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 two weeks.

Treatments

T Eat a simple diet and if necessary take antispasmodic tablets for your abdominal pain. 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 above 50 years old and have a non-specific change in bowel habit, abdominal pain with no weight loss and a normal appetite and no rectal bleeding.

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 did not settle completely it would be reasonable to refer you to a routine hospital clinic for further advice about the management of your symptoms.