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I went to a naturopath who recommended the supplement strontium. My  
physician looked it up and found many studies showing that it can be effective  in 
improving bones. I've only been taking it for a month, but I'm like you -  
trying everything I can to avoid medications like forteo. I also doing more  
weight bearing exercise. (I also waited 2 years, thinking it had to be  
improving, only to find that it was worse. Very frustrating.)

I have a friend who was on Forteo and was taken off of it recently.   It 
really didn't help her too much.  Now she is on Fosamax.

I  have osteoporosis and was on Evista for quite a few years then the 
docotr  
added Boniva once a month.  Howoever, my bones were getting worse  instead 
of 
better so I went to a Osteoporosis specialist and asked him about  Reclast. 
He did a lot of tests and then said that I was a candidate for  it.  That 
was 
last April.  That same month I had the Reclast,  which is once a year.  He 
took me off of Evista and Boniva but you do  have to keep taking calcium. I 
went back to the doctor in November and he  did a bone density.  It turned 
out that my bones are very much improved  so I will go back this coming 
April 
and have Reclast administered  again.

My mother has been on Forteo for 18 months. The biggest side effect? NO  
PAIN. She was really suffering before but now her bones have strengthened  and 
she no longer has to take the injections.

Everyone is  different. It may be that my mother just didn't have the 
negative reactions but  others do. I can ask her directly if you want.
Carolyn Ormsbee

As I read your note, I almost thought I had written it myself. I just had a 
bone  density 2 weeks ago, and mine isn't as good as I had hoped. I'm still 
only at  -3.2 though. I just refuse to go the traditional way, since I took 
Actonel for 2  years prior to getting dx'd and getting off gluten. I did 
improve from the  initial -3.4 to -3.2 but had so many issues with calcium 
depositing in wrong  places (hand joints and optic nerve "pseudopapilledema" 
that I'm now stuck  with). My doctor isn't demanding, but he suggested the 
Reclast IV  infusion.  I sure don't like the reviews on it either, as I am VERY 
 sensitive to "sin-"thetic "poisions." in the form of medical procedures 
and  prescriptions.  I got off all Rx's and now I depend on alternative and  
homeopathics for all my digestive and other health issues. I am also in the  
process of starting on a new herbal supplement that my alternative health  
adviser has suggested for building bones - in difficult cases. When I start 
on  it, I'd be happy to let you know what it is. I really feel like trying to 
find  the best alternative is MUCH better than taking a chance on getting 
into a  pain/damaged condition that I can't reverse. My family has't really 
gone to the  doctor in nearly 3 years, except for annual exams.

I took it with no problems.  I took it for the full 18 months.   

I had problems with Vitamin D deficiency while I was taking it (side  
effect was severe pain in my joints - like when you have the flu), but Vitamin D  
supplementation solved the problems I was having.

Hormones helped my (  cream and only bio-identical hormones) with an 
anti-aging doctor. Then  weights, walking and swimming as well as Oseo 
Density BLEND by Lifetime ( I  believe) and Magnesium drinks ( CALM) each 
evening.

The trick I feel  is getting the body to ABSORB the calcium.

My orthopedist can not explain  why my bones were better last year than he 
had seen in 20 years.  


I think it was my drinking green tea, stopped eating red meat and actually  
got off the synthetic hormones.  I also started walking, LOTS.  I  started 
raising Guide Dog Puppies for the blind so I had to get out several  
times/day. (I've been raising the puppies now for 7 years) I also started seeing  a 
chiropractor 3 years ago.


I've had a total hip replacement, a revision and early osteoporosis/low  
bone density.  I am only 48 and have had these issues since my early 20's.  I 
was only diagnosed Celiac last fall, it explains a lot.
 
My bone density has increased, but it's hard to be sure just why. My gyn,  
who may be the very best doctor I've ever had (very rigorous scientifically, 
 very smart, listens carefully, well thought-of by patients as well as  
colleagues....can't say enough for her) is not very much impressed by my  
improved numbers. "I don't believe in regeneration", she says. She didn't  
mention my age (I am 67) but I'd bet she was thinking I'm a little old to be  
building new bone.   


It's important to note that the bone density scan  is just a measure  of 
what we know how to measure. It is not necessarily an indication of bone  
health, but doctors don't know how to measure other variables. Bones can be in  
quite bad shape and still measure as dense.  


That said, my numbers at the hip have improved from osteoporosis to minor  
osteopenia, and my spine number is now NORMAL! At the very least, it's good 
that  I haven't lost ground.


My approach is lots of exercise, enough to raise a good sweat: aerobics,  
weights, balance, isometric, more weights. My routine is an hour a day, four  
days a week. My diet is heavy on fruits and vegetables and light on meat 
and  fish. I eat a fair amount of whole grain in the form of Lundberg rice  
cakes. 


My hypothesis is that even years after blood tests showing no antibodies  
and a follow-up endoscopy showing complete healing, small changes continue to 
 happen and the ability to absorb nutrients...trace minerals, for  
instance...continues gradually to improve. Peter Green, who is my Celiac  doc, 
agrees that even the completely healed Celiac gut is unlikely to be  perfect. My 
gyn. thinks my hypothesis is plausible: if absorption improves over  time, 
then maybe there can be some bone rebuilding. 


Bone building and re-absorption is cyclical. The trick is to make the build 
 part of the cycle match or surpass the reabsorption part. Apologies to 
doctors  and scientists...my explanation probably leaves a lot to be desired. 
But roughly  speaking, if lack of nutrients have cheated the build cycle, 
then their  introduction, via a better-healed gut, might help it. In any event, 
the  reabsorption outstrips the build part of the cycle as we get older.


The overwhelming fact, though, is that Celiac is a highly variable  
condition, and what works for one of us does not necessarily work for others.  
Excercise can't hurt, though. Nor can green vegetables.

Everyone is different, of course.
I am 66, female, caucasian,  celiac.  Live in NY City.
I have refused to go on the osteo drugs.
I  follow a very strict regimen 3-4 times a week of exercises   
specifically designed to stregthen my spine, hips, wrists etc.
It is time  consuming and sometimes painful.
I also follow a very strict diet which  includes quarts and quarts of  
goat yogurt each week, calcium citrate ,  D3, TRACE amounts of estradial.
I eat huge amounts of fresh swiss chard or  other greens on the same  
level.
Also consume large amounts of high  quality salmon (fresh and canned).
I eat no sugar, drink no coffee or  alcohol, I eat no processed foods  
(at all except an occasional potato  chip, salt free), eat a virtually  
salt free diet.

I believe the  special exercises, weights (again in tamdem with the  
exercises),  swimming, walking, along with diet, D3 and calcium has  
not only kept  me from slipping, but I have shown a slow but steady  
increase over the  past three years on the same scanning equipment.

Good timing. I didn't  want to start taking forteo because it's an 
injection. 
My prednisone from  asthma is making my progress evaporate, so I need to do 
more than Evista,  calcium/mg/D3 supplements and exercise.

I was just pre-certified  (insurance) to start Boniva infusions (every 
three 
months). I'm absolutely  terrified, but like you, my numbers got worse very 
suddenly, probably  related to my struggle to absorb Vit. D.

Good luck with the Forteo. My  OB/GYN, rheumatologist and endocrinologist 
all 
suggested Forteo. When I said  no to needles, they suggested Reclast, but 
that's a 1x a year infusion,  which has higher side effects, so I asked 
about 
the Boniva...lower dose,  less side effect. They all said yes, but I'm 
still 
scared.

I would  like to thank everyone for all the advice, as you can see I had 
many responses  and hope this helps everyone.  I'm not a computer genius, so I 
hope this  worked.
I had my apt with specialist and am having blood work done.  She  
recommends Forteo, because my bones keep getting worse. she said that after  
menopause our bones drop for awhile but then they should stabilize, but mine  don't. 
 So that is probably what I will do,  I just pray this all  works out.
Thanks again to everyone and if you would like to e-mail me personally,  
that would be fine



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