Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

  Hello.  I am 28/130 lbs and have been experiencing blood "in" my stools for the past 2 weeks.  It is not on the tissue or on the stool itself but rather part of the stool.  It is not bright red.... but still is red....not dark or black.  
  I went to see a Gastroenterologist today and he has ordered a Sigmoidoscopy for next Monday (15).
  What I would like to know in "detail"..... what can be found or seen through this scope that would relate to the blood?  And if nothing is found...what would the next steps be?
  Thank you.
_Dear Debbie,
A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a test where a tube with a light and video camera are introduced into the rectum and advanced to about 60 centimeters (about 2-3 feet). The procedure is done to look for a site of bleeding in the left side of the large intestine or as a screening test for colon cancer in persons over the age of 50. As a general rule it is a procedure that takes less than 15 minutes. It is usually done without sedation. Patients can sometimes experience gas pains or discomfort during the procedure because air is pumped into the large intestine to enhance visualization. Some patients have twists or turns in the sigmoid colon which can be a source of discomfort. Nevertheless, most patients tolerate the procedure well without complications. There is a very remote risk of perforation (causing a tear in the lining of the intestine). This may necessitate surgical repair, but again, this is very rare with a flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Bright red blood per rectum in a young patient is very often secondary to a fissure (small tear in the anal canal) or hemorrhoids. However, a flexible sigmoidoscopy can help to exclude causes of bleeding which occur at a level above the anal canal. Such causes include inflammation of the lining of the intestine secondary to an infection or inflammation secondary to inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn

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