Results

Cause of your symptoms

Your rectal bleeding is probably from normal veins just inside your back passage commonly called piles when they bleed and your abdominal pain is likely to be due to bowel spasm if it settles quickly.

Advice

Try the treatments outlined below for four weeks.

Treatments

Eat a simple diet and if necessary take antispasmodic tablets for your abdominal pain or discomfort. It is normal to strain a little when passing a motion but too much can cause bleeding.
A pharmacist can advise on suitable treatments.

What now?

If you get better nothing further needs to be done. However, if the bleeding and abdominal pain persist for four more weeks or recur after stopping treatment see your GP.

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You are over 50 yrs old and have rectal bleeding without pile symptoms, no change in bowel habit and abdominal pain with a normal appetite and no weight loss.

Additional information if you see your GP

Patients over 60 years old with persistent rectal bleeding for over six weeks without pile symptoms merit referral to a 2-week clinic. Patients below 60 years old with normal examinations of their tummy and back passage and a normal blood test should be referred to a routine hospital clinic for further investigations and treatments to stop the bleeding.