Beans

I don't know if this counts but I'm day 4 on my arm and I have a little ooze crust in a few spots too. Mostly where a lot of shading and color went in and on a fairly moble part of the body near the elbow. So it keeps cracking or pulling against its self as I move. It happened to hubby to near his pit as well but healed beautifuly. I'm thinking it's just part of healing in more moble parts of the body.

Hang in there man, I know it sucks but you gotta go through it to be prepared for the "one" we all get our hearts shat on in life. Just remember WHO you are and stay true to it. Good luck!

Ugh, I just hurt. Only four hours of shading and coloring on my forearm, about a 3 inch band for my 3/4 sleeve yesterday. It sucks. Feeling like ground beef chuck. But she's beautiful, the only thing that will keep me moving forward.

It's your tattoo, who cares who likes it. I agree, it looks fine to me. We all age, as does the art. I find it better to embrace our aging selves. If your lucky they will fade and blurr into nothing. A good sign of a life well lived. :)

So, I had my second sitting yesterday. 4 solid hours. Sigh, I sat my butt firmly and didnt say a word, Untill the hot towel and I admit I may have squealed like a little pig. :0 But it's done. This session was rough but that's the name of the game. I am thinking I may have been a bit overly zealous picking out my design. It's looking like I need 25+ more hours to complete it. BUT seeing the ever so small progress, about a 3 inch band is now shaded and colored around my forearm....I nearly cried. It's about the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen. I L.O.V.E my artists and he has been so wonderful to Hubby and I.(who is getting a back piece done by him) He is strictly a dry heal artists so I am following his directions to the "T" I will post healing progress. So far so good.

Today at noon I start getting color in my arm 3/4 sleeve. :) I'm so excited I can't believe it's fianlly happening. I spent the day yesterday with my hubby and our artist, while he started a giant octopuss on his back. Wow is all I can say.

My husbands problem lies with breathing air. I'm convinced if I held the pillow over his face, just a little longer each night, I might not get blasted out of bed. Mammoth farts on my back 8.9 on the rictor scale....UGH!!!!!!

:confused: So both arms, a chest piece and the back too. HA, I dont think I wanna stop at the arms. I really NEED something to at least balance my lower arm. Im thinking peonies

So, I've always wanted tattoos but waited so long because life got in the way. Now, that I've had my outline done for my left arm 3/4 sleeve, my first tattoo, something I've wanted for 20+ years. (I'm 43) I've become unhappy or itchy? :( I look down and my right arm just looks so...Plain/weird to me. I'm feeling the need to fill up the other arm with something equally as beautiful. Which leads me to a new thought. How fully tattooed do I want to become and I'm kind of freaking myself out. Maybe fairly heavily? Though, I haven't discussed this with the Hubby. I think I'd like to do both legs after my arms. I guess I'm leaning to a balanced look.

Im so sorry someone you cared for so deeply shamed you in such a way. Its an awful thing to do to anyone much less your BFF. Honestly, you are a much better person and deserve to have the love of someone who values you for you. Not the thin covering of aging skin we are all bound to.

Thanks Vass! Im so happy to hear tattoos have posed no problems for you either. Its a librating feeling taking controll back.

Yesterday Hubby and I pulled out the camper for a good cleaning for the season. We meet friends next friday at the hot springs. YAY, I love me some camping...And while drinking my coffee this morning 3 Piebald white tails passed in front of our property. Beautiful beautiful beautiful! Last season we had a 6 point pure white buck show up too. Living in the country is always awesome!

Wow, thank you Kylegrey. It has definitely given me something to occupy my mind with as well, Im getting kind of obsessed and already thinking ahead to my right arm.;) I feel like Im getting a little piece of myself back as well, when I am not able to always do what Id like. Yes, im gonna stick around. Thanks!

I'm sorry you have to deal with that but glad to hear glad it doesn't effect this part of your life. It really sucks not being in controll of your body, doesn't it? With a crap immune system too, I really have to take care of myself. Good luck and let us know about any updates.

Well, maybe Im the only one here with fibro. I think, Ill just update my tattoo/fibro experience for others, if thats ok. So far so good, 1 week out from first sit. All healed, normal pain level, hurts to poke arm. Nothing new.

I was wondering if anyone else has Fibro here. If so, has it presented any challenges for you as far as healing, causing flairs, or other disruptions with your immunity? Your experiences? My artists had no idea when I asked and seemed a bit worried about working on me at first. So far so good (1 sit, outline 4 hrs) haha. The weather is warmer and I've been working hard on staying healthy and taking care of myself. Diagnosed 20 years ago.

Your work is lovely but the baby! Precious! Congratulations.

Just a thought...... Consider your age, since your young still, make sure that it is something that will age well with you. A Traditional style......(your choice) but it will still be awesome in 30 years time.

I second the bugs. I love em and have several going into my sleeve. So many amazing little critters to choose from. Your arm is beautiful! I love the snail panther!

Holy Bat Balls, seriously, thats kind of frightening. Im not sure how I would react to someone with eyes like that. I can imagine him showing up on my door step in the middle of the night. (I live on a lonley dark dirt road) And getting shot. :0 Or I may be watching too many alien horror flicks before bed.

A butterfly drawn chariot.

LOL, IDK. But I did take several advils since my artist was all for it. I'll skip the drugs and keep those for fun ;) - - - Updated - - - Well, I guess there is a method to their madness, so to speak. Fortunately, over all the arm is fairly easy and the bad spot relatively small. So, maybe thats why, they can get more out of a sitting doing it that way. I guess i wont rock the boat.

I know this is a really old thread, but it has so much good info for noobs like me. I was curious to ask those of you with alot of work about any techniques you might share. I had my first sit for a 3/4 sleeve on friday. It is also my first tattoo, so I closley followed the advise on this thread about proper sleep, food and hydration. I was happily supprised that a good portion of my sit was really OK. I tolerated the first three hours very well....Until the last hour where he hit my under upper arm right below the pit. It was bad. Now, that I have that pivotal first sit under my belt. Im trying to figure out HOW im going to finish that under upper arm. So my question is....Have you found it easier to sit for those tougher spots when your fresh in your sit and your endorphins are really pumping then move onto the easier areas? Or is it just what it is? I have another 20+ hours ahead of me and am not sure the best way to proceed. Any help is appreciated! Thanks Nina

Congratulations! Please show us what you decided on. Its really very exciting!

Haha, I brought my artist a book of illustrations Ive loved for 30+ years and pointed out 3 ideas but left the entire design for my 3/4 sleeve up to him. I saw it for the first time yesterday. He damn near put the entire book in there. LOTS of line work, it's gonna be a real PITA for us both. But it's stunning and I'm already old so I'm not to concerned with its aging.