Results

Cause of your symptoms

Your rectal bleeding is probably from veins just inside your back passage and your abdominal pain and change in bowel habit may have been caused by something you have eaten.

Advice

Try the treatments outlined below for two weeks. However, if your abdominal pain is preventing any of your activities like working or sleeping see your GP.

Treatments

Eat a simple diet and if necessary take an antispasmodic tablet 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 quickly get completely better in the next two weeks nothing further needs to be done. However, if your symptoms persist or recur after stopping treatment see your GP.

---

You are over 50 yrs old and have abdominal pain associated with weight loss and or a reduction in appetite. You also have rectal bleeding without pile symptoms and a non-specific change in bowel habit.

Additional information if you see your GP

People who eat less to avoid their abdominal pain and or lose a significant amount of weight may have a partial bowel blockage which requires prompt investigation in hospital.
In healthy patients aged 50-70 years old who have not had previous colonic imaging a single flexible sigmoidoscopy has the added benefit of detecting incidental but significant adenomatous polyps which if removed may prevent a future cancer - ‘opportunistic screening'