<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

In summary to my question about the two tests, colonoscopy and bone density 
– almost everyone replied that the base line for the colonoscopy is done at 
50 and than should be repeated every 5 years for one dx. with CD or if you 
have a family history of colon cancer instead of the typical 10 years.  
Thank you to all the people who responded.  I have taken the liberty to 
shorten repeats in the responses, especially the above inf. on a colonoscopy 
for the sake of summarizing.    All your responses were very helpful.  Bone 
Density tests responses varied enough that I have left most of those 
responses intact.  Carol

Colonoscopies are regularly performed at age 50,
if you are younger you could request one, but you know the
damage is not in the large intestine but in the small intestine.
If you are looking to find damage then an endoscopy is the
appropriate test to have run.
Regarding bone mass density testing if you have CD then
you should absolutely know how your bones are doing. You
should probably be tested yearly for BMD.
Hope this helps.

Bone density testing typically starts at
the onset of menopause; celiac disease may be a factor in starting 
thisearlier, depending upon your particular medical history.

The problem might be with you insurance company. Just wanting one may not  
be a good enough reason for getting the colonscopy. Your doctor will have no 
trouble with the bone density test and should have you get one at least  
every two years


celiac drains bone density, so you want this done soon.  you should be 
taking TIWN LABS TRI-BORON PLUS..a cal/mag supplement with boron and vit d 
to make the body absorb the cal.  everyone who has taken this has reported 
an major increase in bone density within the years

colconscopies are suggested after age 50,,,the problem is that the stuff 
they give to clean you out is not gf.  check the archives.  I am 65 and 
haven't had one for that reason.

know that celiacs who do not stick to a gf diet have a very high rate of 
colon cancer.  those who stick to a gf diet have a very LOW rate of colon 
cancer.

If there's a family history of colon
cancer, its 10 years earlier than the age at which the relative got cancer,
if that puts the test earlier than 50.  Standard screening is every 10 years
(or maybe 5) for the colonoscopy (with no history or problems) and every 2
years for the bone density.

had my first bone scan last year after CD dx. I was 43 so it took a bit of 
convincing by doc to get the ins. to cover it but they finally agreed. My 
scan showed I barely had osteopenia but in fact a 43yo should NOT have that 
- unless of course they have issues with malabsorption. I'll have a follow 
up scan in May to see if I've improved in the last year by taking calcium, 
d3 and magnesium and doing a wt. bearing exercise program. Colon test I did 
at 42 only when doc was looking for cause of anemia which turned out to be 
CD. The test itself I don't remember but the prep the night before is the 
worst thing ever in terms of medical test prep work. Good luck to you!

I think it is sensible for a celiac to get a colonoscopy earlier rather than 
later, not so much for a baseline as because one screw-up in the intestines 
seems sometimes to precipitate others. My evidence for that is purely 
anecdotal (i.e., factually meaningless); if there is scientific evidence, I 
do not know it.

Bone densitometry is highly recommended as a follow-up test immediately upon 
getting a celiac diagnosis. It is very common, unfortunately, for celiacs to 
have developed some bone loss due to active but untreated celiac. If your 
doctor is not well educated about celiac complications and especially if you 
have not yet hit menopause (when lowered estrogen levels become a rationale 
for checking out bone health), you may encounter some resistance.

However, you can fill her/him in on the whys and wherefores. If the body is 
not absorbing calcium from food, it will leech it from the bones because 
calcium is essential to bodily function -- helps keep the heart muscle 
going, for instance. Your calcium levels can be perfectly normal at the 
expense of your bones. Fosamax and other biophospates are dangerous for 
celiacs until absorption is restored.

I was told colonoscopy @ 50, unless symptoms don't subside w/diet, and I get 
a bone density every year, esp. for women.


If your celiac symptoms were weight loss & diarrhea type over a long period 
of time, a bone scan is a good idea for any age, gender.  The diarrhea can 
cause deficiencies in fat solube vitamins, and Vitamin D is essentail to 
healthy bone.  We've had several 30-ish people in our group who had less 
than optimal bone density.  Males as well as females can be affected.

Also, I was diagnosed with osteopina and that was before  they made the 
connection to the celiac.  We do not absorb calcium  well. Your ob/gyn 
should be able to order this test. I usually do one  every other 
year(insurance only covers that way for me) at the same  time as my 
mammogram.  You didn't state your age, but I would feel  that both are 
important to do as a woman.  I would also suggest that  if you are going to 
do the prep anyway for a colonoscopy, to have the  doctor do an endoscopy at 
the same time.  Top to bottom coverage!!  LOL  But why waste the prep and 
going under when they can do both at  the same time??  That way he can take 
a biopsy to see the condition  of your villi to see if there is healing or 
still some damage.  There  shouldn't be a problem getting the doctor to 
write the order if he is  has good knowledge of celiac.  He can write it 
that there is good  reason to look, no matter your age.  If he is not well 
versed in  celiac, then try to find a good gastrointerologist in your area 
that  is.  Otherwise, he might overlook something when you are having the  
exam... Good luck.....

I was diagnosed with osteopenia at age 55, so they do the DEXA Scan for the 
bones every year.  All I've read says the bones will begin to regenerate 
after the gut heals, thus I take calcium citrate, vit.D and Magnesium, and 
not the prescription meds which have too many bad side effects.

My doctor said they usually wait for 2 years between bone density tests 
(after someone is on medication) to see if there is any improvement. I was 
able to talk them into a followup after only one year because we were all 
surprised that I was already osteoporotic and had not even stopped cycling 
completely at that time. If you are a younger person and still cycling, they 
might not schedule them too frequently unless you are osteoporotic and 
taking medication.

I had my first bone density test about 2 years ago. I had just barely 
stopped cycling (ca. 54 yrs old) but my mother has osteoporosis so the MD 
was happy to recommend the test. I had frank osteoporosis already and have 
been taking Actonel ever since. I had a followup bone density test a year 
later and there was some improvement. (Another story...I've basically 
stopped taking it because it gives me acid reflux and aggravates my 
long-standing ulcer. I can't tolerate calcium pills because they nauseate 
me. :-\). At 56, I am now completely post-menopausal.

I suspect that I was already osteoporotic because of gluten intolerance, in 
addition to being a short, small-boned Caucasian female with family history 
of osteoporosis. If you have any of the risk factors in addition to CD, I 
think your gynocologist or internist would be happy to send you for a bone 
density test. It is certainly reasonable to have a base line.

I have a friend who went in for a base line colonoscopy last month when she
turned 50....she was diagnosed with rectal cancer and had no symptoms, she
has now being treated with chemo and radiation after the surgery!  I just
wanted to urge you to get a colonoscopy...we all need to know about our
insides (no pun intended), not just us celiacs.  Both colonoscopies and bone
density tests are painless, I've had both done and get regular testing done
every few years.


Been there and done that - twice. Bone Density is absolutely painless and 
non-invasive. My celiac disease depleted the absorption of Vitamin D and 
thus calcium. After a year of taking garden variety calcium with vitamin D, 
it was decided that I had improved and was no longer in peril.

Colonoscopy doesn't have anything to do with CD, or so I understand. The 
doctor is looking for cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions in the lower bowel. 
The procedure takes 20-30 minutes once you are in the colonoscopy suite. You 
can even watch the process, but I opted to be a bit foggy. If the 
pre-cancerous growths are found, the doctor snips them off and sends them 
off for biopsy. Then you repeat the colonoscopy more often. The worst part 
of the procedure is the preparation, and  nobody likes it, even doctors who 
need colonoscopies. Just follow the directions exactly and you will be fine.

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