Expert: XR - 5/5/2007

Question
Hello, after some scene play last night with my Master I have been left with some very prominent welts and what appears to be broken capillaries on my thighs, especially my left one. I have been spanked many times before, but this has never happened and it was not much more intense than other times. We are a little concerned as to how long it will be before the marks go away and if there are any changes for the worse I should be looking out for. Also, it doesn't hurt too bad, but its is a big uncomfortable sleep, with pants on etc, do you have any recommendations for topical creams? I was thinking maybe an aloe based cream, but don't have any at home right now so thought I would research before heading out to the store today. Sorry so long, just a newbie with a situation a little different than normal. Thank you in advance for your help!


Answer
Hi Stefanie,
 I ran this question past a switch who has a lot of experience on both sides of the spanking bench... And here is what she had to say...

Dear Welting,

There are so many factors that go into the bodies ability to resist damage and heal.
Being female also brings with it hormonal cycles, I know I bruise more/less easily depending upon the timing in my menstrual cycle. I also know that I bruise and mark much much more easily if I'm taking allergy medication (especially the steroid inhaler).
Or not taking my daily vitamins like I should. Healing times are also affected by all the same stuff.
I also know the more I play, the more my body doesn't feel pain, so I have to play harder (and beg for harder spankings) to get the same euphoric feeling. And while my brain isn't feeling the spanking/floggin/whatever so much, my body is still getting marked up.

Are you getting you normal amount of rest, are you taking your vitamins, are you eating right. Has your diet changed, have you a higher level of stress, etc. Have you just recently 'healed' from a heavy play session? Have you been playing more frequently that in the past?
All these things can affect both how you mark and how you heal. You also might appear externally to have healed up from a previous play session, but actually have not completely healed.  
It might be as simple as you played a little harder than normal, and you may have just found your body's threshold.
Again, you found your bodies threshold for your physiological state at the time you played.

I myself love that feeling of being a little sore and uncomfortable. I must be a real masochist because I like to wiggle so it aches and reminds me of the play session.

If it is really bothing you, you might try just taking one or two caplets of ibuprofen or acetominophen. I would avoid aspirin because it is a blood thinner and you really don't need that with bruises.

I would send you one note of caution... Your marks probably aren't anything to worry about, BUT...
IF this seems MUCH MORE abnormal that you expected, you could have something going on medically.
I have a friend who developed diabetes and didn't know it. We found out much earlier than a non BDSMer would have. And it turns out that is a great positive for her health. We found out because she started to mark much more easily and even to bruise at just tight hand pressure on her wrists. She tried eating bananas to increase her potassium (which helps prevent bruising) and other things. Nothing seemed to help very much. The marking issue got worse even though her dom played lighter and lighter, but her marks looked like she'd had a really heavy session. We finally convinced her to go to the doctor. He figured out she was diabetic. I don't mean to scare you, it is probably just a combination of nutrition, menstrual cycle, stress, in your life AND playing just a little harder than you normally have.
But I'm not a doctor. And if these seems way out of the norm, you should get yourself checked out.