Sidney Man Experiences First-Hand Cardiac Rehab

Not long ago, a Sidney resident was at work when he began to experience discomfort in his chest. Determined that nothing was wrong, he took some medicine and went home without thinking too much about it. Later that night, he went to Sidney Regional Medical Center and was later transferred to Fort Collins hospital for a heart attack.

This was Tom O'Connell's experience. The heart attack was caused by a clot in the vein in front of his heart. While at the hospital in Fort Collins, he had to get a stent, a small tube placed in the vein that allows the blood to flow more freely. Going up through his wrist and into the vein, the procedure took only a couple hours. After some recovery time in the hospital, he went home that same day.

Although the surgery may have been quick, the rehab is not. O'Connell is only halfway through his rehab. He called SRMC's cardiac rehab "phenomenal" and "very good at what they do". They are constantly watching his heart monitor while he does the assigned exercises. The therapy challenges O'Connell as he continues to build resistance in his heart.

O'Connell says it has been a learning process, but a "rewarding and positive" experience. It has forced him to make healthy changes in his life. Part of the rehab is lowering his salt intake and adjusting his eating habits. With the help of the rehab dietitian and everyone at SRMC cardiac unit rehab unit, O' Connell is living a healthier lifestyle.