When I was 19 I pierced my tongue. It didn’t overly hurt, it just swelled up for a week or so. I made it about three days before my father noticed. I have had the piercing in for about three years before I removed it. Within a year, I decided I missed the piercing and had it re-pierced because it had grown over. That hurt because they went through the scar tissue and I had a mouthful of blood. But the swelling only lasted a couple days.

I have now had my tongue pierced for 20 years since that second time. Many people don’t notice because I don’t lisp or show it off. I also haven’t chipped any teeth from accidentally biting it. But last night, somehow, my tongue got swollen. So I took out my tongue piercing.

I’m not sure if I had an allergic reaction to some food or if it is something else entirely. But eight hours later- my tongue is still swollen. I’m going to keep the piercing out for a bit longer, but I would like to get it back in before the hole closes up. I should have a few days… but if my tongue remains puffy I may have to accept the fact that a part of my persona has changed once more.

A quarter century and no issues. I hope to be able to put it back. A tongue piercings is such a late nineties trend that I wonder how many people I know still have their piercing in.

Did you ever get your tongue pierced? Did it affect your speech pattern? Or have complications? Let me know in the comments.