Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute
Patient Stories
THE DAY FRANK had a heart attack was an ordinary day just like any other. The retired deli-liquor store owner woke up, showered and shaved, made a few phone calls, then did a few minor chores around the house. By 11 a.m. he noticed an odd feeling in his chest. The feeling wasn't painful, rather light and fluttery. Thinking he probably needed to eat; Frank hopped in his car to pick up a medical prescription for his wife, and then stopped at a local barbecue restaurant for lunch. Although he polished off a barbecued pork sandwich, fries and a coke, the feeling in his chest persisted. Frank ran a few more errands, even stopping in on a friend. Back home by 3:30 p.m. he was feeling the same — no better or no worse. "I didn't really experience any pain," recalls Frank of that day a year ago in April. "It was just a strange feeling I had." By evening, the feeling persisted and Frank called an old friend, retired fire Chief Ben Nugent, who took Frank to the closest fire station. "They checked my blood pressure and then called an ambulance. I felt foolish because I was certain it was nothing," says Frank. Frank was taken to Sutter Memorial where cardiologist Mark Baton Eaton, M.D., diagnosed a mild heart attack. Frank was admitted to the hospital and, the next day, fellow cardiologist David Roberts, M.D., performed a heart catheterization. This catheter- based diagnostic test visualizes the size, shape, and location of the heart and coronary blood vessels. The results showed Frank was suffering from blockage of several arteries. Open heart surgery was performed the following day.
"The funny thing about my attack was that the week before I was in San Francisco taking my granddaughter to her first father-daughter dinner dance at her school. My son-in-law couldn't take her because he was having open heart surgery," says Frank. "My granddaughter and I danced all night and had a ball. I never felt better."
Following his surgery, Frank enrolled in Sutter's Cardiac Rehabilitation program, a medically supervised program of exercise and education helps patients increase endurance, strength and flexibility while reducing the risk of another heart attack. "We meet with patients and develop an individually tailored education and exercise program based on their medical history and cardiovascular needs," says nurse clinician Carol Keating. An enthusiastic proponent of the rehab program, Keating says that some patients waiting for a heart transplant get well enough in the program and can be taken off the list. She cautions that has only happened a few times and depends on why they had a bad pump heart to begin with.
Frank agrees with Keating on the beneficial aspects of the rehab program. "I went to 36 sessions, got into shape, and changed my eating habits." According to Frank, the biggest benefit he received from the rehab program was emotional. "I was so depressed after my heart attack. I had never been sick before, and this was not how I wanted to spend my retirement." Doctors Eaton and Roberts prodded Frank to enter the cardiac rehab program, and it made all the difference in the world. "They just snapped me right out of my depression," Frank says. "Everyone is so nice there. They really get to know each patient and make you feel special. I hated to leave at the end of each session."
Now Frank walks seven miles each day, stays away from red meat, and tries to eat fat free foods. He also attends the educational seminars offered through the Sutter Medical Center’s rehab center's program's Coronary Club. Started by Keating, the quarterly club meetings provide information and education to help people make lifestyle changes for a healthier heart.
"You never think you'll be the one to have a heart attack," says Frank. "I felt like I followed all the rules. I didn't smoke or drink. I exercised, even played basketball until I was 60 years old. However in running my own business, I did put in a seven-day week often working 12-15 hours a day — that probably played a part."