Tips for getting tattooed when living with chronic illness
I am a disabled person who lives with multiple chronic illnesses, so I understand that getting tattooed can be overwhelming, triggering, and can lead to health crashes. Below are some things I have personally found helpful when getting tattooed. I am, of course, not a medical professional, and all of these tricks I have learned through personal experience. You know your body best and if you have concerns please speak to your medical team, specialists, and/or family doctor, as well as your tattoo artist, before getting tattooed!
Tylenol is a pain reliever that does not thin blood and is very helpful for many people when getting tattooed. Ibuprofen DOES thin blood, so please do not take this before getting tattooed!
Live with chronic tension, Fibro, or struggle with VERY twitchy limbs? A muscle relaxant could help! If you have not taken one before, try it in the days or weeks before your tattoo session to see how your body responds. Please be mindful that there are side effects to these medications.
Numbing cream can help with the sensation of getting tattooed. All numbing creams are different, so make sure to test out your brand well before your session so that you know you will not have an allergic reaction (I recommend Dr.Numb and Zensa).
Heating pads can help our bodies relax and feel safer when getting tattooed. Try bringing a heating pad or hot water bottle to your next session to see if you like it!
IMPORTANT NOTES relating to medications:
Never try a new medication just before a tattoo session! Please, please don’t do this! I don’t want to have to call 911 if you have an allergic reaction to something during our session!
ALWAYS tell your artist what medications you are currently taking.
ALWAYS tell your artist if you plan on taking any medications before your tattoo appointment!
To help with pain:
Other self-care practices to consider:
Have bad allergies or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)? Try taking an allergy med with loratadine during your first week of healing. Tattoos are wounds and our bodies respond accordingly to this tissue damage with inflammation. Mast cells are involved in our body’s inflammatory processes, and so some folks with MCAS can experience health flares during healing. Taking an allergy med during healing can reduce these symptoms. <3
If you are someone who lives with joint pain, chronic inflammation, or hypermobility, taking an anti-inflammatory or drinking some anti-inflammatory tea (think turmeric lattes and nettle tea) after your tattoo can help! I do this post tattoo session, and in the weeks following a tattoo appointment, and it has helped me avoid and/or manage painful flares.
Things to consider if you have Long COVID, ME/CFS, or if you are neurodivergent:
Getting a smaller tattoo is a great way to see how your body responds to being tattooed. It’s also a great way to see if you like a tattoo artist’s practice before you commit to a large piece from them.
Asking for a ‘quiet session’ can help preserve valuable energy. There will still be some necessary talking, but the music can be quiet or off, you can wear earplugs or listen to your own media on headphones, and I won’t chat with you so that you can save your ‘spoons’!
I recommend making a pre and post tattoo plan. When i do this I don’t have to think about making food, transportation, or asking for help/care in the moment because its already arranged. I can experience intense decision fatigue post-tattoo and planning accordingly can help me have a cozy restful evening!
I sometimes find it helpful to plan on experiencing a bit of a crash after getting tattooed. When I do this and then crash I am not as disappointed (otherwise might be) and I am prepared to engage in ‘aggressive rest’!
Want more info? Here are some starting places to learn more about Long COVID and post viral illnesses
Long COVID Justice: What is Long COVID?
Long COVID in Canada: by Stats Canada
Downloadable Clinical Care Guide from the Bateman Horne Centre
Reporting: check out pieces by The Tyee, pieces by Ed Young, and the Sick Times
