what is wrong with my poor vagina? :(

[dazedandconfused999]

Approximately 7 years ago I had sex with my second sexual partner. Midway through, he took off the condom and continued doing his business without a care in the world. Within a few days, I was itching and burning like crazy in my vagina, and absolutely terrified I had contracted an STI as I learned later this guy was rather popular with the ladies. I was terrified I had herpes because of the itching and burning but never had any sores. When I got tested, I was diagnosed with yeast via a swab, treated it with an antifungal, and moved on with my life. Except, since then, my vagina has literally NEVER been the same.

I am constantly facing a weird burning/tingly sensation in the vagina and it is enough to drive me absolutely crazy. I also experience a regular itch -- but only of the mons pubis area, where I'll break out in what looks like a rash approximately 1-2 times per month, although it feels like I've had it all of February and March at this point. I do not have discharge. I do not have sores. I have had it looked at by numerous doctors, all who have told me it's nothing but probably razor burn, and have prescribed me a hydro cortisone cream. Most of the time, I refrain from shaving to try not to hurt myself or cause this issue -- but I do not believe it is related whatsoever. I actually just recently shaved to see what would happen, and the redness cleared up within a few hours for whatever reason..?
Because of the burning/tingling feeling, I was absolutely positive I had HSV 2 and just didn't break out in a classic outbreak, because through my exhaustive research I've read that many people do not have typical outbreaks. I couldn't understand why this "rash" would be happening so frequently (1-2 times monthly if not more) if I were infected since that would have been 7 years ago and I should have built up more immunity, but I figured that was the case and I had to live with it. So I paid to have a blood test (Canadian) to confirm what I was so sure of, and make sure I knew how to protect future partners. The blood test came back negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2.

So that rocked my entire world, I was happy in one way but also beyond confused because there was no answer anymore. Recently things were really bad again so I went to an STI specific clinic where she laughed off my questions about herpes and said it was in no way herpes, swabbed me, and prescribed another hydrocortisone cream. Swab came back positive for yeast, I treated with diflucan. The next week I saw my new GP, a young woman who I felt more comfortable talking about with this issue. She did another swab and a visual examination, said everything looked 100% normal, and sent me off with a pamphlet on vaginal hygiene. This second swab came back negative for yeast and everything else (she included BV, trich, herpes, and a PAP which I am still waiting on results from). She also agreed to do another herpes blood test (because again, the whole neuralgia aspect has thrown me off huge) and that one came back negative too.

But here I am 2 weeks later, still with this awful looking red rash type thing (only across mons pubis), and the tingling numb burning feeling periodically throughout my vagina. It's not constant but it is chronic. It drives me crazy and has absolutely impacted my ability to have a normal romantic life or even pursue dating anyone because I can't predict when I'll be feeling this way.

I've realized now that I used to have some pretty terrible vaginal hygiene habits without meaning to -- things like wearing synthetic underwear (they're usually cuter right?), wearing my sweaty clothes home from the gym and showering once I got back instead of immediately, wearing extremely tight and high-waisted pants/bodysuits frequently... but could any of that really impact me to THIS degree?
I've cut out all undies but cotton, I have been wearing the loosest pants I own and going underwear-less as much as possible, have started changing at the gym back into my normal clothes and showering right when I get home, taking a flora vaginal probiotic... but I seriously have NO idea what to do. I also switched to a sensitive skin detergent awhile ago, I do not wash inside my vagina with soap or anything, etc.

The final points I'll mention in this novel... 1. I'm very prone to fungal skin infections -- I have always had a recurring tinea versicolour (ringworm) problem on my chest and back -- makes me wonder if there's a link here? 2. A couple of summers ago when I was on a huge health and fitness kick I cut a lot of foods out of my diet and was hardcore into exercising (I still exercise and eat mostly healthy but not to such an extreme degree) and as a result, I lost a bit too much weight and my period disappeared for awhile. But I can honestly say in the last seven years, that 4ish month span is probably the only time I had consistent relief from this nightmare and do not recall having any of the symptoms I have described above. 3. I went back to my doctor today because I was in AGONY once more and she said my vagina looks completely normal, but that it looked like there was some yeast in my bum. Awesome. So she told me to just get an over the counter Canesten or Monistat to treat that with.. and she also prescribed me an anti depressant which she wants me to use to help with the neuralgia aspect as apparently this anti depressant helps with nerve damage. I am not sure that I want to take this at all... especially since she seems really hesitant to get me allergy tested or referred to a dermatologist. She's referring me to a vulva clinic but from what I understand, the wait times are LOOOOONG.

If you are still reading, THANK YOU. And if you have any suggestions of what the hell I can do or what this might be, I would be SO SO grateful.

[elmsangel2012]

You maybe allergic to condoms