I got my tonuge ring in October 2001 at Altered Evolution in Milwaukee, WI. The only other piercings I have is my ears (3 times). I was new to piercings and still very scared of pain.
I read everything I could find online. And over and over, I was assured that it wouldn't hurt. I believed it. I walked into Altered Evolution calm and eager to get my new tongue ring. I was relaxed as Jamie, my piercer, marked my tongue and griped it with the clamp. I didn't have a nervous thought in my body. Then the needle went through my tongue, I took in a really sharp breath, and thought that I just might not be able to handle it (did I mention that I don't handle pain very well?). Jamie asked if I was okay, I must have made some type of "yes" response. It hurt, pretty bad, but I was too embarassed to make my discomfort known.
I listened to all the care instructions, while wishing I had brought some ice water with me. I said a quick goodbye to my friend, and walked out in a daze from the numbing pain in my tonuge. First place I stopped at was Walgreens to pick up the right mouthwash and some motrin (I think I took about 4).
It kept a dull ache, of course, that I eventually adjusted to. It slowly faded away over the next two weeks. Yet, mornings were difficult since it would hurt the most then. Eating was amzingly difficult. I started with slimfast and applesauce and quickly moved on to tough food (prolly too soon). And the moment I would accidently bump or hit the ring with my fork or teeth, I'd almost break into tears from the pain.
I swore that I would have never have gotten a tongue ring if I had know it was going to hurt so much. But that was a while ago, and I've tossed the idea of another piercing around a few times. No, I don't handle pain very well, but the pain is temporary. And while my tonuge hurt really bad when I got it pierced, I think it won't be so bad if I come in a little more prepared for pain. If your going to get your tongue pierced, know that it isn't the worst pain you'll ever feel, but don't think that it is just a little pinch.
And one disclaimer, my boyfriend insists that his didn't hurt. He comments that he had no problems with pain afterwards and the only problem was the sweling (oh, your tonuge will swell a lot, believe me). So, maybe I'm a wuss (very likely) but I'm not going to tell someone else it doesn't hurt just to calm their nerves. I think my tonuge rings is one of the greatest things I added to my body, but it came at it's own price.
Tongue rings do wonderful things for people with oral fixations.
written on August 3, 2002; modified on September 30, 2002.