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Wow, great responses! Thank you for all of your suggestions, personal
stories and well wishes.
I've decided to wait one more year to see if I can't improve my bone
density even more with exercise and a very healthy diet. I'm also going to
try natural progesterone body cream, as suggested by a few of you.

As for my questions: Some of you had no problems with Fosomax and other
similar drugs. Some said that it caused erosion of the esophagus if used
incorrectly. Some said that it isn't known what kind of effects they have
on women in their childbearing years, and to use it as a last resort only.
I agree.

Here are some of the responses (I'm sorry it's so long, but there were so
many great ones):

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-I was diagnosed at 35yrs and by following a strict diet(deleting all
cafeine products as well as they leech the calcium vit d) and taking
calcium with vitamin D tablets.  After 1 year I was pleased to find out
that I had reversed the osteopenia.

-Much more important than taking calcium, as we can really get all the
calcium from foods that is needed, is to make sure you are getting enough
magnesium and boron and other minerals that enable calcium to even be
absorbed.  By loading up on calcium you can actually do more harm because
it will make you low in magnesium.

-There are other possible causes for osteopenia, besides Celiac.  Have you
been tested for other diseases?   A hormone imbalance, taking steroids,
even some medications can lead to osteopenia as a side effect.

-There is a book that you may find interesting:  Food and Our Bones by
Annemarie Colbin.

-I had it too, at 23.  Now I'm 24 and am so strong-boned it's ridiculous.
The trick for me was yoga three times a week and eating these Silk Soy
yogurts that have an amazing 50% of yoru calcium as well as a multivitamin
and ice cream and cheese (one or the other, most likely both).

-I'm 18 years old and i was diagnosed with Celiac about 2 and a half years
ago and i also have osteopenia in my hip and spine.  It has gotten a lot
better thru taking viactivs and staying healthy on the diet.  I am also a
runner on the x-c and track team,

-EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE YOUNG, GET ON  A GOOD NATURAL PROGESTORONE CREAM FROM
YOUR HEALTH FOOD STORE, IT IS GOOD FOR PMS, SKIN, BONES ETC!!!!!!!!!!

-the bone density tests typically don't show a linear improvement. I
was told (have not seen research) that typically the test at the end of
the first year may be worse or show no improvement. However it should
show improvement in 2-3 years. ensure you are tested on the exact same
equipment for each test. I was surprised at this, but the technicians told
me there will be a difference in the results based on using different
equipment (and not just between manufacturer's).

-I was diagnosed with the same thing at 24.  I was put on Fosamax for a
little while, but my doctors at Mayo Clinic decided that it wasn't
appropriate for me to take that medication since bones do continue to grow
until age 30.  The consensus was that I should take calcium supplements 3
times a day as well as a multi-vitamin.

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List*