Colette, It sounds to me like he will most likely do a Sigmoidoscopy. I have never gone to a Gastroenterologist who didn't do this procedure on my first visit. I had it done "many" times. A tube is inserted into the lower 10" of your bowel to visualize the inside of your rectum and lower bowel and is done in a doctor's office. It doesn't take long, about 15 minutes. Some people have a little discomfort, some allot of discomfort, everyone is different.
A Colonoscopy is performed in the hospital with some sedation on an out-patient basis (usually)and inspects a much larger portion of bowel. It takes longer than a Sigmoidoscopy.
Here are 3 Web-sites with detailed information on each procedure and also a support group with people who had it done.
http://sigmoidoscopy.com/ http://members2.boardhost.com/gastro1/
http://healthwatch.medscape.com/medscape/p/G_library/healthtopicsa-z.asp
JEAN (from PA)
-- Jean (from PA)