Since this test does not require anesthesia, you will be able to immediately resume a regular diet and activities. Eat lightly at first, and then advance your diet as tolerated. Since air was placed in the colon during the examination, you may feel a little bloated and crampy until the extra air is expelled. If a polyp is found, it is unlikely to be cancer - most are not. As a plus, most colon polyps can now be removed without the need for major abdominal surgery through a simple outpatient surgical procedure called colonoscopy.
Most patients are back to work in a day or two.
If more serious problems are found, the doctor will explain what medical or surgical forms of treatment are available. Of course, since the flexible sigmoidoscope is only 2 feet long and the average colon is 5 feet long, not all of the colon is examined during this procedure. But, flexible sigmoidoscopy does allow examination of the area where the majority of colon cancer, polyps, and other problems are found. You must realize that this test is a simple screening exam and it is possible that problems further inside the colon may be missed. However, if you are in a low risk group, have no family history of colon cancer, no symptoms, nor signs of blood in the stool, the latest American Cancer Society guidelines merely recommend another flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years in the future and a stool test for hidden blood, or Hemoccult slide test, annually.