So the E.R. doc said I am going to die......

[SPORT SCIENTIST]

if I continue to use anabolic steroids. For those of you that have read any of my recent posts, you know that I have been experiencing kidney pain off and on for the past year. It only seems to get really bad when I use high doses of winny.

"I hope you know that if you continue using steroids, you are going to die", and "don't you know that they cause brain tumors, liver and kidney failure?". .

I jsut posted a paper on the reversible effects of steroid use on another thread - posting it here for you though:

Found this paper on Medline. Seems like it might be good news for guys who are considering stopping for health reasons.

Reversibility of the effects on blood cells, lipids, liver function and hormones in former anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers.

Urhausen A, Torsten A, Wilfried K.

Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, University of Saarland, Germany. [email protected]

BACKGROUND: In contrast to the acute effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse, the long-term risk profile of former long-term abusers (ExA) is less clear. METHODS: Blood parameters of 32 male bodybuilders and powerlifters were studied. Fifteen ExA had not been abusing AAS for at least 12-43 months on average (mean dosage 700 mg for 26 weeks per year over 9 years), 17 athletes (A) were still abusing AAS (750 mg for 33 weeks per 8 years). FINDINGS: Hemoglobin (+5%), leucocytes (+33%) and platelets (+38%) were significantly higher in A. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were higher, cholinesterase activity (CHE) lower in A (65+/-55, 38+/-27 and 3719+/-1528U/l) compared to ExA (24+/-10, 18+/-11 and 6345+/-975U/l; each P<0.001) with normal values for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and bilirubin. ALT, AST and CHE correlated significantly with the extent (duration and weekly dosage, expressed as a point score) of AAS abuse in A (r=0.68, 0.57 and -0.62; each P<0.01). Total and LDL-cholesterol were similar, HDL-cholesterol was distinctly lower in A than in ExA (17+/-11 and 43+/-11 mg/dl; P<0.001) and correlated negatively with the extent of AAS abuse (r=-0.50; P<0.05). Testosterone and estradiol were significantly higher, while LH, FSH and the sexual-hormone-binding (SHB) protein were lower in A than in ExA (each P<0.001). Two ExA had testosterone levels below the normal range. INTERPRETATION: The alterations in cell counts, HDL-cholesterol, liver function and most hormones of the pituitary-testicular axis induced by a long-term abuse of AAS were reversible after stopping the medication for over 1 year. In some ExA, an increased ALT activity and a depressed testosterone synthesis were found.

CHECK OUT THE INTERPRETATION. I suggest that you go cold turkey on the roids for 18 months and then you'll be fine. If the effects on your liver can be completely reversed, then you will be able to continue juicing for longer. Think of it as a 100,000 mile service!

 

[androjunkie]

Here's what I don't get. All of my tests have come back normal, not one thing is elevated, low , whatever. The only thing I've had besides pain, is some blood in my urine, which I believe to be the winny. To tell me that I will die is absurd, O.K. so maybe I can't say with any certainty that gear won't eventually play a roll in my demise, but I don't show any immediate signs that I'm in danger. I guess he wanted to use scare tactics on me, but it was like the guy took my steroid use personal or something. Anyway, I have decided to take a break after this cycle. I shouldn't throw caution to the wind. There are times when this board can be pretty cool, this being one of them.

 

[Güclü_oglan]

I'm not meaning to diss you or something bro, but i think you've gotta get some more respect for steroids...

continueing to take strong roids even tough you've got pains in your kidneys and blood in urine is an act of suicide, i've heard of people ruin their bodies with indications harder to interpret then yours, that something is seriously wrong. Do not rely on the doc's tests...

 

[androjunkie]

I'm not meaning to diss you or something bro, but i think you've gotta get some more respect for steroids...

continueing to take strong roids even tough you've got pains in your kidneys and blood in urine is an act of suicide, i've heard of people ruin their bodies with indications harder to interpret then yours, that something is seriously wrong. Do not rely on the doc's tests...

You may be right. After I ran quite a few cycles and had no bad side effects, I guess I started taking them for granted, I starting thinking that because I have the genetics for longevity in my family, that I wouldn't be adversely affected by gear. This experience has opened my eyes that everybody is human, and all of our bodies have their limits, and once you push beyond those limits, it is only a matter of time before something bad happens. As I said in my previous post, after this cycle is over I am going to take a break from juicing and try to let my body recuperate. I don't think I have caused any permanent damage but I don't want to take any chances.

 

[JustGottaKnow]

I'm not meaning to diss you or something bro, but i think you've gotta get some more respect for steroids...

continueing to take strong roids even tough you've got pains in your kidneys and blood in urine is an act of suicide, i've heard of people ruin their bodies with indications harder to interpret then yours, that something is seriously wrong. Do not rely on the doc's tests...

Ditto to this.

You gotta back off AJ.

If I had blood in my urine and I knew it was winnie I would probably quit for good.
What's the point of looking good if you're slowly dying. This is bordering on addiction, not common sense.

 

[terrapin]

have you gone to a nephrologist? An ER doc won't be able to tell you much (as you have experienced), but a specialist would. Do you also have protein in your urine?

 

[PolfaJelfa]

I continue to tell people and post, before you visit any medical provider, surgeon , er, doc, have them sign a confidentiallity agreement..always have a few copys in the car...also you can tell them...i wish to tell u something off the record..or use the andro-sten corelation.....IF YOU WOULD HAVE DONE SO( THE ANDRO BS) YOU COULD GO TO THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR, BOIARD OF HEALTH, HOSPITAL DIRECTOR AND COMPLAIN...BU TNOW U ARE FUCKED..TAKE YOUR LOSS.!

Best of luck to you bro

 

[barbell445]

I forgot to post this yesterday, so here goes. I was talking to a surgeon buddy of mine and he was telling me about Synthroid,(T-3), and how residents used to take it inorder to help them get thru their residency. Guess what? The dumb asses didn't bother cycling it as we do, 5micg up to 20/wk then back down, etc...they just took a fixed dose for LONG stretches of time and then stopped. Guess what.... they all ended up with thyroid problems because of it! And they have the balls to condem people for taking reasonable doses, cycled, PCT following and off for equal times??!!

Give me a break....

 

[androjunkie]

Ditto to this.

You gotta back off AJ.

If I had blood in my urine and I knew it was winnie I would probably quit for good.
What's the point of looking good if you're slowly dying. This is bordering on addiction, not common sense.

Common sense would tell you this, unfortunately I am addicted to gear. If the doc came to me and told me with certainty that I WILL die if I continue juicing. Then I would probably die. There is no way that I can stop for good. My body was not meant to be big, I don't have the genetics for it. If I never used gear again, then I would slowly shrink over time and with that my self-esteem would follow. Being big has given me the self esteem I lacked for so long, I can finally walk around with me head up and look people in the eye. I'm not saying feel sorry for me, I'm just telling it like it is. I don't want to give up the good feelings I have achieved, you know the old saying " a coward dies a thousand deaths......." well I haven't been the coward for many years now, and I sure ain't going back.

 

[TheAssholeFomerlyKnownAsDBBT]

I would stop taking steroids period....
That much pain, at least STOP the orals bro.