is my monitor pooched?

You do need a bit of knowledge really, and a test meter.

It's impossible to say where to start because of so many variables
involved, it would be wrong and could easilt be misleading for anyone
to try.... unless they know the set inside out and sick of dreaming
about them, even so they may end up struggling trying to do a repair
from a distant.

Like I said, there are dangerous voltages and currents in a monitor
and could prove fatal, so I really don't even want to try I'm
afraid..

.. plus one mistake and that could certainly be the end of a monitor.

Best bet is to take it in for repair or at least let someone have a
look at it for you who are capeable of doing the job right and
safely.

Davy