Please forgive the lapse in response here. I mean no disrespect by it. This is a totally new realization for me and your questions, Oz, are totally relevant and very much appreciated. I just didn't have the answers for them so have spent the past few days 'experimenting'. It seems that my pain threshold borders close to the 'burn my skin off line'.
I can pick up a kettle with a handle that is VERY hot, pour with steam all around and not feel a thing. This morning I let the kettle get super hot. I experimented by attempting to lift it up but thought better of it as I felt I might actually give myself serious burns by doing so with my hand unprotected. Looking back on life, I have been like this forever, I just didn't realize it was 'different' until a couple of days ago. I have always protected my hands - not because I need to, but instead because it is generally practiced therefore I didn't question. The last two days i have spent exploring these things. I have to admit, I am pretty scary in this way. Luckily I seem to draw the line on things that will cause me physical harm (ie 2nd degree burns).
I have felt pain (I believe) but seem to process it in such a way that I can totally block it out. No, i don't believe I would drop a hot plate BUT would remove my hand from a hot burner (just not quickly). It would be an annoyance, not a shocked reaction.
Luckily, 13'sbadkitty, I don't seem to have a problem with pleasure (although when in a 'spell' I am less sensitive. It seems to be a pain thing only. I am wondering - have you had to adjust your D/s life due to your 'lack of pain' issues? Do you feel at all that there is a risk involved at all in the pain element due to your lack of pain response? What considerations would need to be made?
My concern is, if there was a time along the way that I had a relationship with a different Dom, that there might be a natural element of 'oh yeah, well I will get you to feel pain'. Any thoughts on how to address this properly. Master and I even discussed dropping the D/s thing so I don't get too entrenched and put myself at risk....
Not sure what to do with this information.