Why does hrt make you so sleepy and tired?

[GhostTown11]

God idk how I'm going to get through this day. I feel like building a hammock in the library and try and take a nap.zzzzzzzzzz

[Alainaluvsu]

Because your body is used to using testosterone as a source of fuel. You should get a lil more energy, but as long as your T levels are suppressed, you will likely battle fatigue much more than you did pre HRT.

[Rabbit]

Yea, I am still getting used to the entire energy issue...

My last checkup they found that my T levels were too low (even for female levels)... which probably was causing a lot of the more extreme tiredness problems.

It's one of the main reasons I want an orchie asap... so my hormone levels will get to a stable spot and I only need to supplement a small amount of estrogen (instead of the balancing act between estrogen and spiro I do now).

[GhostTown11]

O.o yeah this energy issue is killing Me my doc is gonna have to answer for that one.    on a different note,  anyone notice your mood is tied to others? Especially other women you are close too? I notice this with me and my mom it's like our moods are linked...when she gets mad I get pissed off too but when she is calm and happy it's like I can almost tangibly feel it too.

I know all humans do this but pre hrt I used to be able to pull myself out of it. Now it's exemplified to the extreme. Also, in psych class today the teacher showed a video about Serbian mental institutions and I was tearing up so much I had to wipe my tears fast and get that back to business face...

[A]

I notice that testosterone used to be sort of an "adrenaline fuel". When I was very tired, I would get sleepy for a while, but if I had something to do, it would quickly go away, as though entering "emergency wake mode". Since HRT, though, that "mode" doesn't work very well. But that's probably good, since it helps me fight my tendency to have an unhealthy sleep schedule.

Now, if I'm extenuated, my body TELLS me. As a result, I actually have more energy the next day.

And it adds up to the overall energy boost that HRT provides.

[peky]

Because your body is used to using testosterone as a source of fuel. You should get a lil more energy, but as long as your T levels are suppressed, you will likely battle fatigue much more than you did pre HRT.

Not so. Glucose is the major body fuel, and to minor extent glycerol, some amino acids, and ethanol. What low testosterone does to males is three fold (in a simplified way): 1) low testosterone reduce the response of cells to insulin, 2) reduces the level of circulating glucose by down regulating the thyroid function (lower the basal metabolism), and 3) reduces the basal level of adrenalin. Other physiological loops are also affected, such as increased protein catabolism, etc

[A]

I don't think she meant it in such a literal way. ^^'

[peky]

Just trying to shade some light

[A]

It's all right~.

(But... Say what? We -use- ethanol?)

[GhostTown11]

I have no ethanol..no! God I'm stuck in university until 7 tonite-_-

[Jamie D]

Not so. Glucose is the major body fuel, and to minor extent glycerol, some amino acids, and ethanol. What low testosterone does to males is three fold (in a simplified way): 1) low testosterone reduce the response of cells to insulin, 2) reduces the level of circulating glucose by down regulating the thyroid function (lower the basal metabolism), and 3) reduces the basal level of adrenalin. Other physiological loops are also affected, such as increased protein catabolism, etc

I knew that peky could explain the biochemistry! 

Thanks

[Adrasteia]

It's all right~.

(But... Say what? We -use- ethanol?)

Alcohol is basically converted to sugar, although the metabolism has its own caveats.

[JoanneB]

Alcohol is basically converted to sugar, although the metabolism has its own caveats.

Converting massive quantities of beer to urine, while seeming like a good idea at the time, has its own caveats the following morning 

[peky]

Alcohol is basically converted to sugar, although the metabolism has its own caveats.

Close but no cigar, ethanol -aka as alcohol- enters the krebs cylce where it is burned to to generate CO2 and ATP

[auburnAubrey]

My test is where it should be, but my estrogen levels are just a bit low.  I was wondering if raising those would make any difference in my mood / energy.  I'm just kind of blah....... both physically and mentally.

[Adrasteia]

Close but no cigar, ethanol -aka as alcohol- enters the krebs cylce where it is burned to to generate CO2 and ATP

Yeah, posting from my phone; I shouldn't have said convert. 

I was mis-remembering some tidbits from this video ("Sugar: The bitter Truth"), which was pretty damn informative:

[Jamie D]

Close but no cigar, ethanol -aka as alcohol- enters the krebs cylce where it is burned to to generate CO2 and ATP

Adenosine triphosphate - cell power!!

[mementomori]

I have no ethanol..no! God I'm stuck in university until 7 tonite-_-

oh youre just studying in the library ? damn i was going to ask you how you like being a librarian becuase im thinking about becoming one lol

[luna nyan]

Close but no cigar, ethanol -aka as alcohol- enters the krebs cylce where it is burned to to generate CO2 and ATP

peky, you scare me.  You're making me have really really bad flashbacks to my biochem days at uni.
I need a trigger warning for all of your posts! *lol*

[peky]

My test is where it should be, but my estrogen levels are just a bit low.  I was wondering if raising those would make any difference in my mood / energy.  I'm just kind of blah....... both physically and mentally.

Perhaps it would improve the mood. For the "ENERGY" issue I would think increasing the amount of daily exercise, and increase the amount of protein in your diet while lowering that of the simple carbohydrates.