+ 1 PCT, TRT, or Cruise?
Just finishing up my first test only cycle, currently tapering off and will be into the last week of the cycle next week. It went great - gained a solid 20lbs with minimal fat gain and strength in all lifts has gone through the roof. Thanks to all the eroids vets for the help!
So before the cycle, I had been experiencing all the classic Low T symptoms- I went back and forth with my MD and a local endo/ men's clinic. My natural test levels were borderline low - usually in the 300's. Endo at the men's clinic suspects occupational exposure to chemicals has caused problems and recommended TRT. MD was on the fence but said that my levels were low normal but symptoms were classic Low T and told me to follow up with the endo again. I just chalked it up to being older and decided that TRT was something that I would put off for the future. I focused on diet and exercise and ran a cycle to pursue some long term strength goals. With the exception of figuring out some estro issues and acne, the cycle went great with no problems.
Long story short - within a couple of weeks of my cycle, all of my Low T symptoms went away and I felt like new again. So now I am looking at the prospect of PCT and going back to the old broken bastard that I was before. To be completely honest, I am not looking forward to that. My quality of life and performance at work and in the bedroom are back to where they should be and I really don't want to go back.
I've tapered down to 200mg/ wk and I am just weighing my options. I was hoping that maybe someone on here has been through the same situation and could give some advice.
The way I see it, my option are:
1) PCT and see what happens - go through the hell of probably losing my gains, quality of life and going back to where I was, or worse
2) PCT and then endo for TRT - clinic is expensive as hell compared to my current supplies - $80 per injection plus fees and labs, and they do a cookie cutter once every two weeks treatment protocol
3) just say fuck it and cruise on a TRT dose, get regular bloodwork and let the MD know what I am doing so that he can help keep an eye on things. I know I am going to get lectured for this option but this is really where I am thinking about going. I really don't want to go back to being an old, grumpy, broken shithead. The prospect of pinning for life doesn't bother me and I would be happy to do that rather than go back to feeling like shit, even if it means taking a few years off my life. Hell, I'd rather live 30 more and feel good than 50 and feel like shit.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
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There are other options perhaps worth pursuing before TRT, one of which is Clomid therapy. Ask your doctor about them.
You may think, "pinning is no big deal for the rest of my life." Then twenty months later, you're cussing under your breath, "fuck, I gotta pin AGAIN." Then another twenty months goes by, and you're still stabbing yourself, just to feel "normal." It sucks.
These lads below have given good advice from real experience.
Is it worth it? For me, I've been self prescribed TRT for ten months. It's changed my life for the better. I'm healed, I heal from my daily hard work, my sex drive is up and I sleep better, but not because "I feel great!!!" I simply feel great because I'm healed. I'm still sore, I'm still tired, but my injuries and chronic lethargy are gone. But I've asked myself many times, is it "worth it" necessarily?
The answer is, I don't know yet.
After much research a year ago, I decided I would also try incorporate 100mg/week for 8 weeks of primobolan enanthate (in conjunction with my very low 100mg test cyp per week) just to see how my body would respond to it. I took three months of just TRT, then went back to another 8 week phase of that same 100mg primo e protocol along with my 100mg test cyp.
I feel like I'm stronger, and I certainly can work longer & harder than I used to be able to. However, I'm less patient with my young children. I don't know if it's because I'm working harder, and thus more tired, or if it's because of the chemical.
Regardless, primo certainly has it's physique enhancing properties, and I'm using it super low dose. (There's a reason that pros use it, now I know.) Like others who've reported their experiences about primo, I've had no side effects that I'm aware of.
Maybe I'm fucking myself up, maybe I'm fine. I've made my bed, I'll sleep in it. I'm just sharing my experience as food for thought to help you, as well as other men, make intelligent decisions.
Trust me, if I could be natty and not feel lethargic as fuck, I would. But I can't. So be it, Jedi.
Thanks Zeus. I can relate bro - going through life lethargic and beaten up is worse than jabbing a needle in yourself once a week.
What made you decide on adding the primo?
I decided to pull the trigger on primo for a few reasons. I was (am) curious about AAS in general, and I had some seriously nagging injuries that haven't healed for years. Between low dose test and low dose primo, brother, I'm healed.
I now know what AAS truly is: medicine.
If used correctly, it can enhance living. If abused, it's bad news.
As for why primo instead of other anabolics: It's my first trip outside of test, so I wanted to try to be "conservative" (even though all AAS has it's risks, etc). Primo has low side effects. It works slowly (which, I'm old, so that's fine, slow & steady always wins).
The biggest reason was, I've read time and time again that even if you're off of primo for a long while, as long as you keep lifting hard, you "keep your gains." Instead of a "two steps forward, one step back" approach to cycling, it's more like a "1 step forward, a small foot step back." So far, that seems to be the case for me. I've used it super low doses, but my muscle growth and muscle strength is very real and has stayed (so far).
I'm still thirty damn pounds heavier than I wanna be, but that's simply because I don't have the discipline at the moment to put together a six month cut. As a result, I've decided to step back from using primo again until I can truly focus on the whole picture (lift, eat, sleep). When I finally do a real cut, I'll take pictures of the process and share them here.
I'm a fanboy of primo, but I don't advocate anyone to jump into it, "just cuz ZeusM says it's the shit, bro man!" Nope. Do your research. Take your time. Ask questions. Take the extreme lovers of primo, and the extreme haters of primo, and find the answer somewhere in the middle. If you try it, be conservative and lift smart. Listen to your body. If your heart feels weird, or your blood pressure is weird, pay attention.
For me, when I use primo, I seem to get a tad bit more impatient with my young kiddos, and my red blood cell count goes up quite a bit, so I donate every ten weeks. (I've started doing donating on a regular basis anyways, cuz it's something I simply want to do for my own personal, yet possibly delusional, altruistic reasons. Help people, etc.)
I hope this helps you, and other men, make wise decisions moving forward! Cheers!
TRT is a big decisions and a life long commitment. personally, I suggest trying everything else first before even considering taking that route. sometimes a jump start will help. you will needs to wait a month or two at least before sitting down with a doc for accurate evaluation and to discuss the options or routes.
I agree with avoiding the clinics, it seems like a drug dealer mentality at those places. see your typical doctor or seek out an endo or a doctor that specializes in trt for men thato is up to date on protocols and pharmaceuticals.
there are many great aspects of trt if you really do need it. it also comes with a ball and chain. issues that you may not have considered. balancing your hormones and finding the right doses can be lengthy. also, don't forget things like travel. you would have to figure out how to take your medications with you. within the US it's not as tricky but it can be a gamble of you travel international, script or not. if something ever happens and you can't obtain your medications you feel far worse than you do with levels in the 300s, trust me.
Great point- I hadn't considered the difficulty of travel and constant necessity of a reliable supply...
TRT is not all puppies and roses. The only smart thing to do here is to run a PCT and try to recover. Wait at least 6 wks after PCT is completed and then get your bloodwork done to see where you are. If you truly need TRT then you work with your doc to get things dialed in. Don't go to one of those Men's or TRT clinics unless you really want to spend a fortune. See your primary doc first and he will set up an appointment with a Urologist. This has long term health implications here and not something you just go administer yourself.
It will once you actually have to start doing it.
Thanks Makwa. Will start PCT in two weeks. Doc was hesitant to refer or treat as he says levels in the 300's are above the "medical necessity" level for TRT. He was also hesitant because "TRT is for old men, not big athletic guys". I will keep up with the blood work and see how it goes.
This is the common sense answer I was expecting. Thanks for your input.
Its been several years for me and I am seriously considering an aggressive pct followed by clomid. I am sick and fkn tired of pinning every week. My body is seriously at the point where no matter where I inject it tries to push the oil back out. Z method, pinch the skin method, leave the needle in for 30 seconds method, no bueno. Im in talks with my endo to see if it can be done knowing my levels were low to begin with hence the reason for the hrt. Im just tired of being a slave.
Rustyhooker^^^^^truth