Hello everyone,

I'm posting on here because I'm not really quite sure where to offload.

I'm 33 years old, male. Generally fit and well - just ever so slightly overweight according to the BMI for my height/weight. Never had significant health problems.

I started having some aching under my right ribs a few months ago; it started to go around to my back (where my kidneys are). I had an ultrasound a few years ago which discovered a bit of fatty liver so I put it down to that playing up. Then I started to notice a bit of a change in my bowel habits - just going a bit more, softer poos. But I thought, best not ignore it, get to the GP. Unfortunately I'm a bit of a hypochondriac - and it turns out that my GP practice had picked up on this. I got a letter through after I submitted my query to the GP saying that "I had been submitting too many clinical requests" on their systems and that I would be "taken off their books" if I continued to do so.

I was mortified. I'd never intended to do that - but I knew my hypochondriac had probably got the better of me. Looking back I had submitted six requests in the space of a month. So when I started getting blood in my poo I felt very hesitant about getting in touch with the doctors. I thought I was overreacting (maybe it was something I ate, or I'm seeing things?). My partner insisted, after looking at the NHS guidance, that I tell the GP. But I delayed again. Instead I obtained one of those rapid bowel health tests from Boots. I know they're not as accurate as the GP ones.

I did it this morning and it came back positive. I felt a bit validated at least. And then I decided - I have to tell the GP.

Surprisingly I heard right back. And tomorrow I've been asked to come straight in for a further physical exam and a proper FIT test. I'm rather worried - I don't really know my biological father and so there's a big "blank" about whether a family history of bowel cancer exists on my paternal side. What I do know is that many men on that side apparently died prematurely.

I'm feeling very lonely at the moment. I feel like I have to apologise to the GP tomorrow if everything comes back negative. I'm just so confused.

Sorry for the rambling.

Take care everyone

A