Results

Cause of your symptoms

Your rectal bleeding is probably from piles caused by constipation and the abdominal pain is likely to be due to bowel spasm.

Advice

Try the treatments outlined below for four weeks but if your abdominal pain prevents any of your activities including working or sleeping see your GP.

Treatments

Eat more roughage and if necessary take laxatives to make your stools softer and easier to pass. It is normal to strain a little when passing a motion but too much can cause bleeding. Your abdominal pain may respond to an anti-spasmodic tablet. A pharmacist can advise on suitable treatments.

What now?

If you get better nothing else 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 over 50 years of age with rectal bleeding and pile symptoms, constipation and abdominal pain without loss of appetite or weight.

Additional information if you see your GP

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

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'