Dexa Bone Scan

[Mama Melissa]

Hey just wanted to know if any celiacs out there have ever gotten this bone scan test and what happened if you did have osteoporosis?? how do they treat it??

[ravenwoodglass]

Test is easy no prep needed. I do have osteoporosis and they tried to push meds on me. I declined as I don't consider them safe and some research does state they are not good for celiacs. My doctor advised getting adaquate calcium and vitamin D and weight bearing excercise. You may want to see a recent thread on Fosamax and read all you can about those drugs before you agree to take them.

[Mama Melissa]

thank you raven

[mushroom]

My Vit. D was very low and I suffered a compression fracture in my spine from a fall injury, so all the docs assumed I had osteoporosis. I said I wanted another DEXA scan before making that assumption (I had had a screening scan 4 years or so before that said my bones were great), and guess what, my bones were still great But I still take lots of D and calcium....

[sb2178]

magnesium, vitamin K, and a diet that is high in fruit and veg (7+ servings per day) are also bone protective. Sufficient protein helpful, excessive protein harmful.

It's a very easy test-- you really just have to be wearing no metal or dense plastic and it takes (usually) between 5 and 11 minutes for a full body and less for a part like hip or spine.

[cahill]

I am 54 years old .

I had my latest DEXA scan this past summer and it showed osteoporosis in my spine.

My doc IMMEDIATELY started trying to push Boniva on me.

I declined to go that route. I am taking supplements and doing weigh bearing exercises.And will closely watch the progress of the osteoporosis to decided wither or not to add drugs like Boniva.

[Tina B]

Hey just wanted to know if any celiacs out there have ever gotten this bone scan test and what happened if you did have osteoporosis?? how do they treat it??

normally it is done at age 50 but my gyn ordered mine at age 45 because of the celiac. The initial showed osteopenia which is the beginnings of osteoporosis. The follow up 2 years later showed no change which is good. I had added weight bearing exercise (treadmill, eliptical) and weight training as well as calcium with magnesium. The reason for doing it earlier was to see if I would need something like Fosamax or Boniva earlier than expected.

[Wolicki]

I've had several. I was dx'd with osteoporosis and osteopenia at 34, and it kept getting worse every year, even with reclast injections. Once I was dx'd celiac, I am sure to take my calcium and D religiously and exercise 5 times a week. My most recent (first post diagnosis) dexa scan showed "dramatic improvement," with no drugs. Doc was astonished and said keep it up!

The test takes like 5 minutes. You just lay there (with no metal) and then you're done. Easiest test ever!

[ILoveflowers74]

I also (like mushroom) compression fractured my spine at 28 yrs old....that's when I got my first scan . Dx osteopenia... Was told to take calcium and d for a year and repeat the scan I even added weight bearing exercise I was jacked lol. However my 1 yr follow up was worse . I couldn't understand it . I mentioned to the doc that it seemed like I wasn't absorbing it... Cuz I was taking it. It just kinda was forgotten about until now with my suspecting celiac . My most recent scan which was the first in 4 years was worse still. Currently doing the gluten challenge . Can't wait to be able to absorb and try to save my bones I'm 37 now time is running out ? I have no doubt that I'm a celiac . I just need my dx for backup. ... So I can go back to being gluten-free and begin recovery again... I cannot wait.

Good luck with your scan. It's very Easy you'll see.

[shopgirl]

My scan was clean thankfully. I spent my life drinking enough milk to choke a cow so I'm guessing that helped. Like the others said, it's easy: you just lie on the table for a few minutes while they scan you. I got to listen to the tech tell me about her weekend plans (visiting her grandchildren and finishing a knitting project, if you're interested).

My mother (non-Celiac) showed osteopenia but she declined all the drugs they pushed on her and has maintained her levels for the past five years by taking Vitamin D and eating a healthy diet.