second holes look really close. But I didn't think it would be a huge problem, since I wanted 3 anyway, which is a bit of a squeeze. Everything went well with my left ear, but when she went to put the butterfly back (another mistake) on the stud in my right ear, she slipped, and the pointed end ended up back inside of the fresh hole through some of the skin (so basically I have two holes toward the back of that piercing, but only one goes all the way through - yes, it healed that way! >< ). She had to manually get the pointed end back through the opening, and eventually she did. For some reason, it wasn't that painful, just annoying. After she got the back on, I received care instructions, antiseptic, the customer copy of the waiver form, paid, and went on my marry way.

For the first few days there were no problems - I followed her instructions (the only ones of which actually make sense are keeping hair care products, sand/dirt, and other foreign materials away from the piercing), and I cleaned them often with the antiseptic (insert laugh here - it contains alcohol, peroxide, and other things you aren't supposed to use on fresh piercings). At about the 15 day mark, the problems really began. I woke up, and my right ear was very hot. I was worried that it was infected, so I inspected it only to find that the back of the hole was turning green! XP I carefully took the butterfly back off, and discovered that in her messy process of putting the back on, she'd chipped off the coating on them (which wasn't supposed to be coating - the backs were supposed to be solid 24kt white gold just the the studs) revealing an alloy underneath. I knew almost immediately it probably contained nickel, which turns my skin green after wearing it for a long period of time. I was worried that studs could also be fake, so I took them both out and replaced them - very carefully - with ones I knew to be real (this is not the best idea, because after 15 days your piercing barely has a fistula yet, but I had to do something). Almost immediately, the redness, heat, and itching vanished. I continued using cleanser, and twisting the earrings once in a while as she'd instructed, just like the "piercer" who'd done my first set of holes had (DO NOT TWIST, TOUCH, OR MOVE EXCEPT WHILE CLEANING!!!! - you will understand why in the next paragraph).

Other than the cleanser drying my ears out, I didn't have many problems for the month and a half after that. Then, after the first 2 months of having them pierced, I started having problems again. It seemed like they were infected, so I used rubbing alcohol to clean them. DON'T EVER USE RUBBING ALCOHOL! It didn't burn, but it did cause more problems, and I learned with later research that the small amount of discharge was likely lymph fluid - but because of the earrings I was wearing the butterfly backs kept the dried lymph very close the the piercing, and the post kept dragging it back into the piercing, which was causing them to itch, and be miserable. So, I started using a different style of back. Later that week I cleaned them, and sat down at my computer to do homework. I thought about it, and realized I hadn't twisted them much at all since about a week earlier, so I re washed my hands and started twisting.

***INTERMISSION: Now with my first holes, I twisted the studs constantly for the first month or two, because the woman who'd pierced them told me too (at least I washed my hands first). After what I'm about to tell you, I realized that twisting too much had caused them lots of problems, which was why they didn't heal well until I forgot about twisting them so much a few months after I'd had them done. In fact, I blame over twisting for the reason it took nearly a year for them to heal, but they'd never done what I'm about to tell you happened with my second right lobe piercing. Also, my left piercings have had the least amount of problems, but my right lobe piercings both have had problems. Still, none of the issues amount to what happened with my right lobe's second hole. ***

As I was sitting there twisting my right stud, I felt the hole getting tight. It seemed really weird, and I should have stopped twisting, but I didn't. Then I felt the rip. I wasn't bleeding, and I had no clue what happened, but I knew something was wrong. I went to the bathroom mirror, and looked at the hole. It looked fine, but I could still feel pain, so I took the stud out. As I slowly removed it, I noticed something was on the stud - it was slightly cloudy looking, and tubular shaped. You guessed it - the FISTULA WAS COMING OUT WITH THE STUD!!! I was shocked, and quite frightened, but I stayed calm. I continued to slowly remove the earring, but the fistula continued to come. Finally, the stud was out, and I had a tube of skin sticking out of the hole. I was so freaked out I didn't know what to do. I tried putting my earring back in, which shoved the fistula back in and through the back end of the hole! So, I took the stud out again, bringing the skin back through the front hole. I didn't know what to do. I called my mother, nearly in tears, and asked her what she thought I should do. After much deliberation, we both decided it would be best if I cut it off as close to the hole as I could, put a stud style earring in it, and treat it like a new piercing again. So that's exactly what I did.

The twisting caused the fistula to separate from the flesh inside of the piercing and actually come out with the stud. That's when I began doing research. I found tons of info on the dangers of stud guns, using inappropriate cleaners on piercings, the difference between sanitizing and sterilizing, fistulas, stretched piercings (despite my freaked out concerns with my second hole, I began to consider stretching my first holes after all of the research), etc. I researched for days, learning as much as I could, and desperately searching for some one else who'd suffered the same issue I had. And to this day, I've found no one - which is also the reason I'm writing this. I hope to help others who may end up in my situation, or prevent others from ending up in this situation.

About a 3 weeks passed after that, and things looked well - it seemed to be healing fine. I'd stopped twisting it, I only moved it when I cleaned it, and I had a bottle of Jajoba oil (plus my first taper - 18g) on the way. Then, it happened again! I still can't figure out how it happened a 2nd time - I think it caught on one of the grooves for the butterfly back to sit on that is on stud earrings, and came out with the stud again (I'd been using different studs throughout all of this, I just keep saying the stud). That or when my dad knocked into my ear one day by accident it compromised it again.

[Ookami]

A few more weeks passed, and I'd stretched my first set of holes to 18g (with an IS steel concave taper) and stated using Jajoba oil on both sets of holes. It really made a difference. But, once and a while my second holes would become rather irritated. So, I stretched them to 18g and put TOTM titanium barbells in them (I kind of think my second holes are sensitive to other metals still, because technically they are still healing). The titanium is so soothing to them - and they were finally really happy. I did end up taking out the barbells, and letting them go back to 20g, because with my newly stretched 16g first holes they look too close at 18g. And due to their positioning, and my ear's anatomy, it's hard to get captive rings, and other styles (other than studs) in them.

After nearly 5 months of having the second set of holes, they still have issues from time to time (which H2Ocean, Emu Oil, and Jajoba Oil cure - depending on how they feel affects my decision on which of the three to use), but they are well on their way to fully healing. I feel that the combination of an unsanitary stud gun, butterfly backings, over turning/twisting, poor care instructions and methods, plus the possibility that my body simply does not like piercings, lead to these complications. If I decide to get a 3rd love piercing (which I'm seriously considering not getting) I will certainly get it done at a reputable tattoo shop, even if I have to travel across country somewhere to have it done. It will be well worth a healthy piercing!

*** One thing I failed to mention, I feel that you must move your piercing occasionally while you're cleaning it (BUT ONLY THEN) - if you don't, you could end up like my sister did, with the jewelry embedded in the flesh (her 1st and only lobe piercings). It kind of grew around the backing, because she said it hurt too much to move them so she didn't, until she had no choice (and my mother had to pry it out). ***

[steelnavel]

Thanks for sharing your story! Having the fistula come out is just freaky! What a great testament against the piercing gun and for APP approved piercing studios!

Everyone should be told about the Association of Professional Piercers web site where they can locate an APP approved piercer near them. An APP approved piercer follows all proper sterilization techniques and correct piercing (with needles) techniques.

[mbifnet]

Oh man, I feel your pain. I had all six of my lobe piercings (3 per ear) done with guns all while under the age of 18. I didn't know any better. The first set of lobe piercings were done THREE TIMES because of all the infections and problems I was having with healing. I have a lot of scar tissue buildup and the locations and angles are wrong in a couple of the holes, but I'm stuck with them at this point.

NEVER EVER AGAIN.

I think about my friend almost getting her nose pierced at a booth in a mall with a gun and I cringe.

[Ookami]

Thanks for sharing your story! Having the fistula come out is just freaky! What a great testament against the piercing gun and for APP approved piercing studios!

Everyone should be told about the Association of Professional Piercers web site where they can locate an APP approved piercer near them. An APP approved piercer follows all proper sterilization techniques and correct piercing (with needles) techniques.

You have no idea - especially since I still haven't found anyone who's ever had even a slightly similar problem. The really weird part of it is, though most of the fistula came out, a part of it was still attached somewhere in the hole, which is why I couldn't just pull it out - I could still feel pain when I tried that, so I knew it was still attached *shudders*

And I'm glad I could share my story here - I love Steel Navel! Everyone is kind, and really enthusiastic about body mods - were like a family ^_^ I'd rather post here than anywhere else.

Thank you for posting the link! It's good to know there's an easier way to find licensed professionals than just calling around and visiting random places. Piercing guns and the like should be banned - and people who only have a week's training (if that) in piercing! It especially annoys me that they are only in it to make mass profit, which is why they don't care about the customer in the first place. And they let parents bring babies in to be pierced! With such a dangerous piece of equipment that is just wrong.

[Ookami]

Oh man, I feel your pain. I had all six of my lobe piercings (3 per ear) done with guns all while under the age of 18. I didn't know any better. The first set of lobe piercings were done THREE TIMES because of all the infections and problems I was having with healing. I have a lot of scar tissue buildup and the locations and angles are wrong in a couple of the holes, but I'm stuck with them at this point.

NEVER EVER AGAIN.

I think about my friend almost getting her nose pierced at a booth in a mall with a gun and I cringe.

I didn't know any better either, and neither did my mother (she had to sign for my first set because I was only 16), or she would never have agreed to it.

3 times? Man, that must have been painful! That's actually why I didn't just take the second ones out - I didn't want to go through having them redone. But if it had ever been bad enough, I would have, so I don't blame you. I know all about bad angles - since the incident, it seems like the 2nd hole on my right lobe is angled down a bit (not to mention she put it too low). I'm sorry that we were both tricked and messed over by impostor piercers with inferior tools!

I would never have my ears pierced with a gun again *shudders*

She didn't have it done did she? That would be an infected mess from the beginning! I watched a girl on you tube get her cartilage pierced with a gun, and it didn't go all the way through, so the "piercer" had to shove it through (it was at a Walmart type of store too). That was awful!

[mbifnet]

No, she didn't, thank goodness. She was underage and while I was browsing jewelry she told the piercer I was her older cousin (and he wasn't going to ask for a signature, just took her word for it without even asking me even though she's from India and I look like I've never seen the sun). Thankfully, our teacher walked up in the nick of time and put a stop to it.

I was underage, too, each time I had my lobes pierced. 1st time for the first set I was a baby, 2nd time for the first set I was toddler-age, 3rd time for the first set I was maybe eight. Got the second set done at sixteen and the third set at seventeen. I didn't know any better and neither did my parents -- my mom's earring holes were done by her mom as a baby and my dad's earring was done by my mom when they were about the age I am now.

I didn't learn about the error of our ways until I decided to take the plunge and get my first non-lobe piercing. I did my research and was like WHOA ... glad I didn't get hepatitis when my ears were being done! I've since educated my parents, too, though the info's not likely to help them since neither of them wears earrings anymore and they don't have any interest in body piercings (Mom wants tattoos but I guess my dad's against it for some bizarre reason.)

Hindsight truly is 20/20.

[Ookami]

No, she didn't, thank goodness. She was underage and while I was browsing jewelry she told the piercer I was her older cousin (and he wasn't going to ask for a signature, just took her word for it without even asking me even though she's from India and I look like I've never seen the sun). Thankfully, our teacher walked up in the nick of time and put a stop to it.

I was underage, too, each time I had my lobes pierced. 1st time for the first set I was a baby, 2nd time for the first set I was toddler-age, 3rd time for the first set I was maybe eight. Got the second set done at sixteen and the third set at seventeen. I didn't know any better and neither did my parents -- my mom's earring holes were done by her mom as a baby and my dad's earring was done by my mom when they were about the age I am now.

I didn't learn about the error of our ways until I decided to take the plunge and get my first non-lobe piercing. I did my research and was like WHOA ... glad I didn't get hepatitis when my ears were being done! I've since educated my parents, too, though the info's not likely to help them since neither of them wears earrings anymore and they don't have any interest in body piercings (Mom wants tattoos but I guess my dad's against it for some bizarre reason.)

Hindsight truly is 20/20.

That's good that she didn't get it done. I can't believe the "piercer" believed you! That proves just how stupid they are - not that you didn't look mature or act mature or anything, or that you couldn't have been cousins, but seriously, he should have asked for your signature and ID.

You know, I really don't agree with getting babies' ears pierced. I think everyone should be able to make that choice for themselves when they are older. My mother gave me the choice - and I decided when I was 16 I wanted my first set of holes. She didn't have her ears pierced until she was in her 20's (and I have no idea where she got them done). she pierced my Aunt's ears when they were younger - I don't even think they were teenagers yet, lol. I don't know if I'd want to have my ears pierced at home, but I must say I've heard of far fewer infections when adults (emphasis on adults) do it to someone at home. Probably because of the remedies of the old days. After all, in our grandmother's and great grandmother's time, they didn't have piercing/tattooing studios.

I too have educated my mother about piercing guns. I think she feels bad, but I keep telling her she didn't know, and we've (my sister and I) had our blood tested since we got our first holes done. Now I just have to worry about what will come back in the blood work since I've had this second one done. It really sucks to think that I could be carrying something from a poor decision, and a bad piercing at that.

That is really bizarre that your dad doesn't want her to get a tattoo, and it's really cool that she wants one. My dad doesn't like women with full sleeve or back tatts, but he does like small ones on areas like the ankle. Of course, he only has one on his arm that isn't too small, but it was done years and years ago (he will be 62 this year) so it's really faded and barely noticeable. (I hate double standards). The only reason I've decided not to get one is because he had a keloid reaction to his, and I don't want to risk that trait running through the genes. I would love to be a tattoo artist though. How weird will that look - a tattoo artist with out a single tattoo!

[mbifnet]

I think a tattoo artist without any tattoos would be like a skinny cook -- nobody would trust 'em! :P

[Hermit_the_crab]

I make the best chocolate chip cookies and apple pie here! and i'm not fat! :P hehe j/k...

When I got my ears pierced (with a gun at the mall :P) the lady stressed to me that I needed to twist them often also...and they used alcohol. agh.