Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Do I have HIV, or is this unrealistic?

So. Recently I had sex with a girl. She was tested for STDs before we met, and was clean. We used a condom, although it did slip off a bit while I was using it so that it had to be readjusted a few times. A while after that, perhaps something around give or take a month, I developed what I assume was Lyme disease. I had a circular red rash, a fever, muscle soreness, and fatigue. It honestly wasn’t that bad, but I went to the hospital because of the rash, and they gave me a prescription for antibiotics. Once I started taking them I felt pretty much just fine, maybe a little fatigued. I got my test results back and they came back negative. This is common especially during the beginning stage of the illness. But nonetheless because of this I have started worrying that I in fact did not have Lyme disease and actually contracted HIV, and it’s becoming kind of an intense preoccupation. I have a history of hypochondria and it is especially bad given the circumstances. A few days after antibiotics I found a small rash on the top of both of my feet that looked like a bunch of tiny bumps clustered together, which went away in a matter of days. I have also occasionally had a dry cough, and by occasionally I mean like maybe a few individual coughs every few weeks. I also now have dry lips in the corner of one side of my mouth and a tiny pimple or sore just above my upper lip. As I write these symptoms out they seem rather unimportant, and otherwise I feel just fine. But that doesnt stop me from worrying about them. This is made worse by the fact that the girl I was originally in contact with is now sick with what appears to be a cold, although she seems to have a wet cough which is not an HIV symptom I don’t think. My worry about this is intense and often leads to time consuming coping. I have looked at symptoms on the internet perhaps a little too much. I come here to explain my situation and see if anyone, especially those with experience of HIV, can tell me to what extent my fears are valid and to what extent I am overreacting, because I don’t really trust myself to make that determination.
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Note that I did find like two ticks on myself around the general area of the rash prior to getting sick, and I work outside a lot. I can’t remember if this was before or after sexual contact.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Only hte head needs protection and the condom protected you. You can't get HIV when you use a condom because if it was so loose that her HIV got under the ring at the base then it would have slipped off so you are safe from HIV. You have self diagnosed Lyme and HIV but this is an HIV forum and you can't have HIV, so need to move on from that. You mentioned " I have a history of hypochondria and it is especially bad' so if you can't accept the science that you don't have HIV, then see your doc and a therapist for help with the hypochondria.
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community

Top HIV Answerers
366749 tn?1544695265
Karachi, Pakistan
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.