Most of the time, it takes somewhere around a full day to recuperate following a colonoscopy screening, and many individuals are well enough to start their regular activities the following day. When colorectal polyps are extracted, the recovery period will likely take about a week. It is not uncommon to have a little bit of GI irritation after your colon cancer screening, like cramping and bloating. Our Washington Gastroenterology doctors will go over more details on what to expect while you recover.