Hi all,

I'm a 33 year old male, and I wanted to post here because part of me is terrified, and part of me just needs to vent. I've been reading through many of the posts here (and Reddit), and it's extremely helpful. I think you've all done a fantastic job of putting minds at ease. I wanted to ask about some symptoms / issues I've been having and see if anyone can offer input while waiting for a diagnosis! 

Over the last six months, my usually stubborn bowels became a lot more active, and a lot softer. I simply put that down to the fact I was eating twice as much as usual. Then, in November, I had an incident where upon passing stool, I suddenly passed a lot of blood. This repeated a week later, and then re-remerged in November.

A week ago, I sent a FIT test off and, while I wasn't told directly of the result, I was phoned a few days later to be scheduled an urgent Colonoscopy (within two weeks).

Now that immediately raised my eyebrows, and I'm aware that a good portion of FIT test positives don't turn out to be cancer.

But what has really terrified me is a sudden shift in bowel movements. For the last three days, I've been blocked up, with nothing but stringy stools. Now granted, I'm aware that's a sign of colon cancer, but I find it odd that I've gone from 'regular, soft, and okay sized', to 'stringy stools' in the space of a week! Is that normal with colon cancer? Or am I just dealing with constipation?

Adding to this mystery, I was originally advised to take Fybogel, a high fiber supplemant. I did this for about four days before I started becoming constipated. Part of me wonders if the fiber has amassed into some fecal Hindenburg, that now won't go anywhere. The laxative kind of worked at first, it led to a pretty uncomfortable pass, but since that point everything has been a mess!

Anyway, I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced symptoms like these, and had positive (or negative) outcomes. Other troubling signs appear to be absent - no sense of weakness, no severe stomach cramps (occasional pain on discomfort on my lower right side, but nothing to write home about), no sense of nausea. I'm really at a loss what to make of it all.

There is a family history of bowel cancer, polyups, and diverticulitis, but nothing at my age. Everyone has been in their 60s when checked. I smoked a pipe (but never inhaled) for a decade, and smoking cigarettes (and then a vipe) for around four years. I am, however, a drinker! And I've piled on weight in the last four-five years (from 12-19 stone).

And as you've all no doubt experienced, the waiting is the horrific!