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Cause of your symptoms

Your change in bowel habit and abdominal pain could be the after-effects of a mild infection. The rectal bleeding is probably from normal veins just inside the back passage.

Advice

Try the treatments outlined below for two weeks but if your symptoms do not settle quickly or stop you sleeping or working see your GP

Treatments

Eat less roughage and if necessary take a bowel sedative to reduce the number of times you go to the toilet and antispasmodic tablets to ease your pain. A pharmacist can advise on suitable treatments.

What now?

If you get completely better nothing else needs to be done. However, if your symptoms persist for two more weeks or recur after stopping treatment see your GP.

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You are under 50 years old and have a change in bowel habit to going more often with looser stools associated with rectal bleeding without pile symptoms and abdominal pain associated with weight loss and or loss of appetite.

Additional information if you see your GP

People who persistently eat less to avoid their abdominal pain and lose a significant amount of weight may have a partial bowel blockage which requires prompt investigation in hospital.