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 074

I had fully expected to complete the series of lavages before the next gastroscopy. The doctor had staken a march on me - as they are want to do sometimes when things (meaning tests and operations) come hard and perhaps sometimes for to. Being somewhat prepared for the blow - I thought - which was to fall somewhat later however did not prevent me from blanching every which way or from becoming paralyzed with mortal fear when the announcement came. I doubt, however, that gastroscopies can ever be taken with equanimity.
All the more - and it usually happens to be a high percentage of men - who take gastroscopies dread them horribly. They think this is the world's worst test and express themselves freely from this point. They are not for wrong. Of course I can think of any member of more pleasant things to do - but it is just one of those things that cannot be avoided much as one could do without the ghastly business.
Upon entering the hospital, indeed the gastroscopy that threw me - the one responsible for consigning me to the hospital - was a "humdinger." The local condition of the old craw made of it an especially terrifying experience. It was impossible to get the instruments all the way down at that time. Moreover every movement of the instruments would stir up the contractions of the muscles anew and the reflexes would clamp down. It was a dread event. After that most painful experience I moderately became intimidated and afraid of those that had to follow.

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I had fully expected to complete the series of lavages before the next gastroscopy. The doctor had staken a march on me - as they are want to do sometimes when things (meaning tests and operations) come hard and perhaps sometimes for to. Being somewhat prepared for the blow - I thought - which was to fall somewhat later however did not prevent me from blanching every which way or from becoming paralyzed with mortal fear when the announcement came. I doubt, however, that gastroscopies can ever be taken with equanimity. All the more - and it usually happens to be a high percentage of men - who take gastroscopies dread them horribly. They think this is the world's worst test and express themselves freely from this point. They are not for wrong. Of course I can think of any member of more pleasant things to do - but it is just one of those things that cannot be avoided much as one could do without the ghastly business. Upon entering the hospital, indeed the gastroscopy that threw me - the one responsible for consigning me to the hospital - was a "humdinger." The local condition of the old craw made of it an especially terrifying experience. It was impossible to get the instruments all the way down at that time. Moreover every movement of the instruments would stir up the contractions of the muscles anew and the reflexes would clamp down. It was a dread event. After that most painful experience I moderately became intimidated and afraid of those that had to follow.