Monday, January 12, 2009
I figured out that the metal I'm using for my piercings isn't compatible with my body, thanks to zeolite. I couldn't understand why the zeolite would make my lymph nodes very swollen and sore, then not really make me feel much better after it died down. I had an infection in a couple piercings and didn't even know it until the zeolite "inspired" my body to fight it more fiercely. The holes did look a bit inflamed, but I thought that was just because I had stretched them. I was wrong.
Who'd have thought titanium would cause this reaction, being known for its surgical grade and biocompatibility? I thought I was so clever avoiding steel for that reason, but turns out my body likes neither.
I quickly ordered some niobium pieces online, since I remember that always worked perfectly for me in the past (specifically in a tender piercing before that quickly got better upon switching). It's just a less common body jewelry material, so it's hard to find in stores. Today, I was tired of feeling generally too crappy and sick for work, so I went on a wild goose chase for some niobium jewelry in nearby stores. I have a lot of clients to see tomorrow and want to recover overnight rather that wait 2 or more days for the mailed ones. I called about 20 stores, but only 2 carried what I needed. When I got to the nearest one, the guy wasn't there for about 30-45 minutes. So I walked around to other stores and came back. It was worth the wait because he gave me a great deal, since his store is moving. And I already feel much better physically after a few hours of having the niobium in.
If I ever want to try a new piercing again, I now know better. No more need to abandon piercings because they don't seem to be doing well. I may need to repierce my navel for the millionth time to get that 4-way arrangement back, since I only have the bottom one left. That area never hurts me much anyway. It only hurts my wallet.
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Who'd have thought titanium would cause this reaction, being known for its surgical grade and biocompatibility? I thought I was so clever avoiding steel for that reason, but turns out my body likes neither.
I quickly ordered some niobium pieces online, since I remember that always worked perfectly for me in the past (specifically in a tender piercing before that quickly got better upon switching). It's just a less common body jewelry material, so it's hard to find in stores. Today, I was tired of feeling generally too crappy and sick for work, so I went on a wild goose chase for some niobium jewelry in nearby stores. I have a lot of clients to see tomorrow and want to recover overnight rather that wait 2 or more days for the mailed ones. I called about 20 stores, but only 2 carried what I needed. When I got to the nearest one, the guy wasn't there for about 30-45 minutes. So I walked around to other stores and came back. It was worth the wait because he gave me a great deal, since his store is moving. And I already feel much better physically after a few hours of having the niobium in.
If I ever want to try a new piercing again, I now know better. No more need to abandon piercings because they don't seem to be doing well. I may need to repierce my navel for the millionth time to get that 4-way arrangement back, since I only have the bottom one left. That area never hurts me much anyway. It only hurts my wallet.
