Vulvodynia, vestibulitis and corticosteroids for asthma

Hi all

You may remember my raves about the merits of Buteyko breathing for alleviating asthma?

Well, for the last couple of years, up until about May this year I had a lot of genital pain which has since subsided and doesn't seem to give me much trouble at all now. Lucky me. I also had repeated thrush and urinary tract infections which got quite out of control for a time, antibiotics, antifungals, the works. Finally fixed with a combination of vigilant hygeine, loose knickers, longer pubic hair, oral probiotics, more foreplay and better lubricants, and vitamin E cream morning and night.

I have had asthma since mid-2003 and was on inhaled corticosteroids combined with a reliever twice a day, as well as the normal 'as needs' reliever medication about three times a day. This was not getting the wheezing and tightness under control, so I decided to do a Buteyko breathing course, which I did in January and February, after reducing my asthma medication to zero by the end of January, and putting up with the wheezing, which I had while on medication anyway. I figured I could easily start it again if the Buteyko breathing didn't work.

Well, the Buteyko breathing did work, increasing its healing effect until about May when I stopped wheezing completely. I now think I am healed of asthma. Funny thing is that I no longer have any genital pain either, and I am wondering if the genital pain was in fact caused by the corticosteroids, which would have been completely out of my system by about April/May. I know that my previously fragile skin is now as tough as old bags again. I can even change sheets and do gardening without ripping chunks out of my arms and hands. I am guessing that the skin-thinning effect of corticosteroids also thinned the 'skin' of my vagina and vulva, which may have put the nerve endings much closer to the surface(?). I think the skin-thinning effect is meant to have an effect on the lungs, which is one of the reasons why it is supposed to be useful for asthma.

Has anybody else noticed a possible correlation between corticosteroid asthma medication and genital pain?

It is possible that it is coincidental, but it is also possible that the skin-thinning side effect on my female genitals is regarded as a minor problem by doctors, as asthma is regarded as a potentially life threatening condition if untreated. They should try living with a fire in their knickers!! I haven't had any thrush or urinary tract infections since stopping the corticosteroids either. What are your thoughts on this, everybody?

Cheers

Louise