Hi postmeno3
I've had a quick look at this thread. Sorry to hear about your sweats. I have no complex analysis to offer....
First though - my own experience - I have tried Estradot (many years), and then when the shortages began, Estraderm (briefly), then Elleste Solo (for a year or two?), and the last few months was put on Evorel. I have never noticed the difference between any of them ( apart from size and stickability).
In terms of sweats - and patch types - the only time sweats have returned has been when I have reduced the dose of whichever patch I am using. Also a while ago when I increased patch dose too quickly I also had the return of sweats/flushes.
When I changed to gel for a few months I also had the return of flushes/sweats but didn;t stay long enough to tweak the dose because I knew that patches worked.
In addition - some women - me included sometimes, can get increased flushes and sweats on the progestogen phase of their cycle if they are on cyclical HRT - and some women take an increased dose to counter this. Not applicable in your case.
Remind me whether you have your ovaries?
Also other metabolic issues re thyroid function ( apols if this has already been covered elsewhere - I've not been on the forum for a few weeks)? Have you had blood tests to rule out this?
However, I just read that, in rare cases, Estradot can cause carb intolerance!!!!!! These sweats, only on waking at those two times, could be linked to that rare side effect. Blimey, this is fascinating but a zillion piece jigsaw puzzle!
It would be unlikely that only Estradot would cause carb intolerance and I'm not sure what they mean by this? If it was reported by the pharma it would be as a consequence of their studies into their own product. All patches release estradiol and don't contain any different active ingredient.
In terms of types of sweats and overheating - many women experience these differently at different levels of oestrogen depletion eg women may report some degree of overheating during peri-menopause and ask (on here for example) if this is the start of hot flushes. Only later do they develop into flushes and sweats. This is what happens with me - eg if I reduce oestrogen dose - I start to overheat at night, and toss and turn as a result - but not sweats as such - but eventually these and flushes, return.
My normal intuitive reaction to your situation (having ruled out other causes for your sweats) would be that you need higher oestrogen - because your own oestrogen has fallen or the dose is too low). However at your age (approx similar to mine) I would want to know your history a bit more (Sorry I've forgotten!). ie ve brief rundown of what hsppened when eg hysterectomy, age, HRT tried, when your symptoms ( flushes etc) started.
Yes I gather from reports on here and from Louise Newson that ME may be wrongly diagnosed - and may well be due to hormonal issues - notably insufficient oestrogen or tesosterone, or thyroid problems.
I would also have sympathy with the blood sugar issues. Blood tests may not show anything. I always have normal blood sugar but I definitely have blood sugar problems - severe "reactive hypoglycaemia" at times - which to all intents and purposes is like true hypoglcaemia in terms of symptoms. I almost always wake hungry, but I have a sleep issue too in that I sleep very heavily now - so it doesn't wake me in the night. I often have a small bowl of yogurt or something before I go to bed as I'm often hungry at bedtime too!
My suggestion if you haven't done so already is to see if your sweats are caused by anything else (thyroid notably), possibly eat something before you go to bed ( slow release), ensure your diet is healthy (reduce quick relase carbs and sugars), and then think about increasing the oestrogen dose? Also depending on your past history.
Hope that helps though I have not come up with anything concrete nor have I read any secientific papers for months!
Hurdity x
