What I did was tell my doctor that it was OK to leave a message on my voice mail with the results, be they good or bad. Since I have them call my cell phone, I'm the only one getting the message. That way they don't have to worry about privacy issues.
As to the gastro, it can hide there but it most often isn't there. Your doctors need to start thinking about what they say to you!
Sure, do the colonoscopy but it's just like any other colonoscopy.
My philosophy is I don't have it (no matter what "IT" is) until somebody finds it! But that doesn't mean I avoid the doctors or that I don't follow the regular checks according to my age for all of the various things one gets prone to the longer we keep breathing.
I have diverticulosis and periodic diverticulitis. It's a literal pain in the rear (Sorry--couldn't help myself) but it doesn't mean you have anything else. I got my colonoscopy and they found various things but nothing to worry about and just needed to schedule another for a few years down the road (I think 4 or 5).
About 10 percent of Americans older than 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people older than 60 have diverticulosis. Reference:
digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis/
I'm surprised you had to be hospitalized that long for it. More fiber!!!
Mike