I’m lost, debating coming off, or need serious help to fix my issues.
I’m 27 years old 235lbs 5’11.
Started taking Test E about 12 months ago.
Started with 75mg a week and slowly over the course of a year worked my way to now 200mg a week.
SIDES:
At first no side effects, then boom out of nowhere Acne hit (the worst it gets), fast forward to now about 8 months in, acne has gotten a tad better since I’ve switched gear brands, and pinning frequency however still annoying painful acne.
Now, since I’ve switched to 200mg for the last 8 weeks BOOM out of nowhere I start getting bald spots in the back of head like the hair won’t grow and Bumps in those areas.
The gear I had previously was trash, I think it could have messed me up or a reaction to the carrier oil, but now since switched brands 8 weeks ago I’ve felt that actual Test feeling and completely different than before.
NO ESTROGEN SIDE EFFECTS EVER. I’ve taken Arimidex .25 once to twice a week to see if that would help with acne but it stayed the same.
WHAT DO I DO???
Am I shitty responder? am I just stupid with this?
Should I slowly lower my dose down??
Maybe I’m taking too much now?
GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT
I feel freaking amazing at work, in the gym, pumps are amazing, gaining size, best my physique has ever looked but with the acne, & the balding spots I’m honestly debating coming off and I don’t wanna do that.
I wanted to slowly up my dose over time simply because I didn’t want to jump straight in to some crazy dose out the gate and react badly. Also, I felt like and have heard easing in to it would be the best option to see how you react.
As far as reports, I don’t wanna go into source talk, but where I got stuff before was found to be pretty much severely underdosed bunk. I’ve cut ties and never again will I order online again. I have since found a very reputable source in person. But no reports.
As for bloodwork, I never did bloodwork before hand, biggest and stupidest regret. I had blood work done in August 24, and at the time being on 150mg a week, my levels were 613 T, 145 free, 59, 17 SHBG and all other markers where good.
I’m set now to get blood work done again in a week to see where I am now on new stuff.
As for starting Test in all honesty, I’ve been working out since I was 16, have made great progress over the years but wanted to test the waters with Test. It has helped me in so many ways mentally, physically, and just life in general, but I’m doing something wrong obviously.
I had extreme acne when I was in puberty, never had good genetics, have had to work my ass off to see any progress. My dad is 60 full set of hair, my grandpa was 89 full set of hair. Just shocking to me that my hair is doing this with no issues ever with thinning or balding.
I know I haven’t been the smartest with my protocol and am constantly reading trying to learn more. I just need some advice. You always come to the recuse with answers on every post I’ve made I really do appreciate it.
200mg/week will put you around teen levels at best. One thing you have to be aware of if not prescribed is that things can be dosed improperly, usually under but I’ve had it can happen the other way. I doubt your hair loss or acne can be attributed. Stop and talk to a doctor.
You’re putting your T levels back to that of puberty, and now you’ve got acne again, shocker.
Balding happens to some people - shave your head if you’re in it for the long run, which now you’ve been on 12 months at pretty much TRT levels you are, so either quit now or don’t and don’t worry about hair loss and acne.
This makes no sense. A reputable source has HLPC reports and often times they reimburse / give store credit for customers that pay to have the testing done.
RE acne…
I always had acne, but it got significantly worse when I started test.
Some cystic acne alongside a lot of other acne spots. I’d never had cystic acne before.
After a while, I started to realize the acne wasn’t actually pimples - it was ingrown hairs (in areas I’d never shaved before). Meaning I was growing body hair and some of that body hair was having a hard time reaching the surface.
Eventually it calmed down, though I still get a few spots here and there. Keeping my estrogen low (I only run 100mg test weekly and non-aromatizing compounds alongside it) and exfoliating multiple times a week seemed to help.
I will still be running an accutane cycle in the near future to permanently reduce my sebaceous glands because who the fuck wants acne in their 30s?
Oh, and if you have really oily skin like I did (particularly on my upper and center back area), adding a small bit of regular Dawn dish soap to my bodywash (for those areas only) helped break up the body oil.
RE Hairloss…
IDK what to tell you. Either lower test dose, run minoxidil and/or finasteride, or figure something else out. I have a bit of hair loss going on but I’ve been blasting the shit out of masteron for nearly a year. Minoxidil / finasteride topical combo seems to hold the line a bit better, but my hair has always been shit… I just try to keep enough to not look like Aryan Brotherhood.
How many times have you changed your protocol in the last 12 mo?
You have switched dosages, frequency, brands, esters, sources and Ai’s. All with minimal blood work.
Most side effect are caused be a sudden change in hormone levels. Either rising or falling.
The side effects you are experiencing are probably completely normal for someone who is constantly changing his weekly protocol.
To be honest. I think you may be better off starting all over with a TRT clinic. This way you always have a consistently dosed supply and someone to defer to with questions about how to address acne, MPB and other issues that have come up or may come up in the future.
The issues with this approach, however, is the fact that you are 27 yrs old. TRT clinics could have some resistance actually prescribing you TRT at all.
Firstly, at your age I don’t think you need to be using steroids at all. Should have left it for a few mire years and put in the time and hard graft at the gym. Secondly, if you are going to pin it’s pointless starting on such a low dose and taking so long to work your way up. 200mg should have been your starting dose. Sounds to me like you haven’t done enough research before jumping in the deep end.
