Infected piercing?! - sorry for the pic!

[candlesticksflame]

Hi all,

Had my forward helix pierced around 2 weeks ago, and it's been absolute agony ever since.
I've been hot, dizzy and super nauseous to the point I can't eat anything, and my head has been pounding, especially around the side of my head / where the piercing is..

I went back to the piercer two days ago as the piercing was really swollen and painful. So swollen in fact, that the screw ball popped off from the barbel as there was absolutely no room left on the bar.

When the piercer removed the original jewellery, she gasped as she realised she put in the jewellery size for LOBES and not for cartilage / upper ear piercings. She then proceeded to put into my ear, a size larger than I was pierced with.
When she noticed that it wouldn't even go the whole way through my ear, she removed that one and put in a curved belly bar..

INTO. MY. EAR. 🤢

Please note that this was so painful I very nearly fainted. My friend was propping me up, genuinely concerned for me.

Afterwards there was a huge rush of release as the earring was much bigger than I was used to, and my ear finally has the space it needed to breath and heal.

This evening whilst driving, the ball fell off the end of my piercing bar AGAIN. I couldn't stop so had to wait until I could pull over, at which point I caught a glimpse of my ear and it was oozing watery puss and blood. I couldn't get the bar back in and have had to decide on removing it for good.

I'm gutted because I went through hell and back with this piercing, I've never reacted like it to any others before and I feel I've wasted a good amount of money on it too.

I'm really worried that if it's infected, the infection might still be in the piercing and I don't want it to get worse. The feeling now it's gone is amazing, I'm actually kind of glad it's removed! 😂😣

Anyway I guess I just wanted a rant. Feeling disappointed as I loved the idea of this piercing, and also feeling worried that my ear may never go back to normal again..

[dementedpixie]

Maybe try and get antibiotics in case of infection

[chocolatespiders]

Ouch that looks so painful. I have always used good quality sea salt diluted in water on any new piercings and any that start to look a bit sore.

[Zeebeezee]

Why do this? I know, I know. But anyway looks bad to me.

If you can make the decision to mutilate your ear, you can check in with a GP. We know nothing medical, but we can be quite judgmental. LOL.

Hope you will be ok.

[MaryBear]

Don't go back to that piercer. As pp said, get some antibiotics but in the meantime bathe with slightly salted tepid water. Not too much salt as that will make it worse. Leave it to completely heal before thinking about having it redone.

[candlesticksflame]

Thanks all - unfortunately I've only noticed the severity of it this evening. It's now almost 10:30pm so doctors aren't open and I don't feel like it's a 111 call. So will try the doctors in the morning. 😊 xx

[DramaAlpaca]

Bloody hell, that looks sore. I think you might have to let that piercing go and allow it to heal up. You might need antibiotics as well so I'd get the GP to have a look.

I had to give up on a rook piercing that refused to heal. It was a bugger to get out, but oh the relief! I needed antibiotics and mine wasn't as sore looking as yours.

[candlesticksflame]

Thanks all! I know it's my own silly fault for having it done, I've had plenty of piercings before though (although done elsewhere) and NEVER had anything like this happen! I'm usually a really easy healer but this one has been horrendous.

I can't believe that the piercer actually our new jewellery into my ear, with it looking like it does. I had no idea how bad it was having not been able to see it. I'm absolutely astounded, and praying that it manages to loose the swelling now. ☹️☹️

[CourageCallsToCourage]

Oh that looks so sore!

Yeah it might be worth trying to get a doctor's appointment in case it is infected, although if it's feeling much better already it might all be down to the discomfort from having unsuitable jewellery in.

Definitely don't go back to that piercer!

I'd do salt soaks if you aren't already. (Boil water, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in a mug, let it cool until you can hold your pinkie finger in it without being scalded, but it still feels properly hot. Soak pieces of gauze or cotton wool (gauze is best but I've always used cotton wool and haven't had any problems) and hold them over the area. Get a fresh piece of cotton wool / gauze every time it cools, and repeat until your mug of water has cooled.)

I feel you on the disappointment, I've had heaps of piercings and the couple that I've had to give up on have been pretty gutting. I can promise that your ear won't look like that forever though! I would expect it to go back to normal pretty quickly now that the jewellery is out.

Good luck!

[LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow]

I'd go with salt water overnight tbh, give it a good a sqooshing every couple of hours, no doubt it'll keep you awake! And phone GP in the morning

Use boiling water to dissolve the salt and let it cool before use, use cllean lint free fabric to dab and don't double dip in the salt solution!

Also if I had any surgical spirit I'd give a dab with that too... I know it's not recommended anymore, but it was when I got my ears pierced in the dark ages and the only bother I ever had was from cheapo earrings and a dab of that and the "good" earring back in always sorted that out overnight.

[SadAndPregnant]

Try

1/4 tea spoon of salt diluted in half a pint of cooled boiled water. Wipe with a cotton bud. Every time you go back to the ear use a clean cotton bud and then pat dry with another clean dry bud when you've given it a gentle but thorough clean.

If there are any dry/ crusty bits then saturate with water on a bud a bit to soften so that it can be wiped away gently.

It won't fix it by tomorrow but it should at least help somewhat.

[SadAndPregnant]

(Maybe it would help to know that I was a body piercer for 10 or so years)

[wigglywormx]

I was advised to use TCP on my DDs infected ear piercing, it completely cleared within a few days.

[candlesticksflame]

Thank you all so much for your kind help and suggestions! I am currently waiting for my boiled water to cool slightly and the salt to dissolve. Fingers crossed this will work until I can get some help in the morning.

I can't even describe the relief of pain since removing it!!

Is it possible to feel so unwell with a piercing?! I can't even describe the nausea I had! 🤕

[Oceanrudeness]

Hi, sounds strange but if you have camomile teabags, you can apply as a hot compress to the piercing site. Literally get the teabag, dunk it in hot water, squeeze excess liquid out and hold it on the wound. A (much-pierced) friend recommended this to me when I had infected tragus, and it cleared it up within a few days without the need for antibiotics. Salt baths and TCP/dettol can be a bit too harsh and actually make it worse.

[indemMUND]

At this point you need antibiotics. Removing the jewellery can easily trap the infection in the fistula but given that it was falling out that was going to happen anyway. Seriously, this is not normal. Antibiotics ASAP.

[RevolutionRadio]

Sea salt in hit water.

Also dilute tea tree oil if you have some in hot water.

Soak cotton wool pad and place on ear.

I usually do it with the water as hot as I can stand it.

[Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin]

Ring 111 it’s infected and you need antibiotics, leaving it could lead to sepsis.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/infected-piercings/

[candlesticksflame]

Thanks all, can't believe the piercer told me it isn't infected at all and looks healthy! I couldn't see it so went by her word.

Been on the phone to both 111 and my doctors who are going to call me later today. Fingers crossed I will be able to get some antibiotics 😤☹️

[captainprincess]

Looks sore. I had a similar thing happen, had a piercing, got infected went back to piercer who refused to remove it saying it was fine! Ended up in A&E In the middle of the night as pus and blood coming out of ear, had it cut out and they had to stitch it up, got antibiotics. 2 days later it was worse despite antibiotics and went to GP who sent me to hospital where I was admitted for a week on IV antibiotics. I couldn't even open my mouth fully at the time I went to hospital, I had to have those build up milkshakes for a couple of days instead of food.
Hope yours gets better soon.

[RevolutionRadio]

How are you getting on?

[candlesticksflame]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I called 111 who directed me to my doctors - it was under septic. I was nauseous, rubbing a high temperature, tooth pain on the same side and also a pounding headache. I've got antibiotics and they've told me to count my blessings that it didn't get worse and thank goodness I took the jewellery out, as it could have resulted in surgery ☹️🤕