Oh, wow. First of all, thank you for taking the time to respond again Sir_Russell, as I do value your knowledge. That being said... I don't think we'll be doing anything I'd require medical care for. I would be very uncomfortable telling my doctor about this- he has been my doctor for probably over 15 years, since I was quite young, and he is a close family friend- he makes house calls, and comes over for Christmas dinner with my family. I can't explain why the thought rubs me the wrong way, because it's not like he's conservative, but I do think it would startle him.

Does it help in a legal sense that my mother knows? She and I have always been extremely close, and I was in a relationship that I suspected might cause bruising that she would notice, and I didn't want to alarm her- I must've sent her to a thousand websites to try and understand, heh, and I think that might've made her more freaked out. But she does know. (Though I was quite disappointed that I didn't get the alarming bruises at the time)

I'm really not talking about using canes and whips, just some lasting marks now and then.

That's not to say that I would never, under any circumstances, tell my doctor about our lifestyle, but if I can avoid it, I'd just as soon do that.