Quote:
Originally Posted by maxsee
So doc, how many HIV cases have you encounter before? What are the patients initial reaction when they found out that they are infected with HIV?
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Sadly, I have diagnosed many many HIV +ve cases. Reactions vary greatly.
The coolest guy I've seen just looked me squarely in the eye and said 'OK. Just tell me what I need to do next.' No emotion, no doubt, no questioning. Just practical, cold, crisis management mode. Truly strength of character.
One young lady I saw just crumbled into a heap on the floor. Fortunately her sister and brother came with her and could help. When she recovered from her catatonia she was completely inconsolable, crying and screaming. Her family had to literally carry her out of the clinic.
There was this guy who was convinced I was joking with him. When I told him the HIV test was +ve he laughed and said 'C'mon! Is this when you tell me this is a joke? When are the people going to jump out and laugh at me? Hahahah!' I had to tell him that I never joke about things like that. And his face fell.
Another guy just freaked out. He kept shouting 'No! No! No!' Banged his head on the wall, screamed into the pillow. When he stormed out of the clinic I had to follow him because I was convinced he was going to kill himself. After a while 'No! No! No!' became 'My beautiful wife! My beautiful wife!' After a long while he called his mother and said 'Mom I f***ed up! I really f***ed up!' and started crying really hard. That was when I knew he would be alright. It's called emotional cartage.
You gave me a good idea. Maybe I should write all these stories down somewhere.