Susan's Place Transgender Resources

My mouth has gotten me in trouble again :P.
Last year I told a friend a would get my ears pierced with them, they told me they would like to get them down by the end of next month. Problem anything sharp, (needles, cannulas, getting stitches, listening about implants ect) near me. Listening to stories or being involved personally can freak outs from me.

So I need some coping strategies in getting my ears pierced. The place I will be going to can do both ears at once, but after I spoke to them I was needing to sit down for awhile to calm down.

If they're using a piercing gun you've got nothing to worry about, you barely feel it and it's over in a second anyway. Just remember to breathe and you'll be fine! :)

 The way they do it is really not that bad.  You feel a little needle prick, but its over in a second.  I guess the best way to do it is to just go in there and face your fear.  Its no where near as bad as I thought it would be.  Take some over the counter pain reliever before you go, that might help.  Oh, and think about the next pair of shoes that you want to buy or something to take your mind off it.

It's a piercing gun. I'm just very nervous of stuffing up and ruining this. I can't back out,  I've promised my friend I would do this withthem, now iit's like HELP

I was very nervous when I had my ears pierced, but despite thinking I might faint or something else untidy and embarrassing I couldn't believe how quickly it was done and over.

I only have my tongue pierced at the moment and I was also terrified. I hate needles, the only time I have needed stitches they had to give me valium before I would calm down enough to allow them. >.> That being said I made up my mind and like Christy said it is just deciding to face your fear. I went to this little tattoo shop and they guy that ran it looked like a biker from Sons of Anarchy. D= He did everything he could to try and make me freak out including having me hold the forceps looking thing they hold your tongue with. When I didn't even flinch he was totally shocked and it was an awesome little victory. =D

After it's over you can wonder why you were so worried! I know having my tongue pierced didn't hurt in the slightest.

You could talk to your therapist. It may be possible to get anti anxiety medication for just the event.

I was scared ****less at the thought of getting my ears pierced.  First because I was worried about what people would say and the fact that it would hurt reallly bad. 

Well, I found a way to get them pierced and stay stealthy.  Thanks glass retainers.   Second, the guy at the shop was patient and was great. 

I made it past the 6 weeks and I was a happy girl to get to change into real earrings. 

Do it. 

And my guy didn't use a piercing gun.   I went to a real piercing place.  It was great. 

I can't offer much in the way of coping strategies. I will however offer my solidarity. **shooting mouth off alert**  I too will get my ears pierced as a gesture of solidarity. And because I think it's a brilliant idea,, don't know why it hadn't occurred to me yet.

Like Aubrey above the only piercing I maintained (tho have since let close) was my tongue. It was a very freaky thing to do. Freaky, weird, tribal and yes, surprisingly pain free.  And my pain and "ick" threshold is wayyyyy low. I had a rough time with my nose, let's not go into that. (Tells self --> ) I'm sure everything will be fine.

Tell me when you will go!

Quote from: femmebutt on March 29, 2015, 12:09:26 AM
I can't offer much in the way of coping strategies. I will however offer my solidarity. **shooting mouth off alert**  I too will get my ears pierced as a gesture of solidarity. And because I think it's a brilliant idea,, don't know why it hadn't occurred to me yet.

Tell me when you will go!

It will be the 8th or 9th of April, need to check with my work schedule first.

Haven't seen a therapist for a while (I use a free counseling service). My GP while I get treated like a number most times, they are aware of my fear of needles and such. Hopefully they can help

I may do it earlier then and report back! Unless I die... just jokes! We'll be fine!

Try flicking your ear lobes with a rubber band...it hurts waaaay less than that. If you're having electro it hurts way less and is over in a second.

I found that the getting my ears pierced wasn't what hurt. It was sleeping until they healed.
The starter set I picked out kept snagging on my pillow cover if I moved my head to much.
Once they healed then it was no problem. After care is what is important but mostly all
that requires is to keep your ear lobes clean.

I just got my ears pierced three days ago. So much prettier now. ^__^

Anyway, I'm super squeamish when it comes to needles and pain, and I can say that with the piercing gun, it really wasn't that bad. The nervousness is far worse than the procedure itself. Take a friend with you for support, and you should be fine. You can do this!

When I was little I did it myself with a needle, because I wanted to wear female earings so badly... I know it sounds bad, but it wasnt too much pain, and I was really happy about them, and I didn't get any infection or anything, so those stories are usually fake, now that being said.... DON'T DO IT BY YOURSELF, and If done by a professional it doesn't hurt at all, I know that for a fact.

I remember getting mine pierced in January last year, the woman doing it seemed more nervous that I would be nervous. I had to keep reassuring her that I was fine. I mean if I was to put electrolysis on the upper lip at about 10 out of 10 in the pain stakes, getting my ears using a piercing gun pierced was 1 out of 10.

The pain I'm not worried about at all. It's getting them done them self. I have a totally irrational fear of anything sharp near me, that for me is completely understandable

I was admittedly rather nervous when I got my ears pierced a few years ago, but the gals at the shop were very nice and I hardly felt a thing and besides, they don't actually even use a needle

They generally mark your earlobe to center, load the stud gun and zip zap five or ten minutes later you're all set

I was so nervous about it I even talked a few of our Susan's friends including our dear friend Cindy into getting their ears pierced around the same time and so it became somewhat of a girl bonding moment and a rather fond memory as well

I was so happy that I went and got a second piercing at the same shop about a year later

So put your fears aside dear gypsy and remember that we will all be with you

Hugs

Quote from: V M on March 29, 2015, 04:56:24 AM
I was admittedly rather nervous when I got my ears pierced a few years ago, but the gals at the shop were very nice and I hardly felt a thing and besides, they don't actually even use a needle

They generally mark your earlobe to center, load the stud gun and zip zap five or ten minutes later you're all set

I was so nervous about it I even talked a few of our Susan's friends including our dear friend Cindy into getting their ears pierced around the same time and so it became somewhat of a girl bonding moment and a rather fond memory as well

I was so happy that I went and got a second piercing at the same shop about a year later

So put your fears aside dear gypsy and remember that we will all be with you

Hugs

I was soooo frightened!

It was painless and no sign of a needle.

I have to make a correction LOL... I was reading through my old ear piercing thread and realized that I'd gotten the second piercing just a couple of months later after the first piercing

I hope you don't mind a guy chipping in. I was terrified too, but going to a place where they use a piercing gun and do both ears at the same time made me able to get it done. Good luck, remember to take deep breaths :)

Got my ears done 3 months ago. Was not that bad, just a pinch. Love them :)

I had mine done almost a year ago. In NJ you have to show your ID regardless of age to get your ears pierced so I had to out myself since I hadn't had my court date yet. (I did them at a Piercing Pagoda in the mall.) She couldn't believe I was trans and still perceived me as a women with female pronousns and everything. We talked girl talk for a while after she asked me if I had anything pierced before. I told her yes, my nipples were pierced. She had been thinking about getting hers done and we talked a lot about that. When it came to piecing my ears during the conversation, I didn't even feel the needle of the piercing studs go in. It was certainly a walk in the park compared to getting my nipples pierced.

I had my left ear pierced by my ex-wife when I was in college over 30 years ago. She just used a needle and an old stud earring she had. I did my right ear a few months ago because I wanted to wear earrings in both ears.   I did that myself by using ice and a needle. Last month I went to the mall and had a second piercing in each of my ears done by an "expert". It didn't really feel any different than when I did it myself.

In a couple of weeks I'm going back to get an additional piercing in each ear and I'm taking my 17 year old daughter to finally get hers pierced.

Well it's booked for next Wednesday. She smiled and I think she understood when I said I don't care you say it doesn't hurt. I know that, I'm still freaking out right now being in this room making the appointment. So if anybody male or female wants to join me in grabbing a piercing that's the day.

I know deep down they don't use a needle, but it's close enough for me. Last weeks blood test, this and some other similar things have had me curled up on my bed lately. I think next week can't come soon enough.

Good girl.

Tell you what, when you are healed up and can change them I'll send you a cute pair as a bravery award!

There, something to look forward too!

I am afraid too but I figure I stick myself with needles every day (diabetic, I test my blood sugar regularly) it's not really going to be an issue.

So I'm going to get mine pierced soon too. Probably at Walmart since they do it free if you buy a kit.

I went to acupuncture clinic (had both ears pierced exactly two weeks ago) where they use that gun and also check to avoid any active acupuncture points being touched. Given that Your fears are related to needles and sharp objects, what I felt was rather blunt slap like someone took a wide strap of thick rubber, pulled it out and let it go against my earlobes. No sharp pains or feelings of something being pierced with sharp objects whatsoever :).
And the best part - You cant see what they are doing (unlike bloodtests and other niceties :) ).

If I had to face my biggest fear, which is flying, I would probably need to get an anxiety pill to get through it, so that might be something for you to think about?  If you're so worried this far in advance, it might be a reasonable thing to do I feel.  It takes like less than half of a second and being able to wear earrings is worth it :).

Well it was done on Wednesday and I didn't faint, well I stayed conscious and my friend had to carry me out and listen and tell me the after care instructions. Still haven't been able to walk past the place and even with a pill and a hour of fresh air, I started to freak out again during lunch and we needed to leave the shopping center. In the interest of proof (pics or it didn't happen) here it is

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1279.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy534%2Fimmortalgypsy%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F20150411_231116_zpsaw749nsq.jpg&hash=826fe22809850d35d855eadf1104121331135d4f)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1279.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy534%2Fimmortalgypsy%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F20150411_230643_zpsnt40wjl0.jpg&hash=a1a3eebe4df92bf86b58edcc2e8fa24351a2969d)

Pink to match my glasses. Would it be completely understandable if I just wanted to keep these ones in. Probably not practical but still if it wasn't for my friend I would of still been a ball of mess

You brave girl!

I'm proud of you Gypsy!

Yay, Congrats gypsy. Welcome to the club.
Mariah

They look really cute! You have inspired me to get mine done.

Yay! Way to go girl, great job of facing and tackling your fear!  Just keep them clean and twirl them a few times a day and you will be fine.  They look really cute. 

Well done! - congratulations!   ;D

You faced your fear and you did it anyway.

You did it!
Congratulations!