u/Lostinkansas24

Apologies for the rambling...my BPH symptoms are progressing after years of medication. I have a PAE consult coming up soon, (and am having second thoughts)  and I want to understand whether PAE is a good option for me versus HoLEP, TURP, or another procedure. I wanted to explore PAE to minimize my risks for urinary incontinence, and sexual disfunction. I also want to be off the medications. Before I committed to a surgery, I asked my smaller-town urologist about PAE and he made the referral to the center I'm going to.

Here’s some questions I need answered maybe from your experiences, and by the Interventional Radiologist. This is sort of my questions outline for him, or my script so I don't get flustered in the 30 minutes I'll have with him for this first appointment. Please let me know if I’m missing something...

I am 68 years old in good health. Based on my anatomy, bladder function, and retention risk, how likely am I to get meaningful relief? My prostate volume is 136.4 with large (don’t have exact size) intravesical profusion. What size reduction might I anticipate? Assuming 30%, wouldn’t my new prostate size technically be considered to still have BPH?  (and the issues that go along with that) What is the chance I can reduce or stop my BPH medications afterward? (Long-term Alfuluzuzin and Finasteride)

Will this be done with moderate sedation or general anesthesia? How long is the procedure? Do you routinely treat both prostate arteries in one session when possible? Do you use radial or femoral access, and why for me? What is the blocking material, beads or glue?

Post surgery questions: I should also note regardless of my treatment options, all will require about 100 miles of travel each way. Can I safely ride in a car for two hours after a PAE?

How long does it usually take to notice improvement? What are the main risks, and what is the backup plan if it doesn't work?

Should I go directly to surgery? What else do I need to know?

Many years ago, I was a professional black-and-white film photographer. Recently, as I’m cleaning out a lifetime of files etc. I came upon what I now consider historically significant negatives related to the town I live in. I want to donate them to the university special collections library or local historical society and am wondering about how best to do so? In the old days I would have printed up the best silver -based paper prints that I could make in my darkroom and presented them. Now, I no longer have a dark room, but had the negatives digitally scanned, but in no way have they been “edited” and processed using Photoshop or Lightroom as I would have once done in a dark room. Should I just get a set of small reference prints made of the un-manipulated images and hand them flash drive of the scanned negatives? My concern is, if anyone were to ever critique them in the future, it would not represent my best work.

I'm shopping for a new field tripod (4x5 Intrepid, and on a budget) and thinking about the Leofoto LS-365CX Carbon Fiber Tripod Ranger with a self-leveling Leofoto LB-60N Leveling Base mounted to it. What head should I buy? Pan-tilt style, or ball?

From the 1970’s to around 1989, I had extensive B&W film shooting and darkroom experience. Then, I stepped completely away from photography. Now, at age 69 I bought an Intrepid 4x5 and want to try to jump back in! Can anyone offer me some suggestions for concentrated, one-shot film developers that comes in lower volumes/small packages so I don’t lose the concentrates to oxidation and expiration dates? Also for reference I’m hoping to start by shooting Fomapan 100 and live in the US. I’ll be a a very low-production basement-sink operation.  In the past I enjoyed using HC110 dilutions B and H, but I see it only comes in 1 liter bottles now. Should I just by the bottle of HC-110 knowing it might outlive me? I’m scouring the internet, but would also appreciate any tips or starting points for shooting and developing the Fomapan.

Does anyone on here have experience or knowledge of any PAE providers in the Kansas City area? Same question for Wichita? Is there an IR out there whose primary focus is on PAE procedures?

I've got a Casita 17 and am giving serious consideration to downsizing to a Scamp 13. Has anyone went down from a larger trailer to a 13, and what are your experiences? I'm wondering if the smaller size would yield more spontaneous trips (less prep?) and I could easily store it at my home; it might make finding the next tow vehicle easier as a 13 would be significantly lighter, and finally, it might be easier for me to manage and extend my camping career as I'm not getting any younger? We don't camp more than 14 days at a time now, no plans to full-time and we're generally outside of the camper most of the time, unless weathered in.