8/26/2005: Tortoise gets fiberglass replacement belly

Undertoad · 08-26-2005, 08:42 AM

This tortoise is named Cactus, 40 years old, living at the San Francisco zoo. Ten years ago it was discovered that he had bladder stones; last year, he was doing poorly, and an xray showed that the stones finally had to be removed.

They removed one stone the size of a baseball, and three the size of golf balls. Those stones took up a pound of the guy's ten pounds of weight. And there's how they patched him up afterwards.

full story

LabRat · 08-26-2005, 08:51 AM

Imagine 10% of your weight in stones...YIKES. Hope he does OK. I'll have to look up how one gets bladder stones. Ech.

Bladder stones are hard buildups of mineral that form in the urinary bladder.

Bladder stones are usually the result of another urologic problem such as urinary tract infection, bladder diverticulum, neurogenic bladder, or an enlarged prostate. Approximately 95% of all bladder stones occur in men. Stones originating in the bladder are much less common than kidney stones.

Bladder stones may occur when urine in the bladder is concentrated and materials crystallize. The patient feels symptoms when the lining of the bladder is irritated by the stone or when the stone obstructs the flow of urine from the bladder.

More info

xoxoxoBruce · 08-26-2005, 09:25 AM

Quote:

On Monday, Cactus was out of the hospital and back on the floor in the Herpetology Room of the Animal Resource Center, living amid hay and grasses. Desert tortoises Mojave and Helga also occupy the space, in separate but equal enclosures.

Separate but equal......Hmmm, that's an interesting idea.
Maybe that could be applied to people that are different.

Hobbs · 08-26-2005, 09:26 AM

Geez, wouldn't that be great. doctors open you up, take out your appendix, then patch you up with a good dose of Bondo®.

BigV · 08-26-2005, 12:03 PM

I like how the blonde spokes-model in the photo dyed her hair to complement the tortise.

Queen of the Ryche · 08-26-2005, 12:34 PM

I'm digging the doc's expression, holding the chunk of crystallized urine..........
"I wonder how much I can get for this on Ebay..."

Trilby · 08-26-2005, 01:13 PM

I'll bet he feels soooooooo much better!

capnhowdy · 08-26-2005, 05:29 PM

this is a quantum leap from " fiberglass underwear". Glad He's doing better. Hope he doesn't react to fiberglass the way capnhowdy does. Makes me glad I have skin.

Saknussem · 08-26-2005, 07:10 PM

I can see that little guy at Turtle School Show and Tell--

This is my fiberglass stomach, and this is my pancreas, and this is my gall bladder, oh wait, I don't have one of those anymore. . .

Perry Winkle · 08-26-2005, 07:42 PM

There's a great description of how they are removed in humans in one of the Baroque Cycle books. I can't remember which book but it is satisfyingly detailed.

wolf · 08-27-2005, 12:17 AM

The turtle had a somewhat different procedure. Urinary bladder, not gall.

I don't know if I want to read a detailed description of gall bladder surgery. I mean, I've had it done, and did research it beforehand, as well as having seem my secretary's videotape of her surgery. But sometimes well-written descriptions are so much more vivid. And icky.

Perry Winkle · 08-27-2005, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

The turtle had a somewhat different procedure. Urinary bladder, not gall.

I don't know if I want to read a detailed description of gall bladder surgery. I mean, I've had it done, and did research it beforehand, as well as having seem my secretary's videotape of her surgery. But sometimes well-written descriptions are so much more vivid. And icky.

Hmm, I thought the procedure described by Neal Stephenson was a urinary bladder stone removal operation. The stone he describes obstructs the ureters. I believe Hooke makes his incision through the grundle/taint, I'm not sure what the medical term is. I don't know any a&p so I just kind of have to jump to conclusions.

wolf · 08-27-2005, 10:14 AM

I haven't read the book and the most recent mention of surgery was gall bladder.

Without any further description, I think the stone you're talking about is probably kidney, if it's blocking the ureter.

BigV · 08-27-2005, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grant

--- grundle/taint, I'm not sure what the medical term is.---

perineum
a google image search is visually instructive, but likely nsfw.

bargalunan · 08-28-2005, 01:39 PM

No at all !
It's a race tortoise that was winning too easily and ned handicap !

08-26-2005, 08:42 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	8/26/2005: Tortoise gets fiberglass replacement belly This tortoise is named Cactus, 40 years old, living at the San Francisco zoo. Ten years ago it was discovered that he had bladder stones; last year, he was doing poorly, and an xray showed that the stones finally had to be removed. They removed one stone the size of a baseball, and three the size of golf balls. Those stones took up a pound of the guy's ten pounds of weight. And there's how they patched him up afterwards. full story

08-26-2005, 08:51 AM	#2
LabRat twatfaced two legged bumhole Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,143	Imagine 10% of your weight in stones...YIKES. Hope he does OK. I'll have to look up how one gets bladder stones. Ech. Bladder stones are hard buildups of mineral that form in the urinary bladder. Bladder stones are usually the result of another urologic problem such as urinary tract infection, bladder diverticulum, neurogenic bladder, or an enlarged prostate. Approximately 95% of all bladder stones occur in men. Stones originating in the bladder are much less common than kidney stones. Bladder stones may occur when urine in the bladder is concentrated and materials crystallize. The patient feels symptoms when the lining of the bladder is irritated by the stone or when the stone obstructs the flow of urine from the bladder. More info __________________ Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within. Last edited by LabRat; 08-26-2005 at 08:55 AM.

08-26-2005, 09:26 AM	#4
Hobbs Professor for the school of ass-clownery Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Surprise! Posts: 404	Geez, wouldn't that be great. doctors open you up, take out your appendix, then patch you up with a good dose of Bondo®. __________________ That's it! Send in the chimps!

08-26-2005, 12:03 PM	#5
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	I like how the blonde spokes-model in the photo dyed her hair to complement the tortise. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

08-26-2005, 12:34 PM	#6
Queen of the Ryche is fleeing the scene Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Beautiful CO Posts: 1,510	I'm digging the doc's expression, holding the chunk of crystallized urine.......... "I wonder how much I can get for this on Ebay..." __________________ Once, in an interview, Chuck Norris admitted that he was not the most awesome thing ever. He declined to elaborate; but I believe we all know that he was referring to the existence of chocolate covered bacon. I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.

08-26-2005, 01:13 PM	#7
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I'll bet he feels soooooooo much better! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

08-26-2005, 05:29 PM	#8
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	this is a quantum leap from " fiberglass underwear". Glad He's doing better. Hope he doesn't react to fiberglass the way capnhowdy does. Makes me glad I have skin. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

08-26-2005, 07:10 PM	#9
Saknussem Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 93	I can see that little guy at Turtle School Show and Tell-- This is my fiberglass stomach, and this is my pancreas, and this is my gall bladder, oh wait, I don't have one of those anymore. . .

08-26-2005, 07:42 PM	#10
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	There's a great description of how they are removed in humans in one of the Baroque Cycle books. I can't remember which book but it is satisfyingly detailed.

08-27-2005, 12:17 AM	#11
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	The turtle had a somewhat different procedure. Urinary bladder, not gall. I don't know if I want to read a detailed description of gall bladder surgery. I mean, I've had it done, and did research it beforehand, as well as having seem my secretary's videotape of her surgery. But sometimes well-written descriptions are so much more vivid. And icky. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-27-2005, 10:14 AM	#13
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I haven't read the book and the most recent mention of surgery was gall bladder. Without any further description, I think the stone you're talking about is probably kidney, if it's blocking the ureter. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-28-2005, 01:39 PM	#15
bargalunan Abecedarian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nantes (France) Posts: 175	No at all ! It's a race tortoise that was winning too easily and ned handicap !

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