White coat syndrome.

Diggingdoris, I speak from experience as I had a bowel resection in January this year and I have a colostomy. I manage absolutely fine and the support system is good. Colonoscopies are invaluable for diagnosis and polyps can be dealt with there and then. I have just had a colonoscopy through the stoma and I watched it on the monitor while having a pre-cancerous polyp removed, I was home thirty minutes after the procedure.
I too have spoken to people who said they would rather die than have a colostomy, trust me the bag is better than the alternative.
Sorry if this TMI but sometimes fear prevents people from seeking the treatment they really need.

harrigran your experience is really useful for people to hear about. For some it could be TMI but for most its worth knowing about.

It actually couldn't be too much information if you think about. Thank you for sharing. Harri

One if my brothers is phobic about anything doctor related. He wend for a well man check at his surgery but wouldn't let them take bloods yet insists he is fine as his BP is ok - regardless of anything else. it took me ages to nag him to do his poo sticks and he won't have a flu jab! Heaven help him (and us!) if he ever gets proper poorly.