Tried to put in plug, Was to big, now all swollen!

[AshleighLynn]

I was trying to put in a plug that I just bought (14g, apparently) after having my taper in for three days (I know wrong). I took the taper out, cleaned my ear and the new plug. When I tried putting it in it only went halfway. I forced it a tiny little bit and it went fully in. It actually kind of hurt in a way and when I looked at it I thought I had gotten a blowout so I removed the plug. Now my ear is swollen and red. I honestly think that she gave me a bigger plug then my size was (bought at different store) so now I'm wondering if I should put my 14g taper back in and buy a new plug tomorrow or put my 14g taper and let the swelling go down or what?

[AshleighLynn]

By the way, I do not have a blowout

[StrickyCub]

This is actually common, for jewellery to be a little bigger or smaller than others even if it is a certain "gauge".
I just upsized to 2g about 5 days ago. The plug I bought I asked for 6mm (2g) and the chick measured it, said it was 6mm. Anyways I put it in following my taper, and it was actually a lot harder and tighter to get it in after the taper (I'd left my taper in overnight before getting the jewellery and was comfortable at that size).
After a little bit of stinging, which went away after about 3-5 minutes, I just left it in and it's been healing up nicely, although a bit slower compared to my previous stretches, which I put down to the fact that there was a slight size difference between the taper and tunnel.

Anyways, just baby your ear. Do sea salt soaks and wash it with antibacterial soap in the shower and let it heal up for a few months before trying to re-stretch.

[AshleighLynn]

Then I just messed up and should have left it in? Dang.
Ok thanks!(:

[StrickyCub]

You didn't really mess up, if your instincts tell you to do something then they're probably right.

Was the jewellery you put in at 14g threaded? If so , the bits where it screws on could have caused some tearing/cuts in your lobe as well.

[AshleighLynn]

Yes it was. It really stung when I tried putting it in because of those.

So I shouldn't put anything in it right now? Or can I put in a taper and leave it for a couple of months and let it heal.

(I'm pretty new to this still)

[StrickyCub]

You can put in some smaller jewellery as long as it doesn't have any threading on it that will tear it more when putting it in.
I wouldn't wear tapers either, they're meant to be used as tools not as jewellery. Yes leave your ear to heal for a few months before stretching again.