Oh the woes of getting the proper fit
Cherinyc I am like you 5'6", longer legs (32"inseam, stocking feet) and short torso - I wear petite tops (is it our Swedish heritage ? ?)
According to my torso length I should be on a woman's small or XS but according to my leg length I could go as high as a 56 cm frame
I didn't want my seat up that high and felt scrunched so -
Solution for me: I bought a medium frame (54 cm) which gives good clearance and changed out the stem cutting 2" off of the reach
Bike seems to fit like a glove now and ended alot of pain spots
Suesi:
fitting is so personal and you know your body proportions the best.
Keep trying and go with what feels the best. In my experience male LBS people don't really understand the female figure
Good luck
It's about the journey and being in the moment, not about the destination