Results
Cause of your symptoms
Your change in bowel habit could be the after-effects of a mild infection.
Advice
Try the treatments outlined below for four weeks.
Treatments
Eat less roughage and if necessary take bowel sedatives to reduce the number of times you go to the toilet. A pharmacist can advise on suitable treatments.
What now?
If you get better nothing else needs to be done but if your change in bowel habit persists for four more weeks or recurs after stopping treatments see your GP.
Summary of your symptoms
You are less than 50 years old, have a change in bowel habit to going more often with looser stools but no rectal bleeding or abdominal pain
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 were normal it would be reasonable to advise a further period of treat watch and wait. However, if your symptoms did not settle completely you would probably be referred to a routine hospital clinic for further investigations and advice on how to manage your symptoms.