A case for TRT or not ?

**Tovarasu** · 07-07-2020, 12:59 PM

To cut a long story short, a pill messed up my brain and im on SSRI, NDRI and olanzapine. I have difficulty in finding words, sleeping is a problem for me even tho i take olanzapine i wake up tired i never feel rested after a nights sleep, its very hard for me to retain new information (i have no mental image of what i am reading for example), i have no morning wood, i have no sexual desire or need, i can go months without sex.
Prior to my current treatment i did a Primo only run from which i recovered to my half of my original T level. My question is what blood work should i to see if my problems are TRT related, SHBG. estrogen, 17b estardiol, estradiol E2 ? Thanks.

**Motardpdx** · 07-08-2020, 01:52 PM

Most of these questions are answered on the board, read some of the posts in the HRT forum.
Plus, lots more info is needed before anyone can answer your questions or attempt to even help you regarding your problems.
1. Full panel of blood work
2. Primary or secondary causes?
3. Age, weight, diest...the list goes on....
4. Do some DD and read all the info that is avaiable here, you will find answers and the elders on the board will be more then happy to help.
Cheers!

**Tovarasu** · 07-09-2020, 12:48 AM

Thank you.

**kelkel** · 07-09-2020, 10:43 AM

Specifically:

TT
FT
E2 Sensitive
SHBG
LH
FSH
TSH
FT3
FT4
CBC
CMP

**BOPJohnDoe** · 07-18-2020, 05:59 PM

If the question you are asking is whether or not you would benefit from TRT, then the main thing you’d look for is your total testosterone serum blood level - usually measured in ng/dL or pg/dL.

The “established” range of what “normal” is will depend on your age but is generally between 400-1000ng/dL. The younger you are, the higher you’d expect to see your naturally made testosterone levels at - with a decline as we age.

It is my experience that at first doctors will test all of the above mentioned things (FSH, LH, etc) when trying to determine if TRT will be what is prescribed.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

**Quester** · 07-18-2020, 07:05 PM

Are you taking anything for insomnia, OTC or otherwise? You are describing symptoms that may be low test related but could also be due to REM sleep suppression caused by an anti-insomnia med or very likely from the olanzapine (independent from REM suppression). SSRIs are also associated with very minor REM suppression.

**BOPJohnDoe** · 07-18-2020, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Quester

Are you taking anything for insomnia, OTC or otherwise? You are describing symptoms that may be low test related but could also be due to REM sleep suppression caused by an anti-insomnia med or very likely from the olanzapine (independent from REM suppression). SSRIs are also associated with very minor REM suppression.

Also good ideas here ^^

I forgot to mention, you might also want to get tested for sleep apnea. I have OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) and have been using CPAP therapy for about a year now. My symptoms due to sleep apnea were waking up with a bad headache, never feel like I got any sleep really at all, tired all day, falling asleep driving or sitting in traffic, fatigue, bad memory, and irritability. All of these things went away after I was diagnosed with severe OSA and prescribed a CPAP machine. Well worth checking into my friend.

**Tovarasu** · 07-20-2020, 01:06 PM

Are you taking anything for insomnia, OTC or otherwise? You are describing symptoms that may be low test related but could also be due to REM sleep suppression caused by an anti-insomnia med or very likely from the olanzapine (independent from REM suppression). SSRIs are also associated with very minor REM suppression.

Im not taking anything else besides whath my doctor prescribed. My problem is that i took a pill that should have helped me study called piracetam and since then i have a constant pain on my right side of brain, and if im not on SSRI and NDRI i fall in a very bad depresion and cant sleep without meds, waking up arround 4 am and not being able to fall back to sleep, and have problems focusing and reminding things.
Im pretty desperate because the doctors dont know what to diagnose, and the MRI dosent show anything, and i was considering maybe my hormone levels has something to do with my state of mind and sleep.