vaginapagina | Leg cramps + the patch (Reply)

I didn't find anything specific about this in the FAQ, so forgive me if it's there and I missed it.

I've been using the Ortho Evra patch for about 1.5 years. The first year was fine (aside from some annoying slipping and sliding and such, but that's not my concern atm), but at random over the last several months (I'd guess about once every month or two, sometimes a little more frequently), I've been getting horrible cramps in my legs, usually at night--many times I've scared my boyfriend to death by waking in the middle of the night with a shriek and jumping wildly on the bed. My boyfriend has always been more worried about it than me (I don't get them too regularly, so I'd always think "A cramp's a cramp, I've had them before"--even though I've never experienced this variety), with all of the recent press about the patch and blood clots. I've been meaning to bring it up to my doctor, but always forget.

I was listening to a medical radio show today and the doctor hosting was talking to a caller about some medication with estrogen in it, which could give her leg cramps. As the patch contains estrogen, I thought, "So is the patch the cause of those cramps after all?"

It's not entirely consequential as I'm changing birth control methods in a month, but I'm curious...
Could it be the patch? Could this worsen, were I to stay on it? Could this be a precursor to the fatal blood clots the news was raving about not long ago or is it likelier it's just a random side effect? Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks!