Okay. I bought my first taper, and have put it in. [It is about 16-14g] I got it halfway, and got a bit of resistance. So I left it in for a few hours how it was, then soaked it in warm water and pushed it through the rest of the way and it was fine. It stung a tiny bit [but no more than if you put an earring through your ear and have to push through a bit of skin] for a few hours but hasn't hurt really since. What I am unsure about is the fact that it has swollen. Not a lot- and it isn't red or bleeding, the earlobe is just a bit larger than usual.
I have been cleaning it in salt water.
So what is normal? Does my ear sound healthy? Oh, and is it okay to leave this taper in for a few weeks till it's healed and I am going up to the next size?