Ignoring health issues almost cost me; my journey goes on (update)

[jfkbengals]

To everyone who has posted their tale in this thread, I thank you for doing so and hope for speedy recoveries to you all.

As Millhouse said, it doesn't matter how mild the problem is, get it looked at as it could be a result of something far worse. I have a close friend who is exactly 2 years younger than I am. When I was turning 40, my better half had a surprise party for me, and he was a no-show. Being his birthday as well, she had gotten him his own cake and everything, so we were kinda ticked off he bailed. For months he had been complaining of lower back pains from time to time, thinking he had pulled something. It turns out that he didn't show as he was in the hospital undergoing a series of tests. The lower back pain was being caused by a colon cancer tumor. It took years for them to finally find a doctor who could remove it, and at one point he was even admitted to hospice care as he had given up hope. When it was removed, the surgeon stated it was similar in size to a human head. Fortunately he is alive and well, but all this was disguised as, "I think I just pulled something".