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Roger Wells
On his way to Corvallis to do some grocery shopping last summer, Roger Wells had a fairly good idea that he was having a heart attack. But he had his dog in the car and groceries to buy, so he went about his regular routine.
“It felt as though I had a muscle cramp in my heart,” said the 58-year-old. “I’ve worked construction most of my life, so I’m used to aches and pains; but this was different. I recognized the symptoms.”
Wells finished his shopping, drove back to his home in North Albany, put the food away, took some aspirin, called his wife… and then called 911.
“I met the ambulance out in the street, because I didn’t want the truck and noise to upset the dog,” Wells said. “I’ve got a pretty high-strung dog.”
The rest of the story moves more quickly. Within seconds after Wells entered the ambulance, medical personnel gave him nitroglycerine, monitored his condition with EKG, and began rapid back-and-forth communication with Samaritan Albany General Hospital. The Albany hospital, in turn, was already beginning communication with the heart center at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis.
“At the Albany hospital, they stabilized me and arranged for my immediate admittance at Corvallis,” Wells said. “An ambulance rushed me to Corvallis, and I was wheeled right into the operating room. I had an angioplasty, where they insert a tube through an opening in the groin, and then I got two stents (tiny devices to hold open blocked arteries). I watched the whole thing.”
Wells said his hospital stay lasted only two or three days. His post-heart attack care, however, was ongoing—beginning with his joining the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Samaritan Albany General Hospital.
“The folks at rehab had me meet with a nutritionist, who had me keep a three- or four-day record of everything I ate,” Wells recalled. “I thought I ate pretty healthy before; but now, I really watch my diet. I cut down on meat portions; I no longer eat much steak, bacon, butter, cheese, or eggs; and I try to avoid trans-fats. I eat more nuts and game and fish now.”
Cardiac Rehab also helped Wells adopt an exercise/activity routine that would fit his lifestyle and benefit his heart.
“I’ve always done a lot of physical work, but now I call it my ‘cardiovascular exercise,’” Wells said. “In addition to construction, I exercise on a recumbent bike about 30 minutes a day and walk the dog. I wear a pedometer and try to walk 10,000 steps a day. I do about 7,000 steps, but I figure the bike work adds the rest. After my treatment, I feel very strong—even lifted a 150-pound countertop and did tile work for a house I’m building in Newport.”
“I don’t think you could get better service than what I got at Samaritan,” Wells said. “Everyone worked together as a team. They kept me informed every step of the way. Peter Fox, PA-C, in Dr. (Thomas) Marker’s office (Samaritan Cardiovascular Consultants of Oregon) even went over all my prescriptions and adjusted my dosages. I take about half the medications I took before my attack. Dr. Marker joked that he would keep me healthy, so that he and I wouldn’t have to get to know each other too well. “My wife is helping me stay healthy, because she says she’s not done with me yet!” Wells continued. “But it’s important that everyone pay attention to him or herself. You’ve got to do whatever you can to take care of your own health.”
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