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Thank you all for your quick response.  It appears that I am worried for
nothing.  The following is a compliation of many of the responses I
received.

No, well, at least in NZ it;s not painful. It's a scan, and all you have to
do is lie still while they take your pictures!! No risk, as far as I know.

Good luck

Thanks again!!!

I recently took the bone density test, on my doctor's advice. The test is
absolutely nothing to fear. It took about ten minutes. I was positioned on
an examining table, and the technician manuevered a machine above me,
similar to an xray machine, over my legs and hips. Then, the doctor came in
and moved my wrists around, all the while the machine took pictures.

        It was completely painless, and fast. A few days later, my doctor
called me with the results. Indeed, I have some problems which he wants to
remedy by putting me on either Fosomax or estrogen. He attributes my bone
density problems to celiac disease. I have yet to decide what to do about
it, but I'm glad I caught it now.

I have had two bone density tests.....no pain at all.  One tested my hand
and wrist only, while the other one had me lie on a table while a scanner
went over me from hip to head.  Very very simple.  I was found to have
moderate osteoporosis, so the tests were done at a good time.  I was
diagnosed with CD in December.  I am taking fosamax to help my body absorb
the calcium, three pills daily that I also take.  Good luck.

The test is like having x-ray done. You basically have to wear no jewelry
and no clothes with zippers . You will place your wrist on a board or pillow
and a machine will go above and take a picture, For your hip and back, you
will lie down on the table and the machine just goes over above your body
and does the picture. I have the test done several times and nothing do it.
I was put on fosmax about six years ago. and having no problem. I am to
taking one pill every other day. and really has improved my bones. Hopes
this helps.

It is totally painless.  You lie on a table fully clothed and an x-ray
machine passes above your body.  They do your spine, hip and wrist.  Takes
10 or 15 minutes.  Absolutely NOTHING to it.  I love that you get to keep
all your clothes on and that nothing touches you!

The bone density test has absolutely no pain involved.  You lie on a table
with your right foot turned in, slightly, and a machine, which is well above
your head in height, moves above the area of your hip and measures the bone
density there. The results appear on a computer screen nearby.  Then they
place a block, much like a box, against your butt and your legs repose on
the block, and the machine moves above your spine and records your bone
density there.  The whole procedure takes from 10-12 minutes.  You usually
have to wear a gown of some sort, because the machine doesn't like metal
such as zippers, bra closures etc.  If you don't have any metal on, you can
wear your own clothes.

The results are available right away, and here at Barnes Hospital in St.

Louis, you carry them to your bone density specialist, who will help you
interpret them.

I hope your results are favorable.  Mine weren't, but it is important to
know what they are.  The test should be done every year, or every six months
if your density is quite low, because you would then have severe
osteoperosis, as I do.

I had it.  It's like an x-ray.  No pain.  Just expensive.
Good luck

Hi - Its not painful in the least.  You lay still for @ 10-15 minutes and
they take a kind of x-ray that measures the DENSITY of your bone(s)
-usually hip and spine. You wear sweat pants I believe as zippers, etc.
screw up the test/scan.  It cost me about $125 I think (which was a little
painful).

>Bone density tests are easy, painless, and rather like having an elongated
>x-ray.  There is no damage to bone nor to tissue because the little
>machine has a narrowly defined point of entry that goes back and forth,
>making a sort of intense image like a TV screen. You'll be strapped in
>just so you don't wiggle.  Just relax and enjoy the technology.

My husband has had this test twice.  It is not painful or invasive.  It is
basically like an x-ray.  The bone is scanned and evaluated by a bone
specialist.  It only involves a "picture" of the bone in certain places.

Quite harmless.  It takes about 10-15 minutes, tops.  No problem at all, but
very important, since absorption problems are causing all types of
osteomalacia and osteoporosis problems.  My husband is a physician, so if
you need any more info, please let me know.

I just had it about a month ago. As is so often the case with celiacs, it
found that I already have osteoporosis. (I am 51 and exercise almost every
day) Now I have to see an endocrinologist.

The test is essentially an x-ray of the lower spine and hip. It is very
quick -- no more than five or ten minutes. And no pain. It is about the
easiest test I have ever had.

Takes about 10-20 minutes - all you do is lay on a table and a type of x-ray
machine moves over the lower spine and .... can't remember what else.  They
also do heel in some cases - there are a variety nowadays - check the net -
nothing to it other that pay the bill - cannot recommend it enough is you
are a celiac - it is an absolute MUST MUST MUST - most painful part is the
traffic getting to the office! Good luck -

This test will check the condition of your bones.  I just had this test
done and no it is not painful.  It's kind of like xrays.  Good test to have
done if you're Celiac, mine probably should have been done right after I
was diagnosed 2 years ago.  Unfortunately, I was the one who requested it
be done -- not my doctor.  Good luck!