Ok, so I've been considering getting my tongue pierced. The problem is I work in my dad's office in the mornings and as a cashier at a retail store in the afternoon's and weekends. I was wondering how long it took for the swelling to go down to where I can talk normally. I can take a couple extra days off from the cahsier job, but I don't want to have to take time off from my dad's. He kinda freaked out about my eyebrow piercing, and so the longer he doesn't notice any new mod's, the better. It's just less of a headache if he doesn't notice it. If I had it done on a Friday afternoon, would it be ok by Monday morning?

Also, I'm a little scared of getting it done. Just the way they do it kinda freaks me out. But...well, I think my boyfriend would, ahem, appreciate it. And I've always thought it was kinda hot. But man, they grab your tongue with that clamp-Ughhh. Do you have to watch, or can I close my eyes? I've read some of the posts on here, and that helped ease my fears a bit. And people get it done all the time, so it can't be that bad, right? It wouldn't be for awhile though. I got my tattoo within two weeks of getting my eyebrow done, and my body was not thrilled with me. I've also been run down in general, so I'll be giving this more thought and my body more time to heal itself. But I wanted some info, so I figured I'd ask. TIA!

I highly doubt you will be fine by monday and talk normally. My tongue was swollen a week and I talked with a lisp for 2 weeks.

As far as pain its different for everyone.Mine didnt hurt but others say its the worst pain ever. No you donthave to watch unless you are directly in front of the mirro or you keep your eyes open. Also not every piercer uses clamps mine didnt.

If you have to hide the piercing from your dad Id say its not worth him getting pissed off if and when he sees it. Especially if you are still living under his roof. If you arent living under his roof then its a bit different unless of course at his office he prefers no piercings.

I agree with MsJenn about being fine by Monday. However, my tongue was only swollen for about 4 days and I only had a minor lisp during that time and could get rid of it if I really tried (hurt like hell but I could do it). But for me by the end of the first week I was eating and talking completely normal.
However, if you think your dad is really going to freak out about it and you work for him. Perhaps you should think long and hard about it and what the consequences could be. Will he fire you? Do you need that income? Do you live at home like MsJenn said? Will he kick you out?
I personally LOVE my tongue and yes my boyfriend does too So if you think all these other factors in your life won't be impacted in a really negative way then I'd say go for it!
My piercer used the clamp on my tongue but I was honestly so nervous I didn't notice it was there and all I felt was a small pinch when the needle went in and nothing more. I would do it again in a heartbeat cause I don't consider a pinch much pain, gotten more pain from one of my brothers growing up lol.
Besides, if its something you really think you want, the small pinch of pain won't even matter once you do it and realize just how great the new mod is.
Best of luck in your decision!!!

Hmm, mine wouldn't be fine *at all* in that time scale, but I tend to come off worse from tongue piercings than most people.

As for pain, tongue is pretty minor IMO. Quick little pinch of sharpness, and it's over. And no, you don't have to watch Heh, I understand that kind of nervousness, my tongue was my first piercing and I never was that frightened in my entire life...... but whetever happens, it fades and you live to tell your story, so 'tis all good

No, he wouldn't fire me, hell, he's given me a raise since I got my eyebrow done. No,I'm not living with my parents anymore. I would never even dream of getting anything like that done if I was. I just don't like pissing him off because, well, he's my dad. He may be pissed off, but he'll get over it. He got mad about my eyebrow piercing when he first saw it, but he never mentioned it after that. I know he won't fire me because I need the income and as mad as he may get about it, he wouldn't do that to me. Besides, if it came down to that, I could take it out. But I really don't think that it will. I honestly don't know what I'd have to do to push him to that point, where he would turn his back on me. Because I'm still his "little girl". And will be even if I live to a hundred.
But I'm not planning on doing this anytime soon. My friend wants to get it done, too, but she's even more scared than I am, so we'll wait until she's ready (or at least to the point where she can close her eyes and not think about it!) But I will pass on all the information I'm getting from you guys to her.And I really appreciate your thougts, opinions and input-it really helps.
Thanks!

Well if you find that you really are wanting this done but are simply holding back from fear you should just go for it. This piercing does not hurt in the least. My navel hurt 10 times worse than the tongue. Its like when you get a shot from the doctor, just a little pinch and nothing after it. Just trying to ease some of that fear cause its an AWESOME piercing to have Best of luck!!

GQLFIN, that actually helped a lot! I think, no I know I will get it done. My boyfriend is kinda iffy about it (I would get it done with or without his approval-he's been with me for seven years, and if he gets pissy, he gets pissy!), but we talked a little about it last night, and he seems more comfortable with the idea.I really do want this! My bf asked me why I wanted to get my tongue pierced, and I explained to him why. As I listened to myself, I realized how much I wanted it. And while I was doing research on past posts about it, Neon Under Loneliness said something to the extent of getting a piercing because it feels like it should be there and it's not. Like, something's missing, ya know? So, I'm gonna see when my friend (she wants one, too-but is scared) and I can go and do it, and get it done!

Good for you! You'll be so pleased with yourself

I found some sites that talk about the damge and risks that can result. Are they really that common, or are we talking like one in three hundred here? And is it due to the aftercare (or lack thereof) that caused some people to have such horrible experiences? And what about when they talk about losing the top ball and then it becoming lodged in your airways? Or the bar itself? Tons of people get this done, and obviously they aren't choking on their jewelry, right?

A lot of the dangers people talk about with any piercing can be avoided just by properly taking care of it. I'm just waiting until i get better dental insurance to do my tongue, just in case. As far as the balls coming off, don't buy cheap jewelery and occasionally check to make sure the balls are screwed in tightly.

I once read that stringy/sticky food like pizza cheese can get caught on the bar and cause you to almost swallow your tongue! Does this happen only if you have the wrong size jewelery?

Be careful with picking a piercer. As long as you go to a well reputed piercer that knows what they are talking about/doing, then you are fine. Avoid heavy spices and citrus for about a week or until you feel ready.

Proper placement will reduce chances of risks such as gum erosion and chipped teeth. Also using softer ends once the piercing heals will make biting down on your barbell as pleasant as possible.

Proper aftercare (no alchol and no overcleaning) will make for a happy piercing. Trying as hard as possible not to play with the jewelry will also lessen chances of tearing and scarring.

I've had 3, soon to be 4 tongue piercings and the only times they touch my teeth is when I want them to. If you go to a good piercer, they'll sort out proper placement so that erosion/chipping/biting the bar (now *that's* difficult to do by accident) don't happen very often.

And Tigerlily, I've never had a problem with any food other than bananas (oddly enough) which get lodged on the top balls and are...uncomfortable :p

And Caramel apples, caremello candy bars, caramel in general with a tongue piercing has been weird for me. But maybe that's a sign....

'Rista, to avoid swallowing or aspirating the jewelry, only wear good quality jewelry & check for tightness daily. I do a daily check on all of mine after my shower. It's part of my ritual now.

Proper placement is important in reducing the chances of chipping. I agree with UNL. The only time the balls touch my teeth is when I want them to. It's also important to downsize the bb. Too long of a bar will increase your chances of chipping or biting down on it.

And Tigerlily, I have had a bad experience with spagetti. It got wrapped around the bb & was hanging down my throat. It made me gag, but I never thought I was going to swallow my tongue.

Yeah, I have had the experience with the stringy cheese from pizza but like darkside said, I have never felt like I was in danger of swallowing my tongue. It just creates a weird sensation, one in which you don't care to repeat if at all possible.
I also have not had any problems with the balls hitting my teeth or anything unless I choose for them to. Once you can reduce the size of the barbell it makes thing sooooooooo much better.
Rista, I am really glad my post helped you. Before I got my tongue done I was thinking about it so much and researching it everyday and realzied, as others have said, it was something missing from me.
In addition, my boyfriend was unsure about the whole idea of it but tagged along with me when I got it done and thought it was pretty cool that I went through with it. Oh, and now he LOVES that I have it done....for reasons we all know about.
If you are now sure you want to get it done I say go for it. Take your friend who wants one with you and let her watch as you get pierced. Then she can decide from what she sees and how you react if she wants to go through with it. If she decides not to, then you will still love what you got and had the opportunity to educate your friend in the process. The time might not be right for her but if she is thinking about it, then it sure wouldn't hurt for her to actually see what the process would be. GOOD LUCK!

Maybe you could tell your dad you have strep throat and need a few days off...

I may tell my dad that i am sick and take a few days off. But I really don't think he'll care. Of course, if he does, I could always show him my tattoo! Redirect the anger,
Technically, I wouldn't be totally lying. Kinda hard to answer the phone in a professional manner if my tongue is swollen.How hard is it to talk? Is it a huge difference, or is it just more difficult? Did any of you have jobs where you dealt with people, and was it hard to talk to those people without them noticing? And from what I've read, there are things I can do to reduce the swelling. And maybe it won't swell up that much to begin with : crosses fingers :

As far as aspiration and all those other problems, I kinda figured it was due to the care, placing and qualifications of your piercer. Most of the sites I found the info on were sites discouraging tongue piercing. So, I wanted to hear what those with tongue piercings had to say about it. And thank you so much-now, I can't wait to get it done!

Its not so much the welling but its your mouth getting used to this peice of metal jammed thru your tongue. It makes you lisp and till u learn to speak with it even after the swelling goes down you still may talk funny. My swelling lasted a bit more then a week but I believe i lisped for about 2 weeks or so. It really does just depend on the person.

I wouldnt lie to your dad and say you are sick. If hes gonna get mad then just tell him. I know my mom would rather me be up front and honest with her rather then lie to her face about something. Hell Im 35 and she still gets pissed when I get tats and piercings. But I do it and she gets over it. I just give her the respect and tell her so shes not shocked when she sees something new on me ANd ya again Im 35 but im still her lil girl

I won't lie to him-your right. All it would do is piss him off more. I'll just get it done and if he notices, he notices. He'll huff and puff, but that will be about it. But, yeah, I know what you mean about being your mom's girl-I will be my parent's baby until I die. And they really have our best interests at heart-they just don't always show it in the best way. And thanks for the advice!

Permanent lisping probably couldn't happen unless something really went wrong, cuz your mouth really can adapt to things. When I had to wear a retainer I would lisp for a few minutes whenever I put it in until my mouth got used to it, and again for a few minutes whenever I took it out. I didn't even have to think about it, my mouth just figured it out.

I do have one question, tho, can you all still roll your r's with your tongue pierced?

Yes, you can. Regardless of where on my tongue has been pierced (we're up to 2 centre and 1 venom now), my speech has always gone back to normal. One probably wouldn't make a difference at all, I don't think.