thanks! I didn't know it and flaxseed were the same. The first site (natural health) is rather alarmist - I am taking it on the advice of a gastro-enterologist though. I have to take it as otherwise am in gut pain all the time (that and the low FODmap diet, an annoyingly restrictive one) so I'll have to just keep an eye on things. I'll mention it at my November meno clinic appointment too, but will probably get some blank looks.
I suppose it's no bad thing to take a lower patch dose anyhow as at some point they're going to start trying to wean me off HRT.
I'll not take my supplements straight afterwards though, which I have been doing.
Funny though, it had no effect at all on helping my meno symptoms before I started HRT.
Sunnydays - if you don't grind it, you won't absorb it apparently. It's not possible other than in a coffee grinder as the seeds are so hard.