AIDS epidemic in the USSR
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Arts Entertainment -> subcategory Humor.
AIDS Epidemic in the USSR
Summary
An adult contracting a childhood illness is extraordinarily painful, as I discovered during the late Soviet era. When I caught measles, I was bedridden with a fever of 40°C, convinced I was on the brink of death.
Article Body
Experiencing a childhood illness as an adult is uniquely painful. This was my reality in the late Soviet era when I contracted measles. I was bedridden for three days with a fever soaring to 40°C, feeling as though I was nearing my end. Fortunately, a doctor diagnosed me with measles, and before long, I was recovering in a specialized hospital.
Those three days were unforgettable: a relentless headache, fever-induced dizziness, and thoughts consumed only by a morbid desire for relief. In the hospital, I met a man around 50 who shared his story, which I'll recount here.
At my age, many of my friends have ailments like ulcers or high blood pressure, yet I had nothing to share. Finally falling ill made me strangely happy. I thought, "They'll cure me, and soon I'll have something to contribute to our conversations." I ended up in an isolation ward at Botkin's Hospital, surrounded by others with similar conditions, all carrying their burdens. The doctors couldn’t diagnose me at first.
At the time, there were reports about the first HIV-positive cases in the newspapers, mostly linked to a man from the foreign trade organization?"a homosexual. With no clear diagnosis, they assumed I had AIDS and began questioning me. They insisted, "Confess, we're doctors." Despite my denials, they pushed, claiming medical confidentiality. After three weeks, I gave in.
I approached my doctor, pleading, "Diagnose and treat me by tomorrow, or I can't take it anymore." During a routine meeting, a pediatrician mistakenly arrived. She quickly diagnosed me with a mild form of measles, which had been overlooked. Soon, I was discharged.
The only frustration left was the embarrassment. It's awkward to recount this experience among friends discussing serious illnesses, as admitting to a childhood disease feels trivial. It’s best kept to myself.
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