Hi guys, I started my first cycle 6 weeks ago of test E 500mg split twice a week. I’m also on 4iu of growth every day. I’ve had great results so far and dropped 6% body fat while also gaining a few kg of muscle.
I started to feel tender nipples about 2 weeks ago so I started taking some AI (arimidex 1mg) split into 0.5 taking twice a week. I’ve also been running HCG since the start of the cycle and taking 500iu twice a week.
I’m 37 currently at 101kg and 11% body fat. My diet is very clean.
This issue I’m facing is a lot of water retention, my knees and shins are puffy along with other joints around the body. When I take my socks off I have deep dents in my shins.
I had bloods taken last week and test level is 2215 ng/dl and Oestradiol level is 5pg/ml.
I’ve had the water retention since starting the cycle, i’ve read that having a low oestrogen level can cause water retention so that obviously isn’t helping but I had it even before taking the AI.
Currently not sure what to do to help shift the water. I’m planning on dropping down to 0.5 AI a week to bring the oestrogen level up slightly to see if that helps.
Test, HGH and HCG all can cause water retention. Lower your HGH dose to 2iu daily and drop the HCG. You balls are shut down, you don’t need it on cycle.
I’m taking the HCG to prevent testicular atrophy. When I come off the 500mg test cycle I will continue with a TRT dose so I don’t want my balls to shrink.
Do you think it’s worth seeing how I feel raising my oestrogen level first slightly before dropping down HGH dose to 2iu? I feel like I’m starting to feel the benefits of the growth so don’t want to lose it.
2iu of decent HGH is plenty. Low estrogen is not going to cause water retention.
Edema is a sign of possible organ issues. Do you have a complete blood panel to make sure this is not related to some thing other than the drugs? How’s your BP?
It’s not pharma grade, I can’t unfortunately afford that. It’s genAtropin 100iu kit. I didn’t get a full panel of bloods, just hormones. Haven’t checked BP
500mg sustanon, and 50mg anadrol , and I keep salt around 2500-3000mg /day. I drink almost 2 gallons of water a day and have relatively low water retention . No edema, and I’m fat. 5’10 235lb
I think lowering my salt intake is next step for me. I’ve been following Eddie Abbew diet for the past 6 months. Salt intake is high, I never had a problem until I start GH and test though. I’ll lower it for a bit and check how things feel
From 1971 thru 1978, I competed in bodybuilding taking up to 15mg/day of Dianabol as my only AAS. I did about three contests every year. Dianabol is notorious as a “wet” AAS (side effect of edema). I always reduced my sodium while taking Dianabol and never had an obvious water retention problem.
Drop the AI completely for a couple weeks and let your e2 return to normal ranges. Not sure if it’ll help with water retention but it surely isn’t healthy having it this low.