Would you complain?

[Cliorio]

Posted about this before but NC. Not sure if I’m being unreasonable and it’s probably partly my fault but just feel a bit annoyed and I’ve wasted money too.

I had my ears pierced a week ago at an jewellers after having them done years ago and one closed up. The other was fine so I just had one pierced again with a gun.

My ear lobes are quite thick. I’ve had problem with some earrings in the past being too small and therefore with the swelling they have been way too tight around my ear and then have fallen into the hole. I advised the piercer of this and told them what had happened before. The piercer said it would be completely fine because my ear wouldn’t swell too much with it just being re pierced and not a new piercing. I told him I just wanted new piercings instead next to my old ones but he said I’m fine to just get my old piercing pierced through and reopen the closed bit at the back.

I’ve woken up this morning with a swollen and red hot ear, the stud has fallen in the hole and has embedded inside my ear lobe and can no longer see it. I went back to the jewellers today and they told me to go to an and e. They said they do longer back earrings but these need ordering in. I just don’t get why the piercer didn’t tell me this. He said because it’s not a new piercing as such that there would be no swelling.

Thanks everyone. NHS 111 haven’t called back within their 4 hour time frame they gave. I understand they are busy. I can’t get to A and E anyway at this time and looking on A and E website it is a 8 hr wait between arriving and discharge. There is also no walk in centres near me it turns out. I’m just worried incase there’s an infection or the hole closes over the earring at the front, trapping it. Not sure how likely that is? I think it will be ok over night and then hopefully I can have it seen too as my ear is twice the size and throbbing, feels boiling hot!! So sore. Hopefully I will be able to sleep tonight. Thanks all who have replied

That's awful, you would be justified in complaining. The company may not change anything, though, as they will be sales assistants with minimal training as opposed to actual piercers, and guns carry a higher risk of infection and trauma to the ear. As others have said, definitely go to a piercer who will use a needle if you want it redone.
Have you cleaned it with salt water? Don't use anything else on it unless a medical professional advises it. As far as I know it's worse to take the jewellery out yourself when it's infected, however it is worth checking with 111 or similar as I'm not a piercer or HCP, just going on what I've been advised when I've had piercings.

That looks sore. I would complain as they ignored your concerns. Maybe they get commission if they do a piercing

I agree don’t try and get it out yourself as it may close up and trap the infection if there is one. You may need antibiotics so definitely get it looked at

@Ennyyy thank you yes I have bathed in salt water and kept on top of the aftercare with it. I feel quite light headed and sick tbh!

will keep the ear ring in. I can’t seem to get the back off anyway it’s way too tight and the pain is unbearable when I try, I’m pretty sure there’s an infection in there now, I’m guessing with it being so tight on even when I have cleaned it it’s not being cleaned well. Also no air circulation getting to it

A bit of a rash has started also

Watch out for signs of sepsis:

https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/tattoos-body-piercings/

I’m really not sure what to do with it being the weekend. 111 did not call me back and I have no walk in or urgent care near me, I can’t remove the earring myself, the skin has now closed over at the front over night so the earring is completely trapped, I don’t want to waste A and E staffs time either!

OP when I was little I caught chickenpox and they healed over my earring front and back on both ears, it required surgery to get them out. Very very quick!
Go to A&E, it’s not a waste of their time. You could catch sepsis or infection.

Just go to A&E now, it'll be quiet at this time of day.

You have a foreign body trapped inside you and potentially have what could be a very serious infection. You won't be wasting A & E's time, please go this minute and get your ear treated x

I am not convinced that you will get a refund if you’ve signed a consent form that outlines the risks, but I would still write an email and also shame them on social media!!

As someone who works in an emergency department… just go. They will be sympathetic. I have dug out an earring from someone’s ear at about 3am (they couldn’t sleep and begged mum to take them to have it removed!). They might inject your ear with local anaesthetic first and then they can remove it without too much pain. You will be waiting quite some time for it to properly heal, so that you can have it re-done, though (if that is what you want).