Wadena Mans Encourages Annual Physicals
“Our community is fortunate to have such a wonderful hospital here,” Joe Ogle, rural Wadena, states. “You don’t know how good the hospital is until you need it.”
Unfortunately, Ogle’s need for his local hospital turned up a few years ago when he had his large arterial valve replaced after a heart murmur was detected by Dr. Miller during a routine physical.
“Dr. Miller sent me to see Dr. Sundarum in Waterloo for an echocardiogram years ago. At that time, Dr. Sundarum told me to wait about five years and have another test done. So, after five years, I went in for another test and they told me it was severe and surgery was required.”
In 2009, with his wife, Shari, by his side, Ogle underwent heart surgery at Allen and had his valve replaced with a bovine valve. After four days of recovery, Ogle was released and rehab was recommended.
“They recommended rehab down there. But, I asked if I could do it back here at Palmer Lutheran since it was so close and I knew how great the services were since my daughter works there…and I’m so glad I did!”
However, before rehab could begin, Ogle had to gain his strength back. And, again, Palmer was able to help. Palmer Home Health visited Ogle in his home for the first two weeks after surgery.
“The nurse would come visit me, but in between visits, I had a telemonitor. And, it’s quite a machine,” Ogle laughs. “It woke me up every morning, literally!”
In addition to the nursing services Ogle received, Palmer Home Health supplied a telemonitoring system that has Ogle’s vitals, and other important information, taken regularly and sent via phone line to the Home Health office. Therefore, reducing the need for nurses to come multiple times a day to monitor vitals or for Ogle to use energy to travel to the doctor’s office daily.
After the initial two weeks and gaining strength with the help of Home Health, Ogle started rehab at Palmer Lutheran Health Center Cardio/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department in November 2009.
“I didn’t have any symptoms my whole life that indicated I had a heart condition. They told me after my surgery that if Dr. Miller wouldn’t have caught the murmur I could have dropped over dead any second and never even known.”
And, the father of two, grandfather and great-grandfather of one had a lot of living left to do. Looking forward to spending time with family, golfing, fishing, and woodworking, Ogle took his rehab seriously. Starting a 36 session rehab program, Ogle went to Palmer three times a week for an hour to an hour and half each time.
“I felt a little tired the first time at rehab, but other than that, I have been feeling great,” Ogle explains. “I’ve always been in good health using my treadmill at home.”
However, the retired farmer knows that you can be in good health and yet still have heart issues sneak up on you.
“My father passed away from a coronary and both my sisters have heart murmurs, so I knew I had to give this rehab my best and learn about healthy living.”
Ogle began the long haul of working on the treadmill, NuStep, ergometer, elliptical, stair-stepper, and step exercises.
“In between each exercise, the nurse would take my blood pressure and watch my vitals. I have always been in good health, so to be going to rehab and being monitored was out of the norm.”
In addition to rehab, Palmer’s Cardiac Rehab educated Ogle on exercises at home, nutrition, sleep patterns, medication and life style choices.
“Palmer’s Cardiac Rehab and the gals there are awesome. I only have a few sessions left and I know that I will miss them. I will also miss the other patients that I have come to know. Working side-by-side with some of these people for three months builds relationships.”
When thinking back that his diagnosis may have been unnoticed if he hadn’t been going to his family doctor for routine physicals, Ogle encourages everyone to make those appointments a priority for a long life.
“When I received my valve, they told me it was good for 20 to 25 years. Given the fact that I’m 75, my valve may outlast me or you may still see me walking around when I’m 100!”