Key Takeaways
- A genuine change in bowel habit means a persistent shift lasting 6+ weeks, not a short-lived episode.
- It's taken seriously — particularly over 50, or with bleeding, weight loss or anaemia — because it's a recognised red-flag combination for bowel pathology.
- Most cases are benign (IBS, diet, medication), but only proper investigation can confirm that.
- Colonoscopy, performed by Mr Papettas himself, directly examines the bowel lining when indicated.
Your bowel habit is personal — what's 'normal' for one person is different for another. What matters clinically is a genuine, persistent change from your own baseline: new or worsening constipation, looser or more frequent stools, urgency, or alternating patterns, lasting more than around six weeks without an obvious explanation like a change in diet, medication, or a short-lived stomach bug.
Seek Urgent Medical Review If You Have
Arrange prompt assessment for a change in bowel habit if it comes with:
- Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
- Unintentional weight loss
- Iron-deficiency anaemia
- New symptoms after age 50
- A family history of bowel cancer
- Persistent abdominal pain alongside the change
Common Causes
- IBS — the most frequent diagnosis, often with bloating and abdominal discomfort alongside the change.
- Diet, medication, or reduced activity — frequently overlooked but common, especially for new constipation.
- Diverticular disease — can cause altered bowel habit alongside left-sided abdominal discomfort. See the diverticular disease page.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — usually with additional features such as blood, urgency, or weight loss.
- Bowel polyps or cancer — the reason persistent, unexplained change in bowel habit is always investigated rather than assumed benign, particularly with any red-flag feature.
Why See a Surgeon-Endoscopist for GI Symptoms
Most GI symptoms are first assessed by a gastroenterologist — a physician who diagnoses and manages digestive conditions medically. Mr Papettas offers a complementary route: as a Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon who also holds JAG dual accreditation in colonoscopy and gastroscopy, he can take your history, examine you, perform the relevant endoscopic investigation himself, and — if a surgical problem is found — move straight to planning treatment, without a separate referral cycle. For symptoms that may ultimately need a surgical opinion (persistent pain, a mass, bleeding, hernia-related symptoms, or a diagnosis that turns out to need an operation), this can mean one consultant relationship from first appointment to treatment, rather than several.
| Standard GP → Gastroenterology Route | Seeing Mr Papettas Directly | |
|---|---|---|
| First appointment | Referral to a gastroenterologist (physician) | Consultant colorectal & general surgeon, JAG dual-accredited in colonoscopy & gastroscopy |
| Diagnosis | History and exam by one team; endoscopy often separately arranged | Same consultant takes the history, examines you, and can perform the scope himself |
| If surgery turns out to be needed | New referral to a surgeon, a new consultant relationship | Already your consultant — can proceed to surgical planning without a further handover |
| Typical pathway | Multiple consultants, appointments staged across teams | One consultant, symptom to diagnosis to treatment |
What Happens at Your Consultation
- A detailed history and examination — the majority of GI symptoms are significantly clarified by this alone.
- Where indicated, same-consultant access to colonoscopy and/or gastroscopy, avoiding a separate referral for endoscopy.
- Blood tests or imaging arranged directly where needed (e.g. iron studies, ultrasound, CT).
- A clear diagnosis and management plan explained in the same relationship — through to surgery, if that turns out to be the right next step.
