DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

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Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

Page 060

72. shade under a tree, thoroughly wretched and altogether unable to paint. Undoubtedly the distress must have diminished later for I would return to my easel - but with less zest than before. [note: insert pg 72A & 72B].  It is to be noted that at this time, I already was having considerable difficulty with my stomach. The abdomen was sensitive. Yes, unduly sensitive to the touch. Furthermore it was distended and generally uncomfortable. It therefore, seemed advisable once again to try to determine the trouble and if at all possible to have something done about it. So the phenomenal pain-making interior was hastened to a doctor at a sanitarium nearby. The abdomen was punched haphazardly by the surgeon. "Nausea?" he asked. "Yes, occasionally", was the answer. "The pain is very localized. It indicates a chronic appendicitis. It would be my suggestion to have it removed. Certainly that would be the safest thing to do, for now in the condition the appendix is in it might flare up suddenly and become acute at any time and then if it were to burst we should have a more serious affair to deal with". And still retaining the faith and confidence of youth in mankind, we decided to have the offending organ out. Perhaps, we thought, it was well to have it done right away so that I might have relief from the abdominal symptoms as quickly as possible before any more damage might be done. Once more

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72. shade under a tree, thoroughly wretched and altogether unable to paint. Undoubtedly the distress must have diminished later for I would return to my easel - but with less zest than before. [note: insert pg 72A & 72B]. It is to be noted that at this time, I already was having considerable difficulty with my stomach. The abdomen was sensitive. Yes, unduly sensitive to the touch. Furthermore it was distended and generally uncomfortable. It therefore, seemed advisable once again to try to determine the trouble and if at all possible to have something done about it. So the phenomenal pain-making interior was hastened to a doctor at a sanitarium nearby. The abdomen was punched haphazardly by the surgeon. "Nausea?" he asked. "Yes, occasionally", was the answer. "The pain is very localized. It indicates a chronic appendicitis. It would be my suggestion to have it removed. Certainly that would be the safest thing to do, for now in the condition the appendix is in it might flare up suddenly and become acute at any time and then if it were to burst we should have a more serious affair to deal with". And still retaining the faith and confidence of youth in mankind, we decided to have the offending organ out. Perhaps, we thought, it was well to have it done right away so that I might have relief from the abdominal symptoms as quickly as possible before any more damage might be done. Once more