First Gentle Cycle - Still Intense PIP/Test Flu

Pharma
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Running my first cycle - I intended it to be a very gentle cycle somewhere at the edge of TRT/actual anabolic cycle.

Running just Test E from an UGL

Plan (12 weeks)
100/150/200/250/250/300/300 (I am here)/300/250/250/200/200
wait 2 weeks
Nolvadex cycle

(I’m a 41 year old hard gaining ectomorph that went down to about 135 lbs (yes, skinny as f*ck from 155 lbs during the pandemic from depression not eating. Test has consistently been hovering around 300-350 for prob 8 years now. Currently doing mostly intense bodyweight workouts. Mildly out of shape. Goal for cycle was to put on weight, see how test affects mood/motivation/libido, and maybe add some muscle - but I have a lot of gains I could make on my own before I run a larger dose anabolic cycle. Aiming for 3-4k calories a day)

Good news! Within 3 weeks noticed huge shifts in mood/motivation/libido. Have gained 11 lbs in 6 weeks. Exercise recovery time is massively improved. Endurance is massively improved in terms of max reps. Feeling great for a little while. Morning wood! Lots of sex!

Bad news!

I have massive PIP (I think I’ve been injecting way too fast, squeezing it all in in about 20 seconds) - this week is day 4 of feeling like someone kicked me in the ass with a steel-toe boot, can’t even put weight on that side of my butt yet.

The past 3 injections I’ve had some version of the “test flu” - 1-3 days of some shakes, shivers, dry cough, low grade fever (99.5-100) afterwards. I have some kidney pain/lower back pain this time as well.

RHR has gone up from 72 to 85, including a 10BPM increase while sleeping. This pretty much happened about 4 weeks in. Also currently have mild hypertension (130/80) when I’m usually normal.

Libido/mood shift seems to be waning a bit (normal after honeymoon phase right?)

Had labs done and full metabolic panel indicates everything normal except mildly elevated liver enzymes (could have been pandemic boozing, have been off booze for this cycle), and a mildly elevated white blood cell count.

Questions: I assume rise in BP/RHR is normal and i’ve heard many people adjust after awhile on perma-TRT or after their first few cycles. PIP is killing me now that I’m at 300 (using 300/1ml test e). Anything to do other than warm oil and go slower? Inhibited workouts this week.

Test flu is also annoying. I’m trying to do this cycle to see if I feel better and the past 3 weeks have all had 3+ days of feeling like I’m coming down with a cold.

I assume labs are fine, but interested to see how WBC and ALT look in another couple months.

Should I dilute test with GSO? Try and get some pharma test to see if its any different? Am I just a complete wimp with my bodyweight workouts complaining about a (really) sore glute and feeling feverish chills on such low doses of test?

Really liked the effects at about weeks 3 and 4, 5/6/7 have gotten progressively worse test fly and pain with the increased dosage. Maybe I should just do straight up TRT and not try to get towards superphysiological levels right now?

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Your UGL gear is probably from a cheap lab using crappy carrier oils and solvents. Make sure you do your research when selecting a UGL. Their testosterone should not contain any synthetic oils and shouldn’t be concentrated higher than 250mg/mL

Likely the same issue. You are probably sensitive to whatever solvents they are putting in there.

If you insist on using this gear, try injecting deeper. 1-1.5” usually reduces PIP for me when in test prop.

I don’t know what gear you’re using, but PIP mixed with fever and chills is possibly indicative of an infection. Are you sure you can rule that out?

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I can’t totally rule out an infection, but I’ve been injecting b12 for a decade+ so I know my sterile technique and have never had a problem. Other infection? Well only if I magically got a cold for a few days after each injection…

Injection site is def still a tiny bit swollen and warm, but seems more like inflammation than infection (not truly running a high fever, no redness or streaks on the skin) and I feel more “about to get sick” than actually sick if that makes sense.

I’m gonna get some pharma gear and maybe switch from test e to test p, see if that makes any difference. Maybe even go to smaller doses twice a week. Trust my supplier, but know nothing about the UGL.

Obviously if fever spikes or some other symptoms get worse, I’ll go see a dr and get checked out. PIP at about 25% of what it was now, but def still there end of day 4.

4

If the gear was brewed in some dudes grandmas bathtub it doesn’t matter how sterile you are.

Test P is notorious for PIP. I would try pharma C or E and see if you still have the problem.

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UGL is one of the bigger ones and supplier has a good rep, but yeah, I hear ya. Don’t think I’m dying of sepsis, but would prefer not to be worried about stuff.

Ordered some pharma C, will see how it goes with that for rest of cycle.

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This is dictated by nutrition, regardless of drug use. If you don’t have your diet down then steroids won’t help.

Where, exactly, in the glute are you injecting? I pin in the upper, outer, gluteal area and never have an issue sitting because that part of my butt doesn’t touch the seat. I have a feeling that you’re injecting too low and too far inside.

Sounds possibly psychosomatic to me, but you could be allergic to something in the brew. Since you’re going to try a different (pharma) brand of test, you’ll be able to tell.

This is not optimal at all. Both Test E and Test C take time (like 5-6 weeks) to reach stable blood levels even when dosed consistently. Your ramping up and down basically guarantees that you’ll never have stable blood levels and could develop side effects from that alone. You should have started and stuck with a constant dosing structure.

On top of that 100mg/week is less than many TRT patients take. Most on here would recommend a minimum of 350 to 500 mg/wk to make the risk worth it.

However, it looks like your natural production levels are quite low and you might consider looking into a legitimate TRT prescription; or at least a blast and cruise protocol.

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I have been on TRT for 7 years and blasted twice a year for the last 4 years. I have never once experienced PIP. Your UGL is crap. Dump them. Find someone you can trust. Hell if you have a bit coin wallet you can buy and cook you own. Google is you friend.
Anyway you are risking alot if you continue injecting that crap.

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Thanks for tough love everyone. I do inject in the upper glute. Should have been more clear that sitting wasn’t literally the problem more laying on the side in the bed.

Gear was bought with Bitcoin from one of the biggest UGL with very good reviews but will try switching it up. Some people have probs with the E. Or could have just been injecting way too fast.

Fluey feelings are gone and pain is almost gone. Still feels like i have a golfball in there but not sore unless I push on it.

After doing some more research and reading your thoughts, when I get the new gear I’m gonna ramp down to a stable TRT dose (since it does make me feel much better) and check in with a clinic. My doctor didn’t want to prescribe TRT for low 300s but since it’s been years at that and I’m 41, someone will.

Think I can do TRT levels for awhile and get serious about eating lots of food and consistent heavy weights and not just bodyweight and see where it gets me and how I feel before I have to play with any higher doses and managing side effects etc

And if I’m on TRT it makes it an easy decision to do blast and cruise style rather than cycles and post cycle serms etc.

I got a little too excited with the decision to finally go for vitamin T but probably not gonna get much doing something in the middle of TRT or an actual cycle. May as well dial in actual TRT for a year or so.

Did make gaining weight and working out way easier to recover so much quicker tho lol.

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There is no gentle cycle. Sorry but this is … well dumb. Shut down is shut down whether you use a paltry dose such as this or a worthwhile dose.

This is a waste.