Sharing experience of first cycle at age 35, considering aborting cycle and questions

I am a 35 year old former D1 athlete, trained naturally since 15 years old. I tore my achilles tendon 1 year ago and have been struggling to gain my athleticism back.

4 weeks ago I started taking 350mg of testosterone enanthate per week divided into 2 doses.

4 weeks ago I was 230 lbs at 6’2", around 15% body fat.

My pre-cycle blood work was:

Total T: 450 ng/dl

Free T: 75 pg/ml

E2: 35 pg/ml

In 4 weeks, I have shot up in weight to 266 lbs (most of which I’m assuming is water retention), gained an insane amount of strength (for example I was training overhead press with 90lb dumbbells pre-cycle, and now the 100lb dumbbells feel like feathers), slight increase in libido.

My face is noticeably more puffy/bloated and I have started to notice I am shedding hair. I have had a perfect hairline with thick hair my entire life. There is a strong family history of MPB in my family. My midsection looks bloated and my vascularity has decreased overall. I am eating clean and drinking lots of water. I am eating LESS food than I was when I weighed more than 30 lbs less. I have no signs of elevated estrogen except for bloating, which could possibly be entirely attributed to testosterone.

I will be doing labs this week. I have started using minoxidil and finasteride as well.

My questions are:

-Is temporary hair shedding normal in the beginning of a cycle?

-If I stop now, will the hair I have lost return?

-Is this level of weight gain and water retention normal?

-What can be done to negate all the adverse effects I am having?

-If it is found that I have elevated estrogen, will lowering estrogen with an AI will likely result in further hair loss? (from what I understand estrogen is protective)

Thanks!

1-For yes/For some no
2-Nobody can tell you that. It’s case by case but if you have family history I would be inclined to say goodbye to the hair.
3-You will certainly put on a little water but at 350mg/wk i would not expect a ton. Are you on an AI? What is your BP? Do you have any leg edema? This is serious stuff and should not be taken lightly.
4-I would get bloodwork asap
5-IDK on this one.
Honestly I would be much more concerned about the other issues that you are havening besides the shedding.

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Thanks for the reply
BP hovers around 135/70, very trace amounts of leg edema.
Going to get labs tomorrow.
Most likely going to stop AAS as I am so vain about my hair.

I’d be way more concerned about the adema.
Def drop the gear

In addition

Dermarolling, topical minoxidil, topical finasteride or oral if you’re ok with the risks

Or dutasteride is the nuclear option

Research chems like ru58841 exist but ru58841 was pulled from clinical trials over concerns surrounding cardiovascular toxicity

Micro needling etc… finally hair transplant is expensive but works and the transplanted hair isn’t androgen sensitive

Scalp micropigmentation is also fine if the balding is mild or if you’re like me and are fine with rocking the bald look (buzz cut down to 0.4 etc)

Think this would depend on how aggressive you get with the AI usage. On cycles of higher T doses some guys will need to take higher doses of the AI and I think that would be counterproductive for keeping your hair.