Results

Cause of your symptoms

Your rectal bleeding is probably from normal 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.

Treatments

Eat more roughage to make your stools softer and easier to pass 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 your symptoms persist for two more weeks or recur after stopping treatment see your GP.

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You are less than 50 years old have rectal bleeding without pile symptoms, a non-specific change in bowel habit and abdominal pain with a normal appetite and no weight loss

Additional information if you see your GP

Your GP will probably examine your tummy and back passage and do a blood test and if these are normal you are at low risk of having serious bowel disease and it would be reasonable to advise a further period of treat watch and wait. However, if your symptoms do not settle completely or recur after stopping treatment you are likely to be referred to a routine hospital clinic for further investigations and local treatments to stop the rectal bleeding.