M-F Post-op hormone question

[MamaBear2019]

Hi everybody,

I'm in the Denver area. I'm 68 now.

I've been out of touch with the T "community" for many years, but have a question.

I transitioned M-F in the early 90's. I haven't kept up with hormone topics since, or had much interaction with doctors about it. My GP doctor of many years barely tolerates me and treats me like a human being, but she's that way with pretty much everyone.

I've been on estradiol, all this time.

A few years after GRS, I had my levels checked and the testo was down to something like 7, which I recall was at the very bottom of the normal female range.

I don't know if it's an aging thing, or a hormone thing, though, but sleeping as gradually gotten more and more difficult, and segmented. Like sleeping a few hours, watching some TV, then 2-3 more hours.

I used to watch the series "Turn", about the revolutionary war, and it's apparently always been fairly normal for people NOT to sleep straight through, but to sleep in segments, which I think they called "First watch", second watch, etc.

But I used to sleep straight through when I was younger, and before transition.

I've also noticed that when I eat steak or beef, sometimes it gives me a great night's sleep, so I'm wondering if the hormones in that might be something my brain needed?

I mean, my brain and body is genetically male - fact. So is it possible that I might need the slightest trace more, of some testo, to sleep well?

What's the regimen/protocol on that?


<No dosages please
Admin>

[KathyLauren]

Hi, MamaBear2019!

Welcome to Susan's Place.

I have not heard of sex hormones being involved with sleep regulation, but that does not mean it isn't so.  A connection between eating and sleep has been recognized for a long time, which is why you hear of people taking a nap after a big Christmas dinner.

Your doctor would be the person to consult about this.  If you find your current doctor unapproachable, perhaps you should find a new one.

Please feel free to stop by the Introductions forum to tell the members about yourself.  Here is some information that we like to share with new members:

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[Dani]

Greetings MamaBear,

I am 69 years old, post op mtf for 3 years and have similar sleep patterns. I attribute this to my age and a retired senior life style. It is well known that older people need less sleep than when we were younger. These days 5 or 6 hours of sleep is plenty. Napping during the day will just make the amount of night time sleep much less than staying awake and active all day.  I do try to stay active and it seems on the days that I am outdoors doing something active for at least a 3 to 4 hours, I seem to sleep a lot better during the night than on the days I just kind of hang around the house.

Large meals will make me and almost everyone else sleepy for a few hours anyway. I try to avoid large meals because I cannot afford the large number of calories. I have to watch my diet.

Your T levels are right where it should be. Mine is 7 ng/dl. Be careful of the units your T levels are measured in. The reported blood level depends very much on which units your lab is using.

Since you are new here, you most likely have not read about the prohibition of mentioning hormone dosages. The administrators do not want to encourage self administration of any form of hormone treatments, so they do not allow anyone to mention what dosage they are taking. This is mostly a liability issue and we do not want anyone to say that they got this type of information from Susan's Place. Each persons dosage should be monitored and adjusted by a qualified medical practitioner. We can talk about side effects, blood levels and route of administration. At times the discussions are quite lively, as we all have our own preferences.

[MamaBear2019]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I didn't know about the dosage thing.

But in other ways too, this forum is a bit too restrictive for me.

But thanks for the replies.

[Dena]

I am post surgical a good deal longer than you and my sleeping pattern has changed. I suspect some of it was age and the other part was my roommates cancer and death. It caused me to be aware of the least noise that was out of place and to do that, I am not sleeping as deep as before. Previously I needed about 8 hours of sleep a night and now I normally run between 6-7. If sleeping is a serious issue, discuss it with your doctor. Sleep has been studied a good deal and there are a number of treatments available that will provide a good night's sleep.