After undergoing surgery in March to remove a lump on his head, Solomon Mthana found himself in an unexpected situation. During this hospital visit, doctors conducted blood tests, including a rapid HIV screening test, which indicated a positive result. This misdiagnosis led Mthana to be advised and placed on antiretroviral therapy (ARV), plunging him into a painful emotional and mental journey.
The side effects of the medication were extremely challenging for him. The first two weeks were particularly tough, with constant vomiting, nausea, and overwhelming fatigue.
However, relief came in April when the laboratory blood test results returned negative. After over a month of treatment, he learned he had never been HIV positive.
This revelation was a shock for him and his family. He had already begun to adjust to life with the disease, and now he had to relearn how to live without it.
He was struck by the unusually friendly behavior of the nurses when delivering the news, which made him suspicious that something was amiss. They also offered him counseling sessions on the spot, adding to his distress.
Thus, the diagnostic error plunged Mthana into an emotional and psychological whirlwind, questioning his mental health and emotional well-being.
Source: Adom Online
