Ken Grakauskas - Had my MGB and am Back Home.

[Guest guest]

Hey MGBer's!

I've been away from the computer for a week and a half but am finally

home from Durham. Surgery went very well. I was the last patient of

the day for 9/20 and was taken down to surgery at 7:45 PM and surgery

was 28 minutes. I was out of recovery at 10:45 PM, up walking at 4:30

AM, and on my way bakc to the hotel at 10 AM. I had no real pain to

speak of. My abdomen had a dull ache, kind of like doing too many sit

ups.

I used to eat more in one sitting than I've had all week! Its amazing

how juices and cracker nibbling keep you full. I am having zero

problems. At weigh in 1 week post surgery I am down 15 pounds. 15!!!

I am off my blood pressure medication. I was 155/102 with drugs and

am now 145/84 with no drugs.

Pre surgery it was tough to shave off the old beard. I waited to the

11th hour. Once shaved, my wife said I looked 15 years younger. She

told me she was gonna leave me if I grew it back. :-)

I am so sorry to hear all this MGB bashing going on this past week.

Everything in life has a statistical odd. Statistically, someone will

die during this procedure, a few will lose too much, a few will not

lose enough. This procedure, while performed the same, will not and

cannot have identical outcomes in every person. Our metabolisms alone

are enough to throw the balance.

I know this. Dr. Rutledge is as open and honest about this procedure,

complete with all the appropriate cautions. You are as educated about

the procedure as you can be. You sign a paper going in that there are

no warranties, express or implied, as to your ultimate weight loss.

You can back out. There are no gurantees people. Reallistically, all

you can do is make the best, the most informed choice, and hope and

pray that the law of averages apply to you. Put this in perspective.

It's like playing the lottery where 999 in 1,000 win.

Best wishes in your decision.

Ken Grakauskas