really think i have HIV

[brisveg]

HI,

I started having sex with other men for 3 months now and I made sure a condom was used for all of them. However, about a month ago I got what I thought was a cold and then a dry cough. I had night sweats for awhile and eventually i got a fever for a few days. A week ago I got stept throat and I was on antibiotics and was feeling really well until I woke up yesterday to discover I have a rash all over my arms, chest, neck and back. The dry cough has persisted for a month now. I'm going to get tested but if this isnt HIV then I dont know what it is.....I have all the symptoms so I'm feeling really stressed and depressed right now

[joggen]

First of of all, there is no such thing as having "all the symptoms" when it comes to HIV. HIV infection has no specific symptoms.

Second, you did nothing to put yourself at risk for HIV. People commonly catch colds and strep throat all the time, & protected intercourse is common in sexually active people who intend to stay safe such as yourself; the occurrence of one after the other is completely due to coincidence, not direct causation.

Third, you need to speak with your doctor about your rash. It could be related to the antibiotics that you were prescribed. But forget about HIV as a cause. If those are your only sexual activities with MSM and there was never any unprotected anal penetration then you do NOT need HIV testing and can move on as far as HIV is concerned.

[Teak]

You had protected sex and didn't have a risk of contracting HIV.