Well I'd like to take that point by point if I may. The first is the overall idea that I'm not taking their advice, I'm taking all of this onboard. I've not been arguing or debating why I should continue with the cycle as initially planned, but rather explaining my reasoning for why I started it to begin with. That opinion can change based on input.

The second point I'd like to make, and I mean this with respect to all those who have given me their opinion: the intention of this post was never a cycle critique. As said I'm taking the advice onboard and always happy for a second, third, etc opinion; but I mainly wanted to know if what I've suggested is possible. Let's forget my cycle plan for a moment, putting that aside, can dbol cause early onset gyno symptoms in those predisposed to estrogen side effects? The answer seems to be yes.

So again, very thankful for the advice from all who gave it, and I'll likely be making changes based on that.

I had mentioned this a bit below, but my thinking was that most of these compounds present with the same sides, and they seem mostly unstoppable. I'm already prone to body acne pre-cycle, so chances are I'm going to get it from all three compounds regardless of action. It's inescapable, so why would it ultimately matter which one triggered it first? Or hair loss, I've shown no signs of MPB yet, but if it's going to happen, anything that causes DHT will ultimately trigger it, so again it didn't seem to matter what the initial compound was to start the reaction.

And gyno, my understanding of typical effects on the human body (testosterone converting into estrogen at higher levels), combined with my own seemingly predisposed body for gyno-esque symptoms, suggested that chances are I'd get it so why not try and balance out my e levels early on with an anti estrogen.

To sum it up, my takeaway was that all the compounds are going to give me those side effects (or in the case of hair loss, hopefully not), and it's going to happen with one just as much as it would happen with all of them.

Well as I mentioned I'm open to the idea that it's all hypochondria, my mind playing tricks on me. It could very well be a series of coincidences. Sure, it probably isn't the onset of gyno, but isn't better to be safe and seek the advice of those with more expertise than myself? Creatine usually bloats me a bit in itself, dbol has similar effects so they could be responsible for the lower abdomen and pectoral bloating, as well as the nipple puffiness. The tenderness and chaffing may be a combination of a new skincare regimen for body acne, and many of my shirts becoming a bit too tight lately.

The emotional fragility is a bit odd, though. I know how hormonal changes can affect someone; but because I'm usually as mellow as they come, borderline non responsive to emotional situations. Heck, look at this thread, a lot of people, I'm sure, would respond to a critique of what they've built up in their mind with negativity or backlash, but I simply take all the commentary onboard.

Essentially I thought that with my baseline personality being so calm that I'd be immune to outbursts of anger, etc, but I seem to be more affected than I thought. Things that once didn't phase me now do, which I certainly didn't expect so quickly.

That's a darn impressive number! As I mentioned to Catalyst, I kind of thought of this (perhaps incorrectly, from the feedback) as a complimentary, synergistic experience. Not just a massive test spike for the sake of spiking; I can't think of a better example, but in the same way that using multiple supplements might be. Such as one to increase nutrient partitioning, and something like glutamine to aid in recovery.

From what I've seen once gyno starts you either have to increase prevention tactics by upping your aromatase inhibitor dose or take something heavier like nolva or letro. Wouldn't stepping back cause more harm than good if I am in fact experiencing early onset symptoms by throwing my levels out of whack?

I'm definitely seeing a consensus starting to form, but if I may try and explain my thinking on, as you aptly put it, my cavalier approach to my first cycle: as I mentioned to IrishMack, after what I believe to be fairly detailed, cross-comparative approach to my research (not just here, but through all of the many online resources).. I was lead to what is essentially the two big ideologies of steroid use for a first cycle. Stack big to gain the most (old school), and/or play it cautious with only one compound (new school). I chose what I thought was a middle ground by not running heavily suppressive or side-effect heavy things like deca or tren, but still doing a light stack.

So if you'll bear with me, this is my understanding of the compounds I'm taking: test e being slow estering will start to boost my test levels very gradually, but I won't see the full effect until 4-5 weeks in. With those first four weeks seemingly being not disproportionately similar, testosterone level-wise to my natural state, I chose to take advantage of that lower level window and use dbol to kickstart the cycle (as opposed to, say, prop). My research indicated two schools of thought on that as well, some run dbol at a low level all day to create a constant anabolic state, and some take the full dose before training to create a specific 3-4 hour anabolic window (I chose the latter). And the eq was primarily to take advantage of the enhanced vascular benefits, as well as it's supposed ability to help you maintain results longer term (anecdotal, but I've seen it often).

And the adex dosage was a combination of a better-safe-than-sorry gyno approach I've seen many incorporate and reiterate in their cycles. And I haven't come up with much in regards to being a tad more cautious in that regard by taking what I felt was what my body needed at minimum. Except, of course, negatively impacting e levels. Isn't it better to prevent gyno rather than have to treat it afterwards, after all?

Now that same research indicated that they virtually all have the same negative side effects such as body acne (an issue I've already suffered from naturally since age 12), potential hair loss, gyno, etc. And then adding bloat and more heavily estrogen-based effects from the dbol. But barring any sort of massive longterm shutdown, or liver damage from hepatoxicity of the oral dbol (which future blood work should aid), those side effects seem manageable and in many cases, like body acne or bloat, fully expected and inherent to the process/compounds.

So my question would be: am I operating under faulty information, based on what I've just said? Because the conclusion I had come to is that those things compliment each other, and that most of those mild side effects will likely happen regardless of what I were to take.

I did have bloodwork, but unlike most who do a cycle I simply took my doctors word on the results, so I haven't seen the numbers for myself. Doctors are difficult to come by in my city, some people I know have been without one for over 10 years. So when I was one of the handful of patients accepted by my new doctor I felt I shouldn't make too many demands of that first blood work panel, especially ones that could suggest an intent to use anabolics. However the blood work was done, and I was told that my BP, cholesterol are all perfect, and to 'keep doing what I was doing'.

I appreciate the input! The reason I dosed slightly above the average .25 eod or e3d with the adex was because I felt I was naturally already prone to gyno-like effects. Not necessarily just the straight effects of the compounds, but also my understanding of my own natural estrogen conversation levels.

Just, for instance, if ones bodyfat is too high, it's no secret that a cycle could exacerbate estrogen side effects you're already experiencing with said higher bf level. Now I'm not saying mine is, my last readout put me at about 10%. But what I was really asking is is it at all possible for someone with a predisposition to higher estrogen to react negatively to the introduction of androgens into ones system? Even if they're slow estering compounds, could an initial spike cause such an individual to become more sensitive, etc?

So in essence, I'm not strictly asking about steroid-induced gyno, I'm asking if there is a precedent for such compounds to have a strong effect on the estrogen-sensitive?

And two more points: after the months of research, night after night of reading articles, posts; contradictory and otherwise. Finding a common theme and common ground in the research, opinions and potential repercussions, I came to a specific conclusion: there exists the new school mindset of one compound added per cycle, gradually increasing to better understand your reactions; as well as the old school method of using a few, relatively mild staples of enhanced bodybuilding to 'get the most' out of ones first cycle. The consensus I came to was that it was ultimately personal preference.

My bodybuilding friends in the gym would tell me to get on tren out of the gate, but my research told me otherwise, for instance. It didn't seem like a prudent move to jump on the highest risk, highest reward compounds without knowing how I'd react to the more mild variety. And further research, opinion and even a bit of word of mouth told me that dbol, eq and test stack well, have minimal side effects overall and when they do they show virtually identically. If one is going to cause hair loss in those with male pattern baldness, chances are so will the others. Potential hepatoxicity of dbol aside.