Vulvodynia? What to do?

Hello everyone,

I am soooo grateful to have found this site. I've felt alone about this situation for a while now. Really didn't expect there to be an entire forum on it. Like i said, I'm very grateful.
Anyway, I'm 22 years old....ever since I started having sex when I was 19, I realized it was painful for me. Lubricants helped it a good bit though. Also, sometimes, my clitoris feels tender and raw when rubbed and I get this tingling feeling in my feet. Other times, when it is rubbed, I just get no feeling from it. I was ashamed to tell my previous partners that the sex wasn't very enjoyable for me.
Background to this: When I was in my teens, I would get recurrent yeast infections and eventually they stopped. Well, at least that's what the doctor told me they were.
Recently, I went to the gyno and he told me that I have no yeast whatsoever. Yet, I still experience painful sex. I don't know what to do. I'm seeing a new guy who I really like and I don't want to lose him. I really don't know what to do. It has me really stressed and depressed. Is this vulvodynia? What do I do? I want to tell my mother and my guy but it's just so embarrassing and seems unbelievable. I'm sorry if my words aren't coming out clearly....

Yes, unfortunately it is. Although I think vulvodynia is equivalent to saying your leg hurts. It could be broken, you could have a rash, you could have nerve issues. In my experience western medicine is completely lost when it comes to vaginas being in pain for no reason they can tell. I've struggled with this for 15 years.... But don't worry there is hope. I was cured last year! Please see my post titled 'cured from vulvodynia....'
The trick is to find out why you're in pain and you'll have to go off the beaten path for some answers and cure. Please review my posts. I did acupuncture and tcm herbalists for years... They helped but didn't cure it. This is after seeing 15 plus western doctors who sincerely wanted to help but had no clue. I found a specific type of doctor that is explained in my post. Until that medicine kicks in, I aslo included some saving graces that really helped with pain for day to day and also some stuff that makes sex pleasurable again please contact me if you have any questions.

I'm so so sorry... You're not alone. I felt that way as well. It's the hardest thing I've been through. I know that pain is ridiculous and awful... but there is hope.

Don't be ashamed... It turns out mine was from a staph infection I got in my knee during an operation and the staph moved up and found a home in my vagina. Sounds crazy. Well the woman who fixed it figured it out without me telling her I had knee surgery had and she cured the pain. So that's the story I'm going with. The body is weird, it's amazing how much we don't know.

Look up acupoint nutritional testing. They have poor website presence and if you can't find one in your area call mine, Dawn Dolan in Cotati California and she can locate one for you.

You poor thing! I know what it's like to be a young person dealing with this. I am 27 and next week I will have had this thing for 2 years...it has totally ruined my life. And to be honest���, if it was not from the support of my mum and my husband I would probably have killed myself long ago. Do you have a good trustworthy relationship with your mum? If so, maybe start by telling her first? You never know, she may have had issues in the past...family history is a factor in many problems in the downstairs department.

If you aren't comfortable talking with people you know, there are many wonderful ladies here to support you.

Another thing, what tests have the doctors done on you? There are many forms of yeast besides the usual candida yeast that they test you for. I know a few ladies who have had a type of yeast called yeast glabrata, which is resistant to usual candida medication. Do you have any other symptoms beside the pain/rawness?

Im 31 and had it for 12 years. Its awful being so young and coping with this. I missed out on so much due to it and depression over it. Id say definitely tell your mother, its not the worst thing they'll hear trust me. Mine has known since day 1 and is very supportive. As is my partner. Support from the people I love and who love me is what keeps me grounded, keeps me sane. Im just new here so I'm gonna look around the forums and see if theres anything that could relate to my situation. I hope you find the help you need Rx