"According to the Atkins people, Dr. Atkins grew an average of 7 lbs. a day from fluid retention during the last nine days he was in the hospital. Improbable."

Actually, that's probably correct, and possibly could be more than 7 pounds a day. When a person is in severe congestive heart failure, the lungs rapidly fill with fluids, thereby causing the patient to essentially drown in their own fluids. It's a nasty way to die, and death does not come quickly. I should know--I spent 15 years of my youth working in cardio-pulmonary medicine, then later watched my own father die of the same malady.

Gettin' old ain't fer' whimps and dying ain't fer sissies!

Gary