So, I'm super cautious, about everything I do.
Before even thinking about stretching my ears, I read tons and tons of stuff. My piercing was a little low, so I considered scalpling, but after talking to the people from one tribe, who suggested I try to stretch to a 0g and see what happens before taking such "drastic measures" I decided to just try to stretch, and see what happens. I recently ordered emu oil, and have been massaging it into my lobes like crazy, trying to beef up the bottom of my lobes haha. Anyway, I've had my ears peirced since I was 9, I'm 22 now, so thats like... 13 years? yipe. They where bigger then a standard earring by my speculation, due to years of wearing heavy earrings. I hadn't done that for a REALLY long time (maybe 5-7 years by now) but the holes still seemed big. I started stretching with an 18g with no problem at all. or 16... I forget which. anyway, I've been stretching every 4 weeks, with no pain or discomfort or resistance. Infact, I wondered if I was stretching at all, it just felt like putting jewlery in... I was starting to feel like I wasted money on tapers. So... I've stretched my ears to 12g, same as before, no pain discomfort or resistance, around feb 10th ish, and today, I was impulsive (very odd for me) and stretched them up to a 10, today being feb 26. Now... I'm someone who panicks and doesn't often do anything impulsive, and after browsing the forums, I've worked myself into a tizzy that I've some how damaged myself 0.o though I know that probably, my panicking is pretty ridiculous ;P When I stretched to 10, there was a slight discomfort. But, based on everything I've read, it sounds like the "normal" stretching feeling that I have just never felt before. I stretched with steel tapers and emu oil, and now I have 10g stainless steel CBRs in with O rings (I cant get the ball back in :x) and they feel fine. No blood, no really big pain, just a little pinch that lasted only a second and then was gone. They dont hurt, or anything, and they dont look bad... I have my Dr. Bronner's tea tree oil, I have my emu oil, and I have sea salt and tiny little cups to soak my tiny little ears in, this is all in the agenda for tonight and every night here in after. Still, even if I am being tremendously over cautious, I'd like to hear it from someone other then myself haha. I was planning on stretching every 4-6 weeks, but judging by everything I've read here, thats not too smart. So I will slow down now and wait a good 6 weeks at least before stretching from 10 to 8... unless someone tells me I should down grade... but honestly, it doesn't FEEL bad at all... I guess I'm just freaking out cause I jumped the gun a week :X and it steps out of my normal mode of being very methodical and planning everything :x and now somehow I'm worried that like, the earth will crack open and I'll fall in or something haha.

sorry about the wall of text. I tried to put breaks in it, but it made half of my post inexplicably vanish... so I just took them out >.<&#xFFFF;

If you're that freaked by it, I'd suggest a downsize back to 12 gauge.  It can't hurt.  Keep in mind that the larger you go the longer you'll need to wait in between stretches.  It sounds like you started off pretty well prepared.  I would hold off on the tea tree oil, since that can be really harsh. 

I

well to clarify, I panic constantly, so I try not to let it control me lol. I panic when I drive, I panic when I cook (oh my god, did I turn the oven off?! oh I did, well am I SURE? maybe I should smell it...) when I get dressed (what if I forget something important!) I panic CONSTANTLY lol. So, if I'm worrying needlessly, which seems probable at this point, as my ears are not swollen, painful, or anything and just sort of... existing on my head... I'd rather know and just try to take a chill pill and wait longer in the future, rather then down size and freak out over nothing lol. Also my 12g is the colored titanium, and I think it was irritating my ears a little, so I'm not really wanting to put those in again unless I have to. It wasn't bad just slightly itchy, a problem I didn't have until I got the colored CBRs.

You're probably just fine. Sounds like a normal stretch to me - just wait awhile before your next step up. :)

Aww, it's so refreshing to hear from the OVER-cautious as opposed to the kids who stretch all willy nilly. If it's not bleeding, swollen, very red, or painful, I think you're fine, sweetheart :) Coincidentally I did my own 10ga stretch about half an hour ago, and mine felt about the same way you described, a bit stingy and by now they've settled down. Do a soak tonight to make them feel better and then make sure you wait a couple of months at least before attempting to stretch to 8ga. Don't be afraid to listen to what your body tells you, and if they feel like they aren't ready to stretch, wait another few weeks. In this culture, better safe than sorry is the golden rule, it's good to hear that you're listening :D Happy stretching, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions!

You should be okay now but just make sure from now on you follow this:

Fresh piercing to first stretch: Approx 5 to 6 months
6g to 14g - 1 month
14g to 12g - 1 month
12g to 10g - 1.5 months
10g to 8g - 2 months
8g to 6g - 3 months
6g to 4g - 3 month
4g to 2g - 3 months
2g to 0g - 4 months
0g to 00g - 4 months

And maybe even wait i little longer than recomended to go to 8g since you went a little bit quickly to start.  Good luck! 

I agree. It sounds alright, you should be fine as long as you follow the chart. maybe just wait a bit longer before continuing to give your ears time to heal.
Hope everything turns out well!

 I had the same easy strectching every 4 weeks during the same sizes. I know exacty what you are talking about.  I am now at 1/2" and I have no scarring, no blowouts or anything like that. I did NOT stretch every 4 weeks up to this size! I stopped at numerous sizes and stayed there for sometimes 2 years. But during the 14-12-10-8-6, I did in fact find out that I was stretching 'too fast'. Some people stretch easier than others.  Back at that time when I did the same thing, I never knew the healing process was longer. Since the initial piercing has a 4-6 week window and I was told nothing more, I figured whenever I stretched, it had the same healing window. I think tons and tons of us have gone through the same thing.  Dont freak.  Feel lucky.  If your lobes look and feel great, then they simply ARE great. I've apologized to my lobes, but I dont think they minded.

This is a personal story only and is not meant to incite the young to go against safe stretching methods now that you've read this!

you also might want to be careful with using tea tree oil

it can be very harsh when not diluted, its also not even really that necessary for you to use 

just make sure you take it slow from here on and your lobes will be fine 

from what you've said, you haven't harmed your ears in any way.

your ears have natrually stretched themselves over time, so being able to slip in plugs a few sizes up doesn't seem too odd.  (it happens with larger sizes as well, especially with heavier plugs or if your ears are natrually stretchy).

just take care of your ears, and i'd reccomend following the time line from now on!

:]

hun you are fine. the fact that you had mild mild pain is deffinatly ok.

just listen to your body. and follow healing times and you will be happy, and your lobes will be too. 

 Do you mean tea tree oil or tea tree oil soap? Just clarifying because you said Dr. Bronner's and I don't think they sell tea tree oil by itself. If it's the tea tree oil soap, I think it would be fine as long as you dilute it to about 1:6. 

 You should be fine with staying where you are for six weeks and then stretching again, if you think you are ready then. 

Yes its soap not oil. ^^ Thank you all for your replies I feel much better now whew hehe.