Former drug addict, back in the gym, questions

[hashbrown32]

(came here based on an answer to a question on Quora which mentioned the forum)

In 2010 I got a job at a gym and worked out for a couple years and was in great shape. Around the same time though I became addicted to painkillers and it began a horrific addiction where I was shooting up a bunch of meth and heroin on a daily basis.

In 2016 I got on a methadone program and am still on it to this day although at a decreasing dose as I don't want to be stuck on it forever. I started going back to the gym several months ago and have already lost 20 lb but want to gain more muscle somewhere along the lines of the way I looked in 2010 when I was 20 years old.

I did a 6-week'cycle' of rad 140 (10mg), noticed definite strength increase. That ended 6 weeks ago.

The main thing I'm looking at right now is potentially some sort of testosterone boost. I suspect my natural testosterone levels are decreased from the methadone but I have not got a lab and I am scared to because I have no veins left from the drug abuse.

I don't want to do a large amount, just something small that would work as a booster as opposed to doing it like a full standalone cycle. I don't mind if it requires a needle to do IM injections.

I guess the other thing based on comments I've seen is whether a shorter cycle with something like anavar at a 25 mg dose would be crazy? What do you all think?

Appreciate any and all input!!
-J

 

[BigMurl78]

I would recommend TRT to you. Generally guys that think they have low test often do, especially after heavy opiate use.

 

[ShZ]

Hey man, I can feel your struggle. I got addicted to Kratom in 2017 and now I'm on suboxone since 2019. It had a major impact on my sex hormones. Both test and estrogen went below the reference range and my prolactin got sky high. 2 months ago I started working out again and went back on cycle (I have over 10 years of training experience and over 5 years with PEDs) and I feel like completely different person. Motivated, driven and way more confident!

If I were you, I'd first go on a TRT dose of test (starting at 120mg/week and working your way up to the top of the reference range). I bet that alone will make a BIG difference for you! After that you can of course add other compounds if your serious with your training and diet

 

[hashbrown32]

Hey man, I can feel your struggle. I got addicted to Kratom in 2017 and now I'm on suboxone since 2019. It had a major impact on my sex hormones. Both test and estrogen went below the reference range and my prolactin got sky high. 2 months ago I started working out again and went back on cycle (I have over 10 years of training experience and over 5 years with PEDs) and I feel like completely different person. Motivated, driven and way more confident!

If I were you, I'd first go on a TRT dose of test (starting at 120mg/week and working your way up to the top of the reference range). I bet that alone will make a BIG difference for you! After that you can of course add other compounds if your serious with your training and diet

Thanks for reading my post and for replying. Yeah those opiates really are a b**** but I am thankful for the methadone because I have completely turned my life around, I went to college etc and the whole addiction part feels like it was a different lifetime.

Wish you the best,
j

I would recommend TRT to you. Generally guys that think they have low test often do, especially after heavy opiate use.

Thanks for reading and replying to my post, appreciate the input.

 

[bornSkinny]

So you can’t get labs done because you’re afraid of not having veins, but you want to start tinkering with your hormones because you think they might be off?
Is this a justified fear or something left over from your past bothering you? Because the people above suggesting you just go run some gear without doing any labs first and checking all your markers are giving you some bad advice. Besides your test levels you need to make sure everything else looks good too before you start popping var or injecting test.
I suggest finding a way to see what your starting point is FIRST. Then go from there. You’ll be glad you did, and if you need trt you can get all the help you need here.

 

[hashbrown32]

So you can’t get labs done because you’re afraid of not having veins, but you want to start tinkering with your hormones because you think they might be off?
Is this a justified fear or something left over from your past bothering you? Because the people above suggesting you just go run some gear without doing any labs first and checking all your markers are giving you some bad advice. Besides your test levels you need to make sure everything else looks good too before you start popping var or injecting test.
I suggest finding a way to see what your starting point is FIRST. Then go from there. You’ll be glad you did, and if you need trt you can get all the help you need here.

Thanks for the reply. The main reasons for thinking something is off basically has to do with all the anecdotal evidence saying that long-term opiate use results in low testosterone. There are tons of guys at the clinic I go to that have been prescribed TRT because of having low levels and based on the fact that I'm tired all the time and have low energy I feel like mine are potentially low as well.

Also this is despite cutting my methadone dose in to a third of what it has been in the past, and still experiencing the considerable lethargy.

I would like to get my levels tested obviously that's the smart thing to do. The last time I had to have blood drawn they got it from the bottom of my foot and it was an extremely painful and long process.

Obviously hopping on a full cycle of something like anavarre as I mentioned in the initial post would be very stupid. I kind of just wanted to start with a small TRT regimen just to basically see how it made me feel and if it was a considerable difference to go the official route once I knew it would be worth it.


((Edit, of course in a perfect world I would be off of the methadone today and thus have no need to manually alter my body chemistry but I see myself being on it for at least another year as my current taper schedule would be around 15 months by the time I reach 0 mg of methadone))

 

[bornSkinny]

Thanks for the reply. The main reasons for thinking something is off basically has to do with all the anecdotal evidence saying that long-term opiate use results in low testosterone. There are tons of guys at the clinic I go to that have been prescribed TRT because of having low levels and based on the fact that I'm tired all the time and have low energy I feel like mine are potentially low as well.

Also this is despite cutting my methadone dose in to a third of what it has been in the past, and still experiencing the considerable lethargy.

I would like to get my levels tested obviously that's the smart thing to do. The last time I had to have blood drawn they got it from the bottom of my foot and it was an extremely painful and long process.

Obviously hopping on a full cycle of something like anavarre as I mentioned in the initial post would be very stupid. I kind of just wanted to start with a small TRT regimen just to basically see how it made me feel and if it was a considerable difference to go the official route once I knew it would be worth it.


((Edit, of course in a perfect world I would be off of the methadone today and thus have no need to manually alter my body chemistry but I see myself being on it for at least another year as my current taper schedule would be around 15 months by the time I reach 0 mg of methadone))

Go in and get them to take some blood from your foot so you have baseline bloodwork BEFORE you start using aas.

 

[Deezznutzz]

Get off methadone. It may eventually kill you with liver failure. Like it did with someone I knew. Dead at 38 from methadone.

 

[Millard]

I have not got a lab and I am scared to because I have no veins left from the drug abuse.

I would like to get my levels tested obviously that's the smart thing to do. The last time I had to have blood drawn they got it from the bottom of my foot and it was an extremely painful and long process.

You already know what you should do as others have said. If you need TRT, it is best to have it within the medical system. You probably won't be the first case of T problem resulting from opioid addiction that your doctor has seen given the scope of epidemic in the U.S.

 

[chaseme1988]

(came here based on an answer to a question on Quora which mentioned the forum)

In 2010 I got a job at a gym and worked out for a couple years and was in great shape. Around the same time though I became addicted to painkillers and it began a horrific addiction where I was shooting up a bunch of meth and heroin on a daily basis.

In 2016 I got on a methadone program and am still on it to this day although at a decreasing dose as I don't want to be stuck on it forever. I started going back to the gym several months ago and have already lost 20 lb but want to gain more muscle somewhere along the lines of the way I looked in 2010 when I was 20 years old.

I did a 6-week'cycle' of rad 140 (10mg), noticed definite strength increase. That ended 6 weeks ago.

The main thing I'm looking at right now is potentially some sort of testosterone boost. I suspect my natural testosterone levels are decreased from the methadone but I have not got a lab and I am scared to because I have no veins left from the drug abuse.

I don't want to do a large amount, just something small that would work as a booster as opposed to doing it like a full standalone cycle. I don't mind if it requires a needle to do IM injections.

I guess the other thing based on comments I've seen is whether a shorter cycle with something like anavar at a 25 mg dose would be crazy? What do you all think?

Appreciate any and all input!!
-J

Congrats on getting off the drugs. I had some pretty bad problems with RCs and eventually meth so I feel ya.

 

[m443]

(came here based on an answer to a question on Quora which mentioned the forum)

In 2010 I got a job at a gym and worked out for a couple years and was in great shape. Around the same time though I became addicted to painkillers and it began a horrific addiction where I was shooting up a bunch of meth and heroin on a daily basis.

In 2016 I got on a methadone program and am still on it to this day although at a decreasing dose as I don't want to be stuck on it forever. I started going back to the gym several months ago and have already lost 20 lb but want to gain more muscle somewhere along the lines of the way I looked in 2010 when I was 20 years old.

I did a 6-week'cycle' of rad 140 (10mg), noticed definite strength increase. That ended 6 weeks ago.

The main thing I'm looking at right now is potentially some sort of testosterone boost. I suspect my natural testosterone levels are decreased from the methadone but I have not got a lab and I am scared to because I have no veins left from the drug abuse.

I don't want to do a large amount, just something small that would work as a booster as opposed to doing it like a full standalone cycle. I don't mind if it requires a needle to do IM injections.

I guess the other thing based on comments I've seen is whether a shorter cycle with something like anavar at a 25 mg dose would be crazy? What do you all think?

Appreciate any and all input!!
-J

Congrats on getting sober. Stay on the train and get addicted to the gym instead.

 

[jJjburton]

(came here based on an answer to a question on Quora which mentioned the forum)

In 2010 I got a job at a gym and worked out for a couple years and was in great shape. Around the same time though I became addicted to painkillers and it began a horrific addiction where I was shooting up a bunch of meth and heroin on a daily basis.

In 2016 I got on a methadone program and am still on it to this day although at a decreasing dose as I don't want to be stuck on it forever. I started going back to the gym several months ago and have already lost 20 lb but want to gain more muscle somewhere along the lines of the way I looked in 2010 when I was 20 years old.

I did a 6-week'cycle' of rad 140 (10mg), noticed definite strength increase. That ended 6 weeks ago.

The main thing I'm looking at right now is potentially some sort of testosterone boost. I suspect my natural testosterone levels are decreased from the methadone but I have not got a lab and I am scared to because I have no veins left from the drug abuse.

I don't want to do a large amount, just something small that would work as a booster as opposed to doing it like a full standalone cycle. I don't mind if it requires a needle to do IM injections.

I guess the other thing based on comments I've seen is whether a shorter cycle with something like anavar at a 25 mg dose would be crazy? What do you all think?

Appreciate any and all input!!
-J

most states allow bought bloodwork online, then just go to a lab. Not even through a doctor. Usually 80-120$.

Pre bloodwork is so important, it shows more then just testosterone. And you will forever yse this info when you get follow up bloodwork in the future.

Currently in revovery too. Went the sublocade route.

 

[hashbrown32]

most states allow bought bloodwork online, then just go to a lab. Not even through a doctor. Usually 80-120$.

Pre bloodwork is so important, it shows more then just testosterone. And you will forever yse this info when you get follow up bloodwork in the future.

Currently in revovery too. Went the sublocade route.

Fortunately being on Medicaid I have no problems going to a doctor and requesting blood work and I won't even have to pay for it, the singular issue is the fact that my veins are shot and it's really difficult to get any blood out of me. I have scheduled the appointment though, the earliest they have is March 29th to get it done.

Thanks to everyone else also for the supportive comments.

 

[Scheff]

Hey man, I can feel your struggle. I got addicted to Kratom in 2017 and now I'm on suboxone since 2019. It had a major impact on my sex hormones. Both test and estrogen went below the reference range and my prolactin got sky high. 2 months ago I started working out again and went back on

Fortunately being on Medicaid I have no problems going to a doctor and requesting blood work and I won't even have to pay for it, the singular issue is the fact that my veins are shot and it's really difficult to get any blood out of me. I have scheduled the appointment though, the earliest they have is March 29th to get it done.

Thanks to everyone else also for the supportive comments.

cycle (I have over 10 years of training experience and over 5 years with PEDs) and I feel like completely different person. Motivated, driven and way more confident!

If I were you, I'd first go on a TRT dose of test (starting at 120mg/week and working your way up to the top of the reference range). I bet that alone will make a BIG difference for you! After that you can of course add other compounds if your serious with your training and diet

 

[Scheff]

Man our story are crazy simalar so u ain’t alone!

 

[Rickt]

There you go. You joined the right place. Even mallard offered advice. You are special when that happens. There were ten or more guys here ready to help you. Take them up on that offer. Make joining meso a new beginning. Plenty good reps here too. But I believe with your past you need a clinic to guide you. Or before you know it you will be over dosing on ug steroids. Be safe. Stay cool. Live long.

 

[Scheff]

There you go. You joined the right place. Even mallard offered advice. You are special when that happens. There were ten or more guys here ready to help you. Take them up on that offer. Make joining meso a new beginning. Plenty good reps here too. But I believe with your past you need a clinic to guide you. Or before you know it you will be over dosing on ug steroids. Be safe. Stay cool. Live long.

Appreciate that

 

[KrownedKingzLV]

Fortunately being on Medicaid I have no problems going to a doctor and requesting blood work and I won't even have to pay for it, the singular issue is the fact that my veins are shot and it's really difficult to get any blood out of me. I have scheduled the appointment though, the earliest they have is March 29th to get it done.

Thanks to everyone else also for the supportive comments.

How long you been clean without any IV use? Your veins are still shot?

 

[Scheff]

How long you been clean without any IV use? Your veins are still shot?

Oh ya my veins are fucked in my arms however since getting back in the gym and weening myself off suboxone (started at 24mg a day now down to only 1mg a day) they are starting to come. And and I have many new large ones popping up in my chest, rib cage and even legs that I’ve never had before. I’ve been off heroin for years now and have reignited my passion for lifting and recently started on Rad 140 oral 4 weeks ago and plan to continue and add mk677 and lgd-4033 in the next couple days for an additional 8 weeks with the rad 140 and so far getting great results feeling really good seeing gains already and has helped make it easier and quicker to get completely off the subs once and for all. I have used a few cycles of anabolics many years ago and plan to start playing around with them again when this cycle wraps up after I do some more research on best ways to go about it at my age etc. I did have my blood work done before getting on sarms and my test was at 480 which is higher than I thought it would be but my se drive and ability to keep an erection are fucked.

 

[hashbrown32]

There you go. You joined the right place. Even mallard offered advice. You are special when that happens. There were ten or more guys here ready to help you. Take them up on that offer. Make joining meso a new beginning. Plenty good reps here too. But I believe with your past you need a clinic to guide you. Or before you know it you will be over dosing on ug steroids. Be safe. Stay cool. Live long.

Thanks for the supportive post. I have been doing a lot more research and sticking with the routine of hitting the gym daily. Just in the couple weeks since my first post I am embarrassed that I was actually thinking it would be a rational idea to hop on anavar lol. Still have my doctor appointment on the 29th to get the referral for a real blood test although I'm not sure how they are going to do it, re: no veins.