I got my tongue pierced 5 days ago, and its still really swollen, I can't talk properly, can't eat and its sooooo uncomfortable. There is also stuff that looks furry all over my tongue, I went back to my piercer and he said just to clean it with a soft bristle toothbrush, but it still comes back. I rinse my mouth out with alcohol free mouthwash after eating every time, and I quite often gently remove the pus stuff that seeps out. I'm getting heaps annoyed with it because I can't eat or talk. Nothing helps either, I take iburofen and suck heaps of ice cubes but nothing helps. Is all this normal?

It sounds pretty creapy to me. I don't know what to tell you on this one. Maybe you should go see your doctor asap.

The swelling of mine went down after about a week, I could eat properly by the fourth though. In my opinion you should go and see your doctor.. in the meanwhile done play with it, touch it or eat things that could rip it or move it around a lot, don't wash it with alcohol free mouth wash too much because that could get rid of the good bacteria as well as the bad. I cleaned it about 4 times a day because I also smoke. Maybe its not your fault, it could be the piercer, they couldve used; unsanitary equipment (needle, barbell, gloves). Are they a respectable establishment? Good luck and if it carries on after about a week (doesnt get better or gets worse) I suggest you take it out, you can always get it done again somewhere else on a different part of your tongue (further forward or backwards). Good luck!

If it hurts that much.. take it out :S or talk to a different piercer about it... maybe it will go away in about a week, just wait a bit I guess..

Generally, the swelling of the tongue is very normal. Some people's tongues swell longer than others. However, if it's so uncomfortable, it's probably not in a spot your tongue likes. I took out my tongue ring cuz' it would bleed profusely after I had accidentally brushed a bit too hard with my toothbrush bristle. Before that happened though--during the healing process, the bottom of the bar would rub up on the floor of my mouth and it would irritate it. When I got it pierced the second time, my piercer used a spot that just a hair away from the original spot (which was more forward). Ever since, I have had no problems with its location. The primary bar didn't rub up on the floor/roof of my mouth, the swelling went down quicker than the first time and all is good. Maybe perhaps your piercer pierced your tongue quite far back? The more muscle pierced, the more/longer it's going to swell I'm sure. So perhaps just take it out... let it close... and repierce it (asking to get it closer to the front).

Otherwise, it very much depends on the person's ability to cope with such modifications.

Swelling is very normal during the first week or so. MY question is, where is your bar placed? Back, middle, front? If it's so uncomfortable, I would recommend getting it taken out, let it close up and repierce it in a thinner location. I repierced my tongue (for a diff. reason), but my piercer repierced my tongue a little more forward than the first time, and I had no problems with it. But anyway, eventually your tongue swelling should go down, it just takes time (each individual varies). Continue using non-alcoholic mouthwash. I would recommend using a tongue cleaner rather than the tooth brush bristles--because the bristles could possibly knick you and make you bleed. If you still have problems for another 5 days or so, go see your piercer. If he/she says the same, try going to a different piercer and have him/her check it out.