I had perfectly healthy 1/2 inch gauges, and then when it came time to stretch I couldn't fit in my 9/16s because the flare was too big. I decided I'd skip the size and use silicone 5/8s. I didn't have trouble with them, but the next week a kid in my PE class accidentally elbowed my ear and it bleed some. The next day while I was tickling my girlfriend she accidentally punched my in the ear right where it connects with my head. When I woke the next day it was really swollen and leaking puss. It's been a day since then and the swelling hasn't gone down at all. Here are some pictures:

I don't want to go any bigger, but I want the swelling to go down. Is it infected? What can I do to make the swelling go down? Please help!

 D:

Downsize!  Do you have any 00ga plugs?

Also, if you feel it's infected (is it hot to the touch? does it throb? do you have a fever?) go to the doctor ASAP

so your ears were stretched to 1/2". then you went straight to 5/8"? that's a 3.5mm jump. NEVER skip sizes! that's an incredible jump. and NEVER stretch with silicone.

downsize immediately. if it's infected, do not take the jewelry out as that will trap the infection. do sea salt soaks at least twice a day and baby your poor, poor lobes.

and read this now:  http://forums.bodyartforms.com/forums/t/5641.aspx

follow those rules.

Do a SSS to try and draw some of the puss out and then CAREFULLY take those out and downsize with a safe material like glass or ti or something.

It isn't hot and I don't have a fever. I'm not sure if I should downsize to 9/16s, or just wait a few days to see if the swelling goes down. Advice?

 I'm pretty sure everyone's "advice" so far has been to downsize.

AustinC:

It isn't hot and I don't have a fever. I'm not sure if I should downsize to 9/16s, or just wait a few days to see if the swelling goes down. Advice?

 Downsize unless you want to do irreperable damage to your ears.

sss - get the silicone out of your ears - go anyplace and pick up some glass/ti/steel plugs (in 9/16 or 1/2) so you have 'correct' jewelry - and let your lobes heal at a DOWNsize...  we are all telling you that just because you managed to make it to 1/2 for a couple days - your ears are telling you that it was a stupid idea...  downsize (with good jewelry, not DF-9/16ths) now...

i would normally recommend going naked, but like others have said - you might have an infection - so it would be uber-bad to trap it inside...

 I don't know if I'm seeing this right or not, but it looks like you have a massive tear. Downsize as small as you can and baby them. Don't stretch with silicone, period. And don't skip sizes. Live and learn, I guess- but if you read through the stretching guidelines on the forums, you can avoid these kinds of mishaps in the future.

Will do right away. Thanks everyone. You all replied so fast.

 All I have is silicone. I could borrow acrylic 1/2" from a friend. Which is better?

AustinC:

 All I have is silicone. I could borrow acrylic 1/2" from a friend. Which is better?

silicone and acrylic cannot be properly cleaned, and shouldn't be used between people.

 neither of those materials will be okay, you need steel or glass. 

too slow?!

leeanananana:

AustinC:

All I have is silicone. I could borrow acrylic 1/2" from a friend. Which is better?

neither. go get some glass or steel!

if you HAVE to use either silicone or acrylic - go get the friends-acrylic and really clean it - i know i know everyone is gonna get after me, but boiling and cleaning with bleach is gonna be better than nothing...  silicone (since it is soft) is the worst, acrylic is not much better, whereas any kind of metal (or glass) is the best-correct answer...

gl, h.