"Chronic pulmonary embolism"

Having recently been diagnosed with colon cancer, I was admitted to Albany Health Campus for immediate surgery to remove the affected area in a bowel section removal procedure. Complications arose from this procedure. I underwent emergency surgery 5 days later as a large intestine anastomotic leak had occurred.

As one can imagine, I was not in good health. Communication between the health authorities with notification to the family, and next of kin was non-existent. This should have been handled more professionally instead of a message left on the next of kin's mobile phone following surgery to inform them that the patient had done well during surgery without any knowledge before surgery was performed.

Four days later I tested positive for covid-19 which I contracted during my hospitalization on campus. It was at this point I was at my lowest both mentally and physically already 9 days in on my hospital visitation.

If this wasn't bad enough, what was to follow next I feel was abhorrent and unprofessional. An administration clerk presented to my room door, closed, of course, they then opened the door and I recall said that had I not been out of my room I would not have caught Covid. Being an administration clerk having to walk a fair distance from their station to my room and to convey the message the way they did was unacceptable in my opinion.

Following a CT pulmonary angiogram revealed the focus of filling defect within the right upper lobe subsegmental pulmonary artery. This may represent chronic pulmonary embolism.

Conclusion: Focus on filling the defect in the right upper lobe subsegmental pulmonary artery may represent chronic pulmonary embolism.

My grave concern here having been discharged from the hospital to be home, it was around a month later that a follow-up occurred and I was placed immediately on blood thinners before starting Chemo-therapy. My main question is, Why was I not prescribed blood thinners before my release from the hospital?

Secondly, was I a walking time bomb at any moment to suffer a chronic pulmonary embolism?

My recent stay in the hospital has left me traumatized, with anxiety levels hitting the stratosphere. I have sought counselling following my ordeal, and have been informed that I am suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, and continuing with ongoing counselling.

Sadly I feel this is the result of the current state of our health system in Western Australia. I feel apology after apology doesn't cut it for what has been a terrifying ordeal. With the delay in the follow-up being 5 weeks has also halted the chemotherapy program mapped out for me.

In closing, the concerns I have raised will be addressed so all concerned can move on and that some positives come out of my recent experience at the hands of our health system.