Hi guys! I'm new to stretching... but I have done extensive research on the subject. I still need help (and a bit of reassurance) and of course I wish to become a part of this really cool community, so let me continue on...
I started out with my standard 20g ear piercings which i've had for many years, but i haven't been wearing earrings in them very often... two days ago, I very easily slid two filed down pieces of18g stainless steel wire (i'm impatient and didnt buy any stretching-related stuff at all YET) in so i didn't consider that stretching.. and i decided to move onto 16g (except that i actually can't tell if its 16g, or 14g, because i lost the tag on the spool of wire, ARGH)... problem with that being that i used two filed down wire hooks made with galvanized steel (i already know its bad for ears...), and they are STILL in. now... i have been disinfecting the area around the piercing 3 or 4 times daily, with Germ-Out, a hand disinfectant gel... and i have been rotating the earrings regularly. i am seeing nothing strange, except my right ear is slightly more swollen than my left because i had a tougher time stretching it than the left, but there is no redness, or swelling in other areas around it, no puss, no bleeding when i did the stretching or now...
the thing is... i haven't taken the wire out yet, and i really really want to, to give my piercings a relaxing and reassuringly disinfecting warm sea salt bath... but im afraid if i do take them out, i wont be able to get them back in without doing a lot more playing with them, and i dont want to play with them TOO much...
should i keep them in a little longer to ensure they wont close on me too much, or take them out to give sea salt baths regularly?
i know that galvy oxidizes especially with heat and/or moisture, which is bad for the skin.... ugh, i wish i had something better right now, but i have to wait for my paypal transfer!! it will be atleast 2-3 weeks til i can order something!
here is my main question: assuming i could get away with keeping galvy in my ears until i can order something better online, how long do you think would be safe and do you think i should do?
thanks!