The sad truth is I've often wondered what that might be like.

Consider: You've been bitten. You likely feel like rotten shit. You have approximately 24 hours (probably less) before you die, reanimate, and begin eating your friends. Would there be feelings of guilt during those last hours, knowing what you may potentially do? I'd probably just shoot myself in the head (or have someone else do it) after the process of my dying began to impede my usefulness.