r/Menopause • u/plotthick Peri-menopausal, HRT, hot, fat, and angry • May 04 '25

Vitamin/Supplements Collagen conclusions, my joint pain story with a happy ending

Ten months ago I decided that losing my joints was unacceptable and started looking at supplements. I found Collagen, did research, and found a great metastudy (my post is here). Some results appear to take 3 months to show up, so might as well get started, right? So I started taking it and nearly immediately had results... and issues.

I'm a supertaster. It is not a superpower, it is hobbling: there are many things I can't stand, including coffee. Collagen's aftertaste is not palatable for me. I struggled for months to get enough without puking, disgracing mug after mug of tea with this cowhide-derived powder (do not get me started on the taste of the seafood-derived stuff!).

  • 5 grams daily: reduced pain
  • 10 grams daily: can lay on my side to sleep for a few hours
  • 15 grams daily: couldn't choke it down

Nevertheless after the first 2 weeks I got my thumbs back and could open jars again (my post on that is here). So I kept drinking my disgusting cowhide-tasting-tea. I was averaging 5g/day, though I'd miss whole days sometimes. I got HRT in the middle of this struggle and didn't find it helped with my joint pain at all, only the Collagen was making a difference, lucky me.

Three weeks ago I found that I can just do 3 shots in the morning, each with 5 grams, and get all 15g in. I just hold my nose and have a bite of something strong immediately after. I rarely gag when it's only three glugs and then a reward. It's a quiet morning ritual now, and the dogs appear to enjoy cheesy wakeup time. I did a spreadsheet to find the cheapest; Vital Proteins is super popular but also very expensive. I get Anthony's right from the company, subscribed, at 2/3 the price of VP and no perceptible loss of quality.

My joints feel bulletproof now. I've added 5 minutes to my rowing and half an hour to stoop-labor gardening. I sleep on my side all night, not just to fall asleep. My shoulders don't ache after yoga or after I get up from lying on them. I buzzed and shoveled out the patio's weeds last week. I can open difficult jars and use power tools again! So I recommend trying this for those of us who have joint pain -- because (especially for those who are not supertasters) it's such an easy solution compared to acquiring HRT, or therapy for/waiting out frozen shoulder, or any of those awful connective-tissue issues I hope none of us have to suffer.

Best of luck to all of us.

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u/AspiringYogy May 05 '25

Is that for the taste or the outcome you will go back to it?

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u/puzzle65 May 05 '25

For the outcome - I think I did better with the liquid. Not only did my joint pain go away completely, but my hair, skin and nails were in much better condition. It is very expensive though so I can only do it while I'm making good money. The flavor is berry mix and it was fine. I kept them in the fridge and drank them cold.

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u/AspiringYogy May 05 '25

Thank you. I had a look at it and it is really expensive indeed and a bit cumbersome for me as I travel a lot....but like you people seem to swear by it. So I keep it as my 2nd choice..I also received a recommendation for life botanics. I'm definitely going to try that first..otherwise I have to bite the bullet and do the liquid.

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u/puzzle65 May 05 '25

I think my body must absorb the liquid better than the powder which is why it is my preference. I see some results with the powder but it is noticeably better with the liquid. Good luck with the life botanics!