had my ear pierced years ago with a half-circle spike tipped earring, then it happened... spike catches on top of car door and yanks it right out! it took 11 stitches for a 2cm cut to keep my ear together Didn't hurt because it was in my ear lobe. Thank god it wasn't somewhere more sensative!
Just 2 in each earlobe and 2 more in the left ear cartilage for me (16 gauge, I think, I've had them for almost 9 years). I took out my tongue bar a few years back. I got tired of it.