Quitting Gear After Nearly A Decade

[Zylo]

I'm looking for some advice and information from anyone who has successfully come off steroids after prolonged usage.

I have made an appointment to see a new doctor next month and talk to them about the different options, complications and realities about coming off gear for the rest of my life.

I'll give a very brief background without going into detail. I'm 30 years old and started using gear when I was 21. I cycled for a few years before deciding to stay on for the majority of the time with lower doses (250 - 350mg/week) of Test E. Occassionally using Winstrol if I was going on vacation or hitting the beach during the summer months.

I have used a few other things aside from Test over the years but Enth was always my staple. I tried to maintain some stability and balance in my body, always monitor what I was doing and how my body was reacting.

Thankfully, I have regularly undergone blood work, ECG Ecocardiograms, urinalysis and many other tests to keep an eye on my health. Nothing in my opinion is worth risking my health over.

Almost a decade later I have developed an enlarged left ventricle in my heart which is very common from steroid use. My blood pressure is generally 140/85 which is prehypertension and a warning sign before dangerously high blood pressure. There is no way someone at my age should have a blood pressure that high. My heart rate is also over 70 which is not good...

I'm a firefighter and I have done CPR on many, many guys who have dropped dead on the ice playing hockey from a heart attack. I don't want that to be me and I know I'm setting myself up for it if I continue this course.

It is these health reasons, coupled with the fact that at 30, I really don't have anything to prove to anyone anymore and I know it's my time to quit. I never competed on stage and never used high doses or mixed many different compounds. Even at low doses, eating well and monitoring my health with the supervision of a medical doctor, after a few years, steroids are taking their toll on my body.

If anyone else has some good insight as to what I can expect from my body as I come off permanently after prolonged used, different steps to take or just some general advice I'd be glad to listen and I'm all ears. I will also be looking for more resources online so if anyone has a good link, please post it!

I will be asking my doctor for help with this and I'm not entirely sure how my body is going to react. I will share my experience here with those who want to listen and exchange some thoughts and ideas.

I personally know a co-worker who did compete (and still does) but is faced with the reality that he will be on hormone replacement therapy for the rest of his life and probably will never have children. He has shown me his patch that he wears every day. I hope that is not the case with myself but I guess we'll see what the doctors say.

10 years later, I wish I never started... It's a hard thing to see my own health start to head in the wrong direction because of decisions I made just a few short years ago. At least I'm only 30 and have always been watching what has been happening in my body with the supervision and support of doctors. Thankfully I can take corrective action before it's too late. I don't need to die playing hockey in front of my friends at a young age. Because of my job I do see the cold reality of what will happen. Fuck... I don't want the boys to be beating on my chest out on the ice..... I hate doing it every time...... It just isn't worth it...

Best of luck to everyone else, my appointment isn't for a few months.

I appreciate the help, support, advice and information from all of you. I know that those of you who do compete are MUCH more experienced than I am and can offer me some good advice. I'll post some more information later but I'm headed out the door for today.


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I haven't told my doctor about the steroid use but my health has always been VERY closely monitored and they have asked questions and are concerned about what's going on. I know exactly what the hell is going on and I felt heart palpitations for the first time in the past week after hockey. I feel like I need to include them in what's going on. My health is more important to me than anything.

I am finding a new doctor soon and will be telling them. In the end, the decisions will always be mine but I want them to know what's up. I have to be fair and let them do their job properly to help me out. Again, I've got to go for today, thanks to everyone ahead of time for any posts/thoughts and advice.

Oh.. Geez, I almost forgot. Yes I'm still on right now. Just using 250mg/week of Test Enth.

Due to some personal reasons I'm not going to get into here and the fact that I want to prepare myself, I will be on until the end of the year.

January 1, 2011 I will be looking to stop permanently so I have until then to prep myself mentally and physically.

 

[RJ]

Do you have a specific question? You seem to have a plan.

By successful do you mean came off and bounced back 100%, it depends on what 100% is.

I'm not gonna ask why you did what you did, especially without competing or anything like that, especially without knowing what your physique looks like, but I was on pretty much for 4 years straight before going on HRT. But I did cycles with mini breaks in between. My Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is doctor-prescribed and looked after carefully. I have no BP, prostate, or blood work issues.

Are you still cruisng on a dose of test now? If so, i wouldn't go into a doc and tell him all this cause it may hurt you in the long run. Medical records follow you everywhere. You are more than likely gonna have to be on some form of HRT, but maybe not.

I would get on a bit of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for a couple weeks, then hit 4 weeks of a good PCT (i love toremifene citrate). After 4 weeks of post cycle therapy (pct), get your blood work done and see where you are. After all that low dosing, you may be able to recover fine. If not, then go into the doc and tell him for the past year you've been feeling like crap, low sex drive, etc. He will test you and see you're levels are low. Then go from there. btw, the patch sucks. Injects are the way to go. lol

Either way, unless you know your doc won't record your past usage, I wouldn't go divulging that info. Good luck.

 

[Zylo]

RJH90210, I edited/added a bit of info to the very bottom of my post. I'm out for today, thanks for the reply buddy. I appreciate it.

 

[snigg]

I agree with RJ. I wouldn't tell the doctor about your usage unless absolutely necessary. When it comes times to get health or life insurance, your medical record will come back to bite you in the ass.

 

[RJ]

Well, with that addition, i would still stop at the firts of the year and do a full PCT like I stated above.

Then, if you're hellbent on telling your doc, i would start by saying this:

"Doc, i trust you, but i don't want anything negative to be put into my record. I am genuinely concerned about my health after making some not-so-positive decisions in the last 10 years. I don't want to have to look for another doctor, but if you feel you can't give me advice without marking it in my record, I amy have to do just that. Is that going to be an issue?"

Something like that. Again, my doc knows about my past use (for the most part), but has never indicated it in my health record. But i had to have this conversation with him.

 

[Cam01]

Wow, long time. I hope the best for you. And like you stated, nothing is worth good health! NOTHING!

 

[RA64]

Reality check, more than likely you will have to be on TRT/HRT for the rest of your life, if you want to feel like a man and function like a man.
That's the price we pay for cycling too young and staying on a constant cycle.

But what the hell TRT/HRT is not that bad.

 

[RJ]

But what the hell TRT/HRT is not that bad.

Damn straight. When my buddies are getting older and looking/feeling like shit, they'll all be running to the doctor and I'll be living large. lol

 

[RA64]

X2 It does have it's advantages.

 

[TonySuicideKing]

Large an in charge!!!!

 

[scotimusprime]

isnt/wasnt this basically testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) anyway? he was blasting and cruising......cruising on a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) dose then upping it for a "cycle"

 

[RJ]

isnt/wasnt this basically testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) anyway? he was blasting and cruising......cruising on a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) dose then upping it for a "cycle"

yep. But it was self-prescribed. if it was doctor prescribed he would have a better leg to stand on with any conditions that arose. Its hard to diagnose as a physician if you don't have the proper root cause. It can also be diagnosed incorrectly and cause other problems.

btw, I wouldn't call adding Winstrol (winny) a "cycle". hahahaha

 

[scotimusprime]

ha me either but maybe he was trying to be tame for his health

I may prescribe myself testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for a while and maybe next year go off and pct+get bloodwork done see if i can get some doctor prescribed trt.

i know it may sound dumb but i dont really wanna come off this winter as i have fuck all to do but eat sleep and train

anyway dont mean to hijack your thread bud, just trying to get a better understanding of this shiznit

 

[USAF]

I'm looking for some advice and information from anyone who has successfully come off steroids after prolonged usage.

I have made an appointment to see a new doctor next month and talk to them about the different options, complications and realities about coming off gear for the rest of my life.

I'll give a very brief background without going into detail. I'm 30 years old and started using gear when I was 21. I cycled for a few years before deciding to stay on for the majority of the time with lower doses (250 - 350mg/week) of Test E. Occassionally using Winstrol if I was going on vacation or hitting the beach during the summer months.

I have used a few other things aside from Test over the years but Enth was always my staple. I tried to maintain some stability and balance in my body, always monitor what I was doing and how my body was reacting.

Thankfully, I have regularly undergone blood work, ECG Ecocardiograms, urinalysis and many other tests to keep an eye on my health. Nothing in my opinion is worth risking my health over.

Almost a decade later I have developed an enlarged left ventricle in my heart which is very common from steroid use. My blood pressure is generally 140/85 which is prehypertension and a warning sign before dangerously high blood pressure. There is no way someone at my age should have a blood pressure that high. My heart rate is also over 70 which is not good...

I'm a firefighter and I have done CPR on many, many guys who have dropped dead on the ice playing hockey from a heart attack. I don't want that to be me and I know I'm setting myself up for it if I continue this course.

It is these health reasons, coupled with the fact that at 30, I really don't have anything to prove to anyone anymore and I know it's my time to quit. I never competed on stage and never used high doses or mixed many different compounds. Even at low doses, eating well and monitoring my health with the supervision of a medical doctor, after a few years, steroids are taking their toll on my body.

If anyone else has some good insight as to what I can expect from my body as I come off permanently after prolonged used, different steps to take or just some general advice I'd be glad to listen and I'm all ears. I will also be looking for more resources online so if anyone has a good link, please post it!

I will be asking my doctor for help with this and I'm not entirely sure how my body is going to react. I will share my experience here with those who want to listen and exchange some thoughts and ideas.

I personally know a co-worker who did compete (and still does) but is faced with the reality that he will be on hormone replacement therapy for the rest of his life and probably will never have children. He has shown me his patch that he wears every day. I hope that is not the case with myself but I guess we'll see what the doctors say.

10 years later, I wish I never started... It's a hard thing to see my own health start to head in the wrong direction because of decisions I made just a few short years ago. At least I'm only 30 and have always been watching what has been happening in my body with the supervision and support of doctors. Thankfully I can take corrective action before it's too late. I don't need to die playing hockey in front of my friends at a young age. Because of my job I do see the cold reality of what will happen. Fuck... I don't want the boys to be beating on my chest out on the ice..... I hate doing it every time...... It just isn't worth it...

Best of luck to everyone else, my appointment isn't for a few months.

I appreciate the help, support, advice and information from all of you. I know that those of you who do compete are MUCH more experienced than I am and can offer me some good advice. I'll post some more information later but I'm headed out the door for today.


---


I haven't told my doctor about the steroid use but my health has always been VERY closely monitored and they have asked questions and are concerned about what's going on. I know exactly what the hell is going on and I felt heart palpitations for the first time in the past week after hockey. I feel like I need to include them in what's going on. My health is more important to me than anything.

I am finding a new doctor soon and will be telling them. In the end, the decisions will always be mine but I want them to know what's up. I have to be fair and let them do their job properly to help me out. Again, I've got to go for today, thanks to everyone ahead of time for any posts/thoughts and advice.

Oh.. Geez, I almost forgot. Yes I'm still on right now. Just using 250mg/week of Test Enth.

Due to some personal reasons I'm not going to get into here and the fact that I want to prepare myself, I will be on until the end of the year.

January 1, 2011 I will be looking to stop permanently so I have until then to prep myself mentally and physically.

No disrespect or anything, but is this something I am going to have to deal with if I decide to start cycling??

 

[Teutonic]

RA and RJ..
I m of the opinion..and I m not sure as I don t know this cat..that he is ..maybe overeacting a bit..my blood pressure goes up when I take it ...as it asses me up.
If he was honest about his doses and his Winstrol (winny) blasts..he s fine..
..and I too LOVE trt..fuck normal..if what I saw at my high school reunion is normal...beer bellie s- 0 muscle tone...I can only imagine the performance level in the sack...

 

[Epic Ed]

I think you're speculating about the cause of the left ventrical enlargement. It may or may not be related to your AAS usage. Many older guys are on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) doses similar to what you've been running for years and years with no health complications. My point in making this distinction is to give you some hope that if you can't come of exogenous testosterone successfully you may still be able to run a doc prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program without additional risks to your health.

That said, the only way you're going to find out if your body can naturally produce acceptable levels of testosterone is to run a full PCT and see what happens. Get blood work done after PCT and see where your levels are at.

 

[jpflex66]

Many many athletes get enlarged left ventricle. Mine was a liitle large but doc said not to worry it's fine. I also been on for years. And I know it's not worth it most times I'm not even happy how it works but I'll admit I have a problem

 

[Zylo]

You guys are the best, thanks for all the replies, insight and advice. It is appreciated and exactly what I was looking for.

I'll try to answer some of the questions and provide some more information.

RJH90210, a solid round of post cycle therapy (pct) sounds like a good plan as well as getting my Test levels checked after. I'll post again later for some advice on that. Now that I've had some more time to think and read what others have had to say, I will hold off on telling my doctor. That is always in the back pocket anyhow.

---

Reality check, more than likely you will have to be on TRT/HRT for the rest of your life, if you want to feel like a man and function like a man.
That's the price we pay for cycling too young and staying on a constant cycle.

But what the hell TRT/HRT is not that bad.

Yes, if Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is necessary, I won't lose too much sleep over it... It's not like I haven't been doing it already for a few years. lol.

---

btw, I wouldn't call adding Winstrol (winny) a "cycle". hahahaha

Ha Ha. I am well aware that my "cycles" wouldn't even be considered a cycle by anyone that competes or is really trying to build huge muscles.

I recognize my reasons for using gear and the amounts are my own and different than most. I wanted something extra to improve my gains at the gym and pack on a couple extra pounds of muscle. Gear has helped me achieve the body I was looking for and for most of the past decade I have FELT perfectly healthy. Rather than spending tons of money on useless supplements why not just get the real deal... I do feel much better mentally and physically while on. My only concern is my health at this point, I will admit I will be disappointed if I have to quit for good. I'm considering my options and trying to look at the whole picture with open eyes right now.

I've always been more of a fitness/athletics guy and growing up, my frame was always naturally very small and short. When I was in my early teens, my parents actually took me to a growth specialist and I had lots of bloodwork done, the doctors were considering putting me on HGH. Reflecting back, I should have said yes! I did end up growing to a normal height and over the years have filled out a solid frame, a late bloomer I guess but I'm not built like a 6'2" tank like some of you mofo's ;-)

I'm 5'10"; and 185 of solid muscle. Around 12% BF would be a fair estimate. I can see my abs and if I really focus on my diet and hit the cardio hard, they pop right out. Everyone I know would tell you I'm a very muscular guy and pretty ripped. The ladies love my arms and shoulders. Sometimes I have a difficult time finding dress shirts / suits that fit properly without having them tailored as I'm sure a lot of you can relate too. ;-)

My biggest "cycle" would probably have been something like 10 - 12 weeks of:

500mg Test Enth / Week
350mg Deca / Week
75mg Winstrol (winny) / Day
10mg M1T / Day back when it was sold at supplements stores for dirt cheap. Loved it.

I haven't been "on" all the time. I cycled for shorter periods of a couple months on, a couple months off for the first few years. I've been on cruise for 6 - 8 months at a time on lower doses for the past couple years usually taking a few months off here and there in the winter months. I was off for a few months early this year and had about 4 - 6 months off 2 years ago. If I'm honest with you guys, I never really did totally proper full post cycle therapy (pct) cycles in between, just some Clomid or Nolva here and there and not always.... I know, I don't need to be told... I haven't had my Test levels checked so it should be interesting to see what happens with a full and proper post cycle therapy (pct) including Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) which I've never tried.


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No disrespect or anything, but is this something I am going to have to deal with if I decide to start cycling??

Health risks are something you will have to deal with if you start cycling. There many knowledgable guys here who can offer guidance and inform you of the best ways to control and minimize them. My best advice is to educate yourself as much as possible and monitor your health as you go. Don't kid yourself though, AAS are powerful substances and they can have very real and serious side effects. It is not uncommon to get an enlarged heart and steroids can contribute to Arteriosclerosis which is a hardening of the arteries. You will be much safer if you are educated and don't abuse them.

To paint a quick/rough picture of what "could" be happening in my body right now and why I'm concerned...

Your heart can become enlarged for different reasons. If your body needs more blood/oxygen than your heart can deliver, the walls of your heart can thicken. Your heart is a muscle like anything else and can enlarge to try and pump more blood. Think of the heart as a "Kong" ball for dogs... The small skinny ones are easy to compress but those huge thick ones for big dogs are damn near impossible to squeeze, that's what happens when you get an enlarged heart... The walls of the heart become too thick and it makes it difficult to compress fully and doesn't pump as much blood. The body can react by increasing your heart rate to try and get more blood flow but places more stress on the heart. Now not only is your heart having to work harder to squeeze those thick walls but it's now having to pump faster... Lots of stress.

Now.. Arteriosclerosis... hardening of arteries...Think of water flowing easily through a flexible rubbery hose, if it's flexible and can expand you can get lots of water through easily... Just like blood in your arteries. If your arteries are hard like a PVC pipe, your blood flow is decreased and your blood pressure increases (your BP is the force exerted by the blood on the walls of your arteries). You're heart is having a real hell of a time now trying to compress the thick walls, pump faster and squeeze blood through inflexible arteries....What happens? Your heart rate increases again, your blood pressure increases, more stress is placed on the heart and it's just a matter of time.... It's a snowball effect. This is why I'm doing CPR on guys at center ice... The heart just can't get enough blood/oxygen flowing and when guys are playing hockey and stressing that heart to the max, it just can't keep up anymore and they have the big one and drop dead. That isn't going to be me! I am smart enough to know the dangers of my BP/HR combined with an enlarged heart and what I am setting myself up for 10 years down the road if I don't address the issue now and take action.

Also... Take all advice you receive from anyone here with a grain of salt and do your own research... You owe it to yourself to be educated on the dangers and be smart enough to recognize warning signs in your body to take corrective action before it's you laying out on the ice with someone beating on your chest. Reality.
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I think you're speculating about the cause of the left ventrical enlargement. It may or may not be related to your AAS usage.

Yes, you are correct, it may or may not be related to my AAS usage. But it might be and this is a common side effect. If it's from the AAS I will only worsen the situation by continuing. I can't ignore what is happening inside my body and I need to find the cause and bring my vitals back to normal.

When my ECG results came back and the doctor informed me I had a slightly enlarged left ventricle he did tell me that it is not incredibly uncommon in very athletic people so I'm hoping that this is the case. I have competed in sports my entire life and always pushed myself to a higher level. He also sent my ECG results to a cardiologist to get a specialists opinion. I was told I was ok then but he did not know about the steroids and that was a few years ago at the beginning of my steroid use. It could be even larger now and my BP/HR has become too high possibly due to arteriosclerosis and the fact that after using AAS for nearly a decade the effects are taking their toll.

Many many athletes get enlarged left ventricle. Mine was a liitle large but doc said not to worry it's fine. I also been on for years.

Yes, I am hoping this is the case with myself. BUT, It could be from the steroids. I'm not just going to shrug it off and say it's enlarged just because I'm athletic... That would just be silly and I could actually die from ignoring what's happening. I sure as hell don't know what caused it, you don't know and my doctor doesn't know because I haven't told him that I use steroids... and regardless of reason, the fact remains it is enlarged. You said you have a slightly enlarged heart? So do I and we both use steroids. Just a coincidence or more proof of a well documented side effect of AAS? You decide. I won't be the one to risk it and end up dead.

If it's enlarged from being athletic, so what? That is totally irrelevant to my health and the effects having an enlarged heart has on my body. Anyone with an enlarged heart, regardless of reason is at a greater risk of heart attack. Especially if blood pressure and heart rate are increased.

I am concerned about it now due to the fact that my blood pressure has been consistently 140/85 for a while. My resting heart rate is between 70 - 75 (should be around 60) and I think I felt heart palpitations last week (although I can't say 100% that's what it was). Arteriosclerosis is one of my major concerns and I'm afraid that the AAS might also be causing this which is very bad when combined with an enlarged heart... Arteriosclerosis is another well documented and very real side effect of steroid use.

Is my heart enlarged from being athletic? I don't know... What I do know is that my left ventricle IS enlarged and my blood pressure and heart rate are elevated for a reason, possibly due to arteriosclerosis. I use steroids and they do cause enlarged left ventricles and arteriosclerosis. I'm not a doctor or sherlock holmes but it's pretty easy to see a picture that is being painted of what could be happening in my body from steroid use. Even if I have an enlarged heart because I'm athletic, if the AAS are causing arteriosclerosis, that combo is deadly and I still need to quit. I have to get my BP/HR down and go from there...


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I never did before but I smoked a bit too much weed for the past year due to it being around me constantly. I quit cold turkey as of 1 month ago and will never take another toke again as long as I live. I feel 100x's better already. I'm hoping that this was/is the contributing factor to my high blood pressure / heart rate and quitting will bring my them back to a normal range in time. I would love to find out I'm over reacting.... However, a more likely scenario is that I've been using AAS for nearly a decade and as I stated above, the effects are finally catching up.

I am considering all options at this point and taking a very close look at everything I am doing in my life right now. AAS are powerful substances and I need to get my vitals back to a normal range before deciding if I'm ever going to be "on" again. My health is number 1. If I can get my BP/HR back down I would consider going back on but at this point I don't want to risk anything until I can correct it.

I have a very close female paramedic friend that knows about my concerns and steroid usage, she's even given me a few injections. I will be chatting with her soon aswell and she can hook me up to some monitors to look at a few things for me without going straight to my doctor.

Thanks again guys, hope that provides some more insight, chat with you soon.



Small update: I know a lot of guys say their nuts shrink to the size of peanuts while on gear but I have never experienced this in all my years of use. They've always stayed very big. I don't know if this means my body hasn't stopped producing it's own test or what? They've just never shrunk. Not even a little.

 

[Roidrage81]

Give us an update on how your doing? Your heart palpitations may have been coming from your changes in hormonal balances. That's a very common side effect. They should go away after some time.

 

[Greybeard]

Sorry man but 10 out of 10 people die... And I'll be damned if I'm gonna end up in some VA home with somebody wiping my ass!