Umm i was just curious if anyone could give me any advice because recently my tongue has really swelled up again to the point were its painful, talking hurts, moving my tongue hurts, eating and drinking hurts. I have a big ball of swelling right around the barbell thats around the size of a round peanut and its really killing me :/ its been like this for around 4 days now and i go back to school in 12 and would prefer not to have the swelling there for school.

Any advice on how to reduce swelling would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

twinkiedooter

I am not going to tell you that tongue piercing is dumb as you are already coming to that crashing conclusion in a hurry.

If your tongue does not heal itself by tomorrow morning, then I suggest you see a doctor immediately. The infection you have in your mouth is getting worse and worse and you may likely be a good candidate for VERY serious problems in short order. In the meantime take the dumbbell (barbell) out of your tongue immediately for starters.

nauticalstar420

How old is the piercing? And is there any discharge?

**EDIT** - I guess you went offline before I could catch you. It sounds to me like you might have an infection. If there is any discharge, then you definitely do. I suggest that you go to the doctor and see what he can do for you. If it is an infection, you will get some antibiotics that should clear it up. If you get it treated right away, you may be able to keep your piercing. If you let the infection progress, then the chances of you having to take it out are high. Just because it is infected (if it is) does not mean you have to take it out. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

HumanSiv

thanks for the advice but thats the thing, im already on antibiotics for my naval infection and thats clearing up just fine and the discharge from my naval is gone but there is no discharge coming out of the hole or anything, its just swolen and painful. I have also made an appointment to see my doctor next week. And the piercing is just over a month old

nauticalstar420

Good job for making a doctor's appointment. A doctor is the only one who can tell you for sure what is going on.

Have you injured it recently that you can remember? Have you been giving oral sex? I know thats a terrible question, but if you have been participating in that it could have something to do with what is going on. Sorry, not trying to be nosy.

Did you do anything significant recently, such as change the jewelry?

It sounds like it might be the early stages of an infection, but like I said before, only a doctor can tell you for sure.

HumanSiv

LOL! not recently i havent been giving oral sex no, sorry if i sound rude but i found that amazingly funny. Sorry, um no i havent changed the jewellery or anything like that, the only damage i can recall is i was eating dinner a couple of weeks ago and i got the top ball cought on my teeth then sort of pulled my tongue in the opposite direction and i felt a ripping feeling, my tongue was sore for the rest of the night, no bleeding though. thats pretty much all thats happened to my piercing. i take great pride and care in my piercings because i love them all so much and i would hate to have to take them out because of a minor infection...

nauticalstar420

I'm sorry..lol. I felt stupid asking that question.

Its great that you love your piercings. I love mine too. You wouldnt have to take your tongue ring out for a minor infection as long as you take the antibiotics prescribed to you. Now if you let it progress with no treatment, you could get extensive scarring and will probably have to take it out.

What happened to you a couple of weeks ago should not be the reason for what is happening right now. I still stand by my suggestion...see what your doctor says.

Have you been overcleaning or anything like that?

HumanSiv

its alright i dont mind
and no i wouldnt call what i did over cleaning, i rinsed my mouth with warm salt water morning and night and after i ate, once a week i lightly cleaned the balls to get the plaque off and was constantly eating ice cubes and ice cream to reduce swelling, which is why i dont understand why i have an infection, im pretty sure i didnt do anything wrong, then again, i dont seem to have much luck with piercings, this is the third piercing i have had thats gotten infected, first ears, second naval and now this not cool..

twinkiedooter

Then you just answered your own question. "This is the third piercing I have had thats gotten infected". Take out the ball now so at least you can eat and speak properly. What's more important to you... having your tongue, being able to eat and speak or having a damn ball in your tongue.

Don't delay, see your doctor as soon as possible since you are already taking antibiotics and are not having the infection from your other piercing totally go away. Apparently you are one of the people who have adverse reactions to piercing. When you bit down with your teeth while eating you obviously tore something on your tongue's surface.

Face it, you'll just have to opt for another form of "body disfiguration" such as tattoos, body scorching, tongue splitting, flesh carving with sharp razor blades, etc.

HumanSiv

thats a bit extreme for me...im only 15 years old and none of the above intrests me. thanks for your advice and if you had of read the post before-hand you will know that i have already made a doctors appointment.
& to be quite honest, i dont know about other people, but to me, i would rather put up with the pain and still have my tongue pierced. And im sure that im not the only one here that has had trouble with piercings and is willing to put up with it untill its healed over its just something you need to to in order to keep the piercing. thats just my opinion.
cheers