tattoos???

[pooh bear fan]

do they hurt???

i'm getting a tattoo on the weekend. i was always going to do when i was "thin enough" but fuck that idea. i'm getting one now.

the picture i'm getting is of a :kitkat with his paw reaching up to a :butterfly it's so beautiful. i'm getting it to symbolise :kitty Kramer and the tattoo artist even said that he'd colour it like :kitty Kramer :touched

but does it hurt??? :scared

i'm also worried about it getting infected :scared but i'll ask the tattoo man about that. i guess i long as i look after it like he says i should be fine?

[pageling]

:hugon Pooh Bear Fan :hugoff

I think you'll find several fishys around here with tattoos! I have one - a daisy on my ankle! :flower

I won't lie - it hurt! But not blinding-oh-my-gosh-I'm-going-to-freak-out hurt. AND, just so you know, I'm thinking about getting another one, so the pain wasn't such that I'd never do it again. I'm thinking about getting a phoenix somewhere to symbolize my recovery, etc. :shy

Anyway, I :love my tat! And if you do what the guy tells you, you shouldn't have any problems with infection. I didn't. Jjust look after it and it will be fine. Let us know how it goes, ok? I'll be thinking about you and excited for you!

love,
paige

[Millificent]

Getting a :kitkat is a great idea!

I have five tattoos (actually had to stop a moment and count). The amount of pain varies a lot depending on where you get it. Directly on top of bone (like an ankle) is the most painful and over a layer of fat (like my first on my butt) is the least painful.
I always compare the level pain to a papercut. It hurts while the needle is in, but that's only a few seconds at a time. He'll have to stop very frequently to check how it looks and wipe away excess ink. When the needle isn't in, you'll just feel a little sore. Many people even find the whole area going numb.

Infection shouldn't be a problem if you follow the directions. The main thing you need to do is apply antibiotic ointment a few times a day and don't expose it to the sun for a couple weeks (to prevent fading).

:dragon Millie

[pooh bear fan]

:hugon Millie :hugoff
:hugon Paige :hugoff

thanks for your replies. ohhh i'm getting excited now!

i guess artists have tattooed all sorts of places on the body, eh? i just had a little freak out that he'd see my tummy as not many people see it! but then i figure he's seen plenty of them before, and he should be more interested in drawing the :kitkat than what my tummy looks like!

i'm contemplating a numbing cream so that it won't hurt so bad. but then i think that will probably just wash off when he cleans the area before doing the tattoo :ummm

the theory behind it is that :kitty Kramer will be forever with me, and in times of recovery difficulties, i can just put my hand on my tummy and know that he's there with me.

[JolieAnn]

:hugon Pooh :hugoff

That sounds lovely. It hurts depending on where you are getting it done. I have three. One is on my right arm (bicep). That didn't hurt too much at all. Then I have one on my back on my left shoulder blade...that one was probably the least painful.
But..*dum-da-dum-dum-dum*..:muhaha I have one going across my chest. It took the guy three hours to do and YES, IT HURT, A LOT!!!. But, none of mine are colored. They are all just black. I heard that colored hurts more, but whatever. Go for it. They are so much fun, and if they hurt that bad, no one would have them.
As far as infections go, I don't think I know anyone who does not have a tattoo. I have yet to meet someone whose got infected. But if you don't take care of it, I'm sure it can get bad. The person who does it for you will give you a whole list of instructions. It's easy to take care of...Sending my love

[Catherose]

Hey Michelle-

It hurt a little... but not too much. It was kinda exhilerating for me actually! I think the worst part about pain usually is that it's scary... like when you have a stomach ache or pull a muscle or something, I think being afraid is part of the discomfort, at least for me. But with tattoos, you know everything's ok and that the pain will stop soon... so I didn't think it was so bad. Like I said, it was exhilerating for me... it's a pretty big decision, and I think the pain made it a little exciting too. I hpe that doesn't sound too masochistic. You know that it's safe pain though, and that it will be over soon. I hope I didn't say anything bad or triggering... just my perspective on the whole thing.
:loveCatherine

[Camellia]

Michelle,

I don't have a tatoo and have never really thought about getting one.....but I just wanted to say that I think this is a great idea, and what a wonderful way to honor your kitty and to let him continue to help you through recovery :happy :yay

:love
Camellia

[urbanfaerie]

I have three tattoos.

The kanji for Strength in blue at the base of my spine. That stands for surviving the HARDEST year of my life...it was my first tat.

THEN I got a frog prince...that was a whim, but I love it...kinda stands for staying true to myself and WAITING till someone great comes along.

THEN I got the kanji for beautiful in white between my shoulder blades. It is to remind me at all times that I am beautiful.

I think honoring Kramer:kitty with a tat is a GREAT idea. NONE of them hurt too much. Just zone out and breathe and it will be all good.

They see all shapes and sizes...they're into the art. :winky

:love
Heather

[Rayneonthemoon]

I have a tatoo on my right shoulderblade. It hurt some, yes, mostly when they did the outline. The color wasn't too bad. Mine is of a butterfly

I think it's cool u r getting a tatoo, enjoy!!

Love,

[Anonymous_Member002]

:hugon Pooh :hugoff

I have a tattoo of the Chinese pictogram for "nothing" enclosed by the Sacred Space circle on my upper left arm. I got it as a 'rite of passage' after I stopped SI. And for a variety of other reasons.

I made sure that I checked with the lady who did it (:grin Crow ) about sterilization of needles and other equipment, and also about other infection risks. She said to go for black (no color) because a)it hurt less and b) there was less chance of adverse reaction (most people react badly to colored inks and not black).

I found that it didn't hurt at all. But then, I got it on my 'SI' arm... and not much hurts me there it would seem. If you follow the guidelines about keeping it covered/not covered... taking a shower properly etc then it isn't a problem. Mine healed remarkably fast :happy

Good luck.. and I think the design that you'd like is really awesome, and a fitting tribute to :angel :kitkat Kramer

[Windsong]

Hey hun! I have a blue butterfly on the center of my lower back. It hurt when he went over the bone...but it wasn't that bad. It felt like he took an eraser and kept rubbing over the same spot.

:clover Good luck :clover

:love and :kiss

:butterflyWindsong:butterfly

[pooh bear fan]

oh my gosh ~ on more sleep till i get my :kitkat tattoo! oh i'm getting a tad nervous :scared :surprise

[Lethargy]

I'm probab;y repeating what everyone else said :happy

but, yes the bone hurts quite a bit. I have a butterfly on my ankle and a kanji that says "kitten" at the base of my spine. I'm waiting for a friend to finish designing my next one. :)

the kanji hurt quite a bit, but the ankle was just like someone piching at my skin over and over again.

Good luck!

[sunray]

I have a sunflower on my arm ...

I have to admit, it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Initially, for about a minute, it did hurt loads ... I think this was because my body didn't know what to expect ... but after the initial shock, the tattooist was telling me that your body tends to adapt ... it feels the pain and recognises that this it's gonna continue for a while and there's nothing it can do about it, so it sends out all it's little endorphin type thingys which enable your body to grin and bear it ...

Pain isn't something we can measure really, as everyone has their own pain threshold ... someone could say it hurt loads ... but then you might go in and may not hurt at all. I don't think numbing cream would really do that much anyway ... because once the cream/numbing wears off, you're body would just start to feel any pain afterwards!

All I can say is don't tense up ... the more tense you are, the more it will hurt because your muscles will be tighter.

And preventing infection isn't difficult ... obviously you'd ensure the tattooist uses sterile needles and stuff ... but in terms of aftercare, just get a big tube of Savlon (antiseptic cream) and slap it on ... mine put a great dollop of it under the dressin she tapped over it to give it a headstart ... once the dressing was off, I kept applying the cream every morning when I got up and every evening when in bed ... don't rub it too hard when drying yourself, and try not to scratch/pick at it ... and it'll be fine!

And the best thing is, if you have someone who is really chatting with you ... to keep you occupied ... and I went to a really cool place where they give me a lollipop to suck on while it's going on, to take your mind off it!!

I have no regrets at all .. and I'd happily do it again ... when I have the cash!

[arance]

I have Apple logo on my low back.

Having a tattoo hurts far less than the blood tests in hospital!!

Just choose well the thing you want to have on you! it cant be undone!! I definitelly love my Apple!!

[Seabiscuit]

:hugon Michelle :hugoff
Michelle - I'm so happy for you! It really is so sweet of you about Kramer :touched - that is so cool. Hope it goes well.
:love amyb

[pooh bear fan]

:bounce le bump :bounce

[rowgirl]

:hugon Michelle :hugoff

That's so great. Did you get it yet?

[pooh bear fan]

:hugon Allie :hugoff nice to *see* you!

yup, i got it and i :love LOVE :love it!!!!!!

[allonit]

:happy I don't know. I have heard many different things. I heard where you get it, matters. I just got my belly done,pierced...that was FUN! I plan on getting my tattooo soon!

Good luck :clover

[urbanfaerie]

I have three tats...one frog prince onthe right shoulderblade...size of a golden dollar, the kanji for Strength just above my bum, dead smack in the middle...and a new old one...

Had the kanji for beautiful, and it was messed up. It was supposed to be between my shoulder blades...on my spine...he MISSED my spine...so I got it fixed...added cherry blossoms(three) to give it symmetry(in two shades of pink with white leaves) and a lavender geometric kinda fill. It looks like tissue paper was wet and layered...different intensities of color. It's GORGEOUS. I love it. :happy

:love
Heather

Thinking of getting Kamsa(hand of protection) on the forearm that I s/i on...in white ink so I can easily cover it with makeup...and a set of angel wings with a crown and pink sparklies near my netherregions...also for protection...from icky boys.

[Seabiscuit]

My friend gave me a fake tattoo of a beautiful colorful :butterfly recently. I thought it was a lot of fun but definitely not something I would do long term because of what the bible says. Just my opinion!

[lilsweetie]

i have a little one inch tattoo of a heart. It didn't hurt much at all. I got it done on my left hip... it just tickled when he wiped the excess ink off.

[sadiec]

am i way late on responding to this??? i have fifteen tattoos. ( my kitty is on my left bicep....good choice) the pain really isn't all that bad.... kind of a hot, stinging sensation. the discomfort you experience all depends on where you're getting it on your body, how intricate it is and the artist. my tattoo artist refuses to give me anymore tattoos until i get healthy. the last tattoo he did for me was just before i went to a hospital and i couldn't feel my arm for three days. you might want to be sure that you have some nourishment in your body before you go..... because your system does go into shock after a significant amount of time under the needle.

[Fishy Sam]

I'm getting a tattoo on the weekend. I was always going to do when i was "thin enough" but fuck that idea. I'm getting one now.

WOW! What a hit to that ed voice! Such an inspiration, in many regards!

YOU GO GIRL!

[jesla]

I have a shooting star on my ankle :stars and a Winnie the Pooh on my stomach. I :love my tattoos.

[Anonymous_Member006]

:gumby

I really :love the :idea of getting a tattoo

I always figured I'd get one when I was LIVING in RECOVERY AND SAFETY. U know a really symbolic one for survival and all that...

But I'm getting impatient!

Dyou know wot im thinking.

I'm thinking I might get one done when i start living in SAFETY and get a second one done when I've got "totally there"

See like @ where im living right now I can't get one done because my parents hate them...
and my abuser has one of a dagger (knife) which I felt was a horrible thing when he used a knife to :scared me...

but I really want one... it would have to be where it couldn't be seen as I'm going into the medical profession and its not really "the done thing"...

And what happens when ur old and wrinkly??? but see when I'm living in safety and recovery I'll know I will get to be old and wrinkly so that in itself would be awesome!

I really want one :supergrin I had a fake one done when I was in NZ and i kept looking at it :muhaha I also had a fake one when i was in :usa...

I really want one :winky

How do you choose wot to get and where to get it???

I have some ideas:
something to do with travelling - a globe...:world
:stars stars (for strength)
:angel an angel (for my daughter)
:love a heart (for Love)
the woman symbol :pinkfishy
:peace the peace symbol
:flower a lemon and pink rose (for my daughter)
a cross of some kind for God...
a white woolf... its something that came into my head a long while ago.. to keep me safe - twelve white wolves - its something i repeat in my mind over and over...
id also like something to do with speaking - for when i graduate as a speech T...

I think I like the globe best... can anyone else think of any other ideas to show travelling?

I was thinking I could get it done on my back but I want to see it....

I think really it would have to be somewhere around my stomach/hip/ area

I could get em all done eventually :muhaha

[kers]

i have four tattoos (and plans for more!) and i always wanted to wait until i was "thin enough" or not si-ing anymore, or was totally recovered to get them.

i'm glad i didn't wait, because they remind me that i CAN beat this stuff and that i can fight it. all of my tattoos symbolize strength and regeneration.

i have two tats on my arms and those were really hard to decide to get because i think my arms are "fat." i am so proud that i got them! and now i like to show my arms off!

[Anonymous_Member006]

I've got it :idea :supergrin

I want a open oyster and in the top half of the oyster is the view of one half of the globe :world eg :uk side and in the bottom is the view of the other eg :aussie side... Coz u know itll be that saying that I love - the world is my oyster.. And insted of an oyster shell itll kinda be a Paua shell which I got in my fave place in NZ...coz the shells are all shiny different colours ...and Paua, u pronnounce it power... and oysters are :love arent they and dont u get pearls from oysters or something that start out as a grain of sand???

:muhaha something along those lines anyway!!!!

[StacyC]

I have a tattoo of a red rose inside a heart on my lower back i love it it is my first tattoo and i would like to add tribals on the sides later on (didn't at the time cause i was afraid of the pain) it didn't hurt as much as i thought and i will be getting more. I want a tweety bird(i love tweety) with my daughter's name and dob on my shoulder blade that's my next one and something else for my son.

[Anonymous_Member006]

OMG its really happenning im really gonna get one...this is not a rash decision ive thought about it for a good eighteen months or so... but

I have a lovely friend who's going to come with me to have it done and I'm going to the place she had hers done and she had no probs and it was clean and everything. She's awesome aint she! :hugon :bear :love :hugoff

Probably the first week in July...

oooh how awesome eh!!!!!!

[pooh bear fan]

:love charley :love

She's awesome aint she!

yup! :cheesy she's the fucking best! :supergrin :muhaha

[LIMITLESS]

Depending on the location of the tattoo... it can be more or less UNcomfortable... but I wouldn't say it HURT... it's just REALLY ANNOYING!
Get some neosporin with pain reliever in it... it takes the itch away when it starts to heal... only use a TINY bit... if it looks GREASY it's TOO MUCH... just barely enough for it to absorb is PLENTY.
Enjoy ;)

[Anonymous_Member007]

I could swear I'd had the idea of the specific design for years but apparently only abt since last june.

I do like the idea of the lemon and pink rose for my daughter and something to do with speech when i graduate.

I'm going to wait until later for the one for :love leigha :love, a) when i get the right design and b) i'd like it done on a special occasion. In December it would have been her tenth birthday, I think I'll get it done then. (on what was her due date) Or I could get it done now coz its coming up to her conception date (only just realised now!) No I think, thats an Idea, I'll wait and have it done for her tenth birthday. Yeah I like that idea a lot :supergrin coz then i'll have got used to the idea of having a tat and it gives me nine months for inspiration....
ooh maybe something to do with nine seeing as thats my lucky number or ... three or twelve... okie im wandering.

I'm excited.

[Panthera]

probably you have it already ...

it does not hurt. i have one in my low back / bum .. it did not hurt. at least compared to taking blood and other stuff they do in hospitals. :)

[Anonymous_Member007]

I got it :world

It's a globe in an oyster/paua shell.


I got it :supergrin

I didnt find it v.painful just coz it took two hours i found it sooo annoying and i got a bit wriggly!

[fillmeup]

i think that my tattoo is the thing i like most about my body.
it is only in black, and it is a celtic knot at the bottom of my spine - it's small too, only about four centimetres high but i love it.
i got it on such a whim as well. i was in san francisco on holiday and i had a spare day and couldn't figure out what to do so i wandered through china town, went to see the church where jo di maggio and marilyn monroe tied the knot, then wandered into a tattoo parlour and had it done. look at it this way, it's a souvenir that i'm never going to lose right?
i'm thinking about getting another one, but i'm not sure where or what to get.
x
fillmeup
p.s. i either want another tattoo or another piercing, maybe my nose...? watch this space!

[lisawoos]

I am also a fellow tattoo/piercing lover!! I have three tattoos and am designing my fourth at the moment. I have one on my lower back, one on my upper back and one on my stomach!

I have nine piercings which are all in some part of my ears! my fave one is the hard bit just kinda covering where you put the cotton bud!! that didnt actually hurt as much as i thought it would lol!

[fillmeup]

lisawoos - i like your style!
that part of your ear is called the 'tragus' and i've got it pierced too. it was the most painful of my piercings...well, so far!
i have also got a bar going across the top of my left ear which i really like. twiddling it is the best concentration aid in exams and stuff
my parents nearly threw me out of the house when they saw what i'd had done but i figure, hey, it's my ear right?!
xfillmeup

p.s. what is the design for your fourth tattoo of?

[StanginIt]

I'm not gonna lie, it was extremely painful...but worth it! I dont' wish i didn't do it. I have a four leaf clover on my lower back...they say it hurts more there than other places (your spine), so it depends on where you want to put it really. Good idea tho with the cat and butterfly, that's awesome! Good Luck! (mine didn't get infected at all, it's pretty sore tho for at least a week)

[Feak]

I got a recovery tattoo done a few weeks ago, it's a bindrune I designed that means victory, recovery, moving from dark to light, new beginings etc :rainbow It's only small and black outline, on my sholder, but I love it and it means a lot to me :touched

:hugon Charley :hugoff yours sounds lovely, can you get a copy on your computer so we can see it? I'm gonna try get mine up on my website.

[Anonymous_Member007]

It's going to go on the www.abody.co.uk website.
and then i can get a print out, scan it in and then put it on my own site. / send it as an attachment.
I miss my digi camera connection (can't link it at uni)
Just needs another ten days or so to heal.
I went in today for him to check it and he says its healing really well, Just need to keep up the mosturiser and it'll be great.
I was just panicking because it's got to the peeling stage and when i wash it bits seem to come off!! (the top layer of skin/ink is kinda peeling off) I wa like aaaaaaaaaah i'm washing my tattoo away but he assures me it doesn't wash off :touched

Man I love it. :supergrin :world
I cant wait to show it. it'll go in my siggie!!!

[elessedil]

Well I've got **** tattoos and I love every one of 'em. I've got one BIG one on my right calf, one on my right upperarm, one on my right ankle, **** on my left forearm and **** on my right forearm. Out of all of them I think that my ankle hurt worse, but it wasn't bad at all. The most painful thing actually to me was when the guy doing my leg forgot to get a clean wipe (had already been using it on my leg) and wiped it over the bleeding tattoo. The ash from the ink on the rag getting in the wound BURNED like all get out. But it only happened once and it wasn't too bad. I do have a really high pain tolerance, haha I have to have one. The biggest question everyone asks me is what hurts worse... the outline or the fill? I think the fill hurts worse, altho many think the outline does. To me, the fill hurts worse because by the time they get to that part you are already tender from getting the outline. Just stay still and remember to breathe steady and DON'T JUMP! And tell the guy if you think you have to sneeze or cough or something. LOL.

[elessedil]

OOPS forgot about the numbers thing. I have Seaven tattoos total. ;)

[Feak]

Ooh ooh may I suggest what I used to help mine heal? Pure vitamin E oil. Just rubbed a little in each time I cleaned it, after the Sudocrem. Vit E is a wonderful skin moisturiser and healer. It's really helped mine! :happy

[jelliebean]

I am seriously contemplating getting a tatoo of a fish, to celebrate and symbolize my recovery... but im really scared.

[kkc]

i just got my first tattoo back in sept...on the spur of the moment but i love it...it is on my lower back it is a cross w/ a blue dove w/ sunny clouds around it...it is kinda big but i love it! it symbolizes my recovery process and the dove is the dove represented at my treatment center...it also symbolizes just that God is with me always and all the difficult things i have been through and that i can get through anything!

[seniorpride]

I just got my second (and probably last) tattoo ten days ago... it's a cross on my L ankle (to balance the tattoo on my R ankle, LOL)... was supposed to be dark red but it's looking a little more like kinda dark purple-red... reminds me of the color of some of my scars. :ugh But I love the design and am pretty happy with it overall... I've been thinking about getting this one done for a couple of months now and am glad I did! :supergrin

[Millificent]

I got my sixth last night! It's a :butterfly on my left shoulderblade.

I won't have a photo for a while, but it's based on the orange and black design at this shop (the one on the holiday ornament). I took out all the color, so it looks somewhat tribal. The artist didn't do all the lines in the top part of the wing.

:dragon Millie

[StacyC]

I now have three the rose on my lower back, a unicorn head on my right shoulder with my daughter's name and dob and on my left shoulder I have a tribal heart with my husband's name in it. Not done yet though on average i have gotten one every year for the last three years next will be one for my son.

[Kaspa]

:gumby Here is another :fishy who :love tattoos!
I have a :flower on my right shoulder and a lizard on my left thigh.
I'm getting an :angel on my stomach, a tribal kind of design on my right thigh and a chinese :dragon on my lower back.

:love

Kaspa

:bandwagon

[carnelian]

HI POOH !!!!!

I've missed you and thought of you often!!!

Did you get the tat?
I think of it every so often but only as a "socially acceptable" form of SI (I have always assumed it would hurt which is the point) I don't actually want a tatoo.

What a great way to honour Kramer.

Love Carn

[ddbibc]

Hi, Pooh!

My name is Deb and I have tattoos. I won't lie and say that getting them did not hurt, but it was not so bad that I decided never again. I have three---four scrolls on my right upper arm that have my late husband's name and the names of each of my three children with a sunrise and a cross. The other two are on both cheeks of my derriere---on the left it says Harley Honey with a rose and the one on the right says Biker Babe also with a rose.

I love my tattoos and I don't regret getting them. I do caution anyone getting a tattoo for the first time to be absolutely sure that is what they want to do because it is a long and difficult process to have them removed. The reason I say this is because my best girlfriend is a tattoo artist. She always makes sure that the person getting a tattoo from her is certain they want one before she does it.

[randomgirl]

I just got a tattoo about an hour ago! :supergrin I'm so excited about it! It was a spur of the moment thing but I am so glad I did it. For those of you debating whether or not to get one, I definitely recommend it. It didn't hurt much while he was doing it and it's just a bit sore now. I got the Chinese symbol for strength and courage on the back of my left shoulder, it looks so cool! Any suggestions on how to keep it clean, what do other :fishyies use on their tattoos?


:zing Viki :zing

[sweetalb]

so I found something that I want a tattoo of. I found it on a chinese symbols page. it says "never give up". I thought that would be awesome, but I am kind of scared to get it.

[Millificent]

Any suggestions on how to keep it clean, what do other :fishyies use on their tattoos?


Viki, the tattoo artist should have given you written instructions on caring for your tattoo. I can email you the regimen I've been given, but it was very unprofessional for him not to tell you this himself.

:dragon Millie

[randomgirl]

Millie, the tattoo artist did give me instructions as to how to keep it clean, I just wanted to be extra careful and see what other :fishyies use(d). I'm just afraid I'll do something wrong and it'll get infected.

If you want to see my tattoo, email me and I'll send you a picture of it because I don't have a site to put it up on. :supergrin '


:zing Viki :zing

[sweetalb]

does anyone know around how long it takes to get the tattoo? If I just get a small one? I am thinking about getting one, kind of scared though.

[LucyE]

I have one on my back (on my right sholder blade) its just black and is the rune for health in body mind and spirit. I want another one on my collorbone, an angel to look after me, but i haven't found teh perfect design yet, i know whta i want but can't draw to save my life!!! also thinking of getting celtic knots round one of my ankels as the othe aren't goignto be very visable (due to si scaring on my arm). the one i have didn't hurt at all, and i have always said to anyoen that has asked, it hurt more walking up the hill back to my halls (i was in first year at uni when i had it done).

I got it just after i nearly died from an od, and so it was to help represent the part of me that wanted to live. and i gues sthat i have been thinking more about my orther one as not going through a good time (and the fact my ex and i split cause he said he didn't want me to have it done)



:hugon sweetalb :hugoff

it does depend on how big, and how much desgin there is, i mean min e only took fifteen mins.