Surgical opening of vagina to help urination? Others?

I'm so sorry you have this situation and especially at age 80! I am 79 and have the opposite issue. I'm incontinent and it's gotten worse. At this point I'm just living with it. However, in your situation you are experiencing some pain already with another issue. Surgery of any type at at our age isn't good. Maybe you should see another doctor. Perhaps there is a medication that would correct things for you instead of a surgical procedure.

One thing that will help is prayer. God is always there for us. He made you and he can fix you! I'll say a prayer for you also.
Keep me posted on how things go for you. I wish you the best.
PML

I would get a second opinion. I'm not saying your doctor is wrong but if you don't feel comfortable with your doctor's advice, get a second opinion. My husband has an issue and he has talked to friends and gone to 3 doctors for their opinions before deciding what to do.

@pml - Thanks for your words of wisdom. This doctor is my second uro/gyno. The first one cut away labial tissue but could not even go through the urethra to the bladder. Recovery was long and painful and the problem is not solved. My husband and I have now had a discussion to have the doctor not cut to open the vagina but to try and dilate the urethra under anesthesia. This is something that might need a repeat from time to time but might be worth it.
So sorry for your situation. Have you ever taken Gemtesa? Thanks so much for the prayers.

@gigi4 - Thanks for your reply. Please read my reply to pml.

@fdixon63
The dialation method that you are considering sounds much better! You've already had enough pain with the other procedure.

I've never taken Gemtesa. I'll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!
PML

I went through a Labial Separation procedure in 2024 after it started to close over the urethra. It was very painful. Since then I've had therapy to keep the urethra from closing over. I use the prescribed creams. But the labia again is closing up. I'm not eager to go through the separation surgery again. What else is available that is not as drastic?

@romerol - Wow. Someone who can really know what this surgery is like--the pain only to return to the original problem. During the surgery I had, he cut away the labia, not separate. I'm curious about what your "therapy" involved if you're willing to share. The uro/gyno doctor I'm using now had me order a set of vagina dilators (different sizes) to try and open the vagina up using them. Even the smallest one was too big and with my lichen planus down there it was very, very painful. My dermatologist said I should just get a procedure and wear a bag. She said "It's no big deal." Really!!! God help us.

@fdixon63 - "just get a procedure and wear a bag. It's no big deal." Easy for her to say. I'd change dermatologists for that comment alone, not to mention having that attitude when working on your skin. I, too, have lichen planus there. My doctor sent me to a gyn-therapist. I used the dilators, my fingers, Estrodial cream, Clobetasol cream, exercises for incontinence, pelvic floor exercises. Therapist showed me how to do these things, proper use of dilators, where exactly to put the creams (two slightly different areas). She also did gentle massages to show me where and how the dilator should feel. (I'm way past shyness and embarrassment) I saw her once a week for about 6 weeks. I'm still closing up. I will be seeing my GYN in a couple of weeks for the bad news, whatever it is. And I thought having periods was bad. Getting old is worse.

@romerol
Don't see how anyone could put in any more work into the situation as you have and now to have the problem return. URG!!! So discouraging. I would love to see what your GYN has to say if you don't mind posting. Good luck.

@fdixon63 ask the dermatologist if she has personal experience to qualify her “no big deal” comment! Then find another specialist! This one certainly is not worth wasting time and money on!