Hi guys,
I know the following is a long read but I feel like it's a somewhat unique situation and would appreciate some feedback.
A good, trusted friend of mine has been on gear for years with no major problems except for the expected sides such as light acne, etc. About 4 months ago I decided it was time to run my first cycle since I would like to compete later this year. I had always done very light research on steroids since the topic interested me, and have actually lurked here a lot. I knew the basics from lurking this forum as well as others, but when it came time to actually start my cycle, my friend had different protocol. A lot of what he had been doing, and had me do was different from what I've read online. He told me I wouldn't need to run Letro or hCG on cycle unless I experienced any sides. I was hesitant at first but he was very confident and since he's my good friend with first hand experience, I took his word for it. So my cycle went like this:
Week 1-12: 400mg Test Enanthate / wk
Week 1-10: 300mg Deca / wk
I put on 28 pounds and never second guessed him since the only sides I experienced were slight acne and the expected temporary testicle shrinkage.
Now while I was pretty familiar with the protocol for on cycle, I wasn't very familiar with PCT. Again, I did some light research but ultimately I put my trust in my friend over what I read online. I waited ten days since Enanthate is a longer ester and approached him about starting my hCG shots. He told me I could do the full 5,000iu's at once...
I was very iffy on this and although I had read to do it in increments of 500 iu's everyday for 10 days, he really pushed for it and I believed him. I did the 5,000ius in one shot and I am fine now. I have also been taking Nolva 20mg everyday starting 10 days after my last Test injection.
So my final cycle was this:
Week 1-12: 400mg Test Enanthate / wk
Week 1-10: 300mg Deca / wk
Wait 10 days
5,000iu hCG
20mg/20mg/20mg/20mg Nolva everyday
I know I was a complete idiot for listening to his advice on doing the full hCG shot at once, and I didn't realize it until everything has been said and done. I have about a week left of Nolva and then my PCT ends.
He is now recommending that after I finish my Nolva in a week, I should wait two weeks and then run a cycle of 300mg of EQ / wk for 12 weeks, and 4 weeks of Turanabol at 40mg / ed to cut up. He claims that there is no need for a PCT on this since it's a low dosage and EQ barely aromatizes, but again will have Letro on hand. Is this more bunk advice?
So basically, my question is how bad did I **** up, and am I extremely lucky that everything on me seems normal? Is there any truth to the things he said, such as I don't need hCG or Letro on cycle unless I experience symptoms of bad sides? What about his suggested 'cutting' cycle? It seems sketch. In about 3 months I'd like to run another cycle similar to original one above, but be safer and more informed. I will continue to buy from him since his gear was good, but I really feel like I got lucky here and he will end up hurting himself or someone else he sells to. Has anyone been in a similar situation? I'd like my next cycle to be more in my hands rather than my friend's, and I should've known this from the start. It was just so easy to believe him since he has been doing it for years without problems.
Thank you for reading and for any feedback and advice.