Thank you all. My worst fears were squashed yesterday - Having had several doctors thinking I had bowel cancer, and getting an emergency admission after being examined by the gastro specialist, well, I was not feeling too positive!
But they let me out after the op - there is nothing major wrong with my guts, a few biopsies were taken, but bowel cancer is almost completely ruled out.
Thanks for sharing your story John, sounds like you have really been thru it as well!
And yes, there is something about this community which is unlike any other on-line community I have expierienced, difficult to put my finger on it exactly - but perhaps its that it feels more "real" (and also more caring) than anywhere else - I feel like I "belong" here - there are other people nearly as crazy as me, or whatever - It is nice to be back.
Fred.