Results

Cause of your symptoms

Your change in bowel habit and abdominal pain may have been caused by something you have eaten.

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. 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 four more weeks or recur after stopping treatment see your GP.

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You are below 50 years old and have 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 is likely to examine your abdomen and back passage and do a blood test and if these are normal you are at low risk of having a 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 you will probably be referred to a routine hospital clinic for further investigations and advice about the management of your symptoms.