Postmeno3
Yes, am on Evorel 25. I've no idea what my own levels are other than feeling pretty non-existent.
I went 2 years on Evorel Conti with symptoms only partially improved before anyone would test for absorption. My oestradiol was only 113 on that 50mcg patch when finally tested, deemed "disappointing" by the fab specialist nurse who ran the NHS Meno Clinic, saying it was less than half the expected level for that dose.
It may well be that you are not absorbing well, but if not in the fortunate position of having access to private testing & no-one will test for you on the NHS, it's frustrating that it's impossible to know for sure. As you say, we can waste a lot of precious time being unnecessarily under par as a result. But 25mcg is very low dose & if your sense is whatever you're getting from it is not enough, then I'd say it's well worth asking to go a little higher. Estradot seems to be well absorbed by quite a few members, many others get on well with gel & now there's Lenzetto spray as well, so please don't lose hope. It is tiresome, stressful & can be daunting to have to repeatedly make a case for what we need & in common with far too many other women, I know only too well how that feels.
Sorry, I've gone a bit off piste re the links with food and drink intake, but happy to hear more on either direction here!
I don't think we've gone off piste & anyway it's your thread - you call the shots

Gynaikeios
I hope my silliness has not upset anyone.
Bless you - we love a bit of silliness here & you have said nothing remotely offensive as far as I'm concerned

. In my long explanatory post I was simply trying to be clear about why I'd posted the IC link & safeguard against anyone getting the idea altering diet might somehow prevent/reverse the consequences of hormone deficiency. I'd tried to make the same distinction on the earlier thread on this topic but realised I'd not done so here, so felt a responsibility to try to be clear. I find it can be difficult to strike the right balance when posting, as we can't make assumptions about what knowledge new members or anyone reading without joining may already have. For that reason I often go back later & edit my posts in the hope of making them as clear & accurate as possible. I do hope there was nothing in the tone or content of anything I've written today that caused you to feel uncomfortable.
Please keep posting, we are all learning from each other here & you are very welcome.
Wx