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Once again, you all are awesome! I had a mixed bag of answers, so I'm summarizing what most seemed to agree on.

It looks like for the most part, I will heal provided I follow a strict GF diet, take supplements, such as Vit D and magnesium.  Some said calcium as well.  And exercise.  Once my gut heals, I should see improvements on the DEXA scans.

I did find out this morning that my Vit D levels are low, too.  Doc is starting me on a script for it.  

In the meantime, I have a rhematologist, whom I've reached out to.  She wants to see me next month.  And I see my GI next week.  I'm determined to get on the right plan.

I also want to share this awesome and helpful article our fellow Celiac, Ron Hoggan, wrote and shared with me.  Thanks again, Ron!! Very helpful! (I know you've probably shared before, but for newbies like me!)

Five years ago I became concerned about weakness in my bones after a couple
of surprising fractures. At one point, I broke a rib while shingling a
storage-shed roof. I leaned across the peak of the roofs ridge to pick up a
shingle. I never expected such light pressure to cause a problem, however, I
felt a sudden, sharp pain, and heard an odd sound. This, along with a couple
of less dramatic, but similar injuries, caused me enough concern to begin
looking into the question of celiac disease and bone strength. 
My explorations taught me that calcium absorption probably is not our main
problem. People with celiac disease seem to be able to absorb adequate
calcium1, but the primary problem appears to come from excreting too much of
it, thus causing us to lose more calcium than we are absorbing. I also
learned that research shows little or no benefit from calcium
supplementation for celiac patients, while magnesium supplementation alone
results in significant improvements2. The explanation for this may be that
some of the antibodies caused by active celiac disease attack the
parathyroid gland3. This organ is an important player in regulating calcium
metabolism. Magnesium is necessary for the body to repair the parathyroid
and to maintain its continued good function. 
Being convinced by this research, I began to take magnesium supplements
without any calcium. I found that I had to be careful. Too much had me
visiting the washroom frequently, and I was afraid that too little would
fail to provide me the benefits I was seeking. 
At the same time, I also requested a bone density test. I wanted objective
information that would allow me to evaluate the progress I hoped to make.
The first test was conducted in March of 1997. The results (called "T
scores") are reported based on comparison with the density of bones found in
young adults. For instance, a score of 0 indicates that the bone density is
about the same as would be found in an average young adult. A score in the
minus range indicates a bone that has less mineral and more pores than is
found in the same young adult. Thus, a score of -1.0 to -2.5 indicates mild
mineral losses, while a score of -2.5 or lower indicates osteoporosis.
My test results were not as bad as I had feared. The mineral density in my
lower back was normal for my age, at -0.23. However, my upper leg, where it
fits into my hip, was reported as -2.02, and my forearm was slightly
stronger than that of a normal young adult at +0.19. 
As I saw it, there were only two causes for concern. First, at the tender
age of 50, my hips were very close to osteoporotic, and certainly at a
substantially increased risk of fracture. Such fractures can be very
serious. Secondly, since only three skeletal areas had been tested for
mineral density-and since there was such a wide range of density reported
for each of these areas, it seemed impossible to estimate the density of the
rest of the bones in my body. 
About three years after my first bone density test, some Calgary-based
research made me suspect that the amount of vitamin D supplements I was
taking might be too low4. I increased my intake to 1,000 IU daily. 
By the fall of 2001, I began to wonder if I was being foolish by avoiding
calcium supplements based on the reports I had read. I therefore began to
supplement 350 mg of calcium each day. 
In July of 2002, I underwent a second bone scan. They did not test my
forearm, but the other two areas appear to have improved substantially. The
T score for my lower back was now at + 0.06, and the T score for my hip had
improved to -0.72. 
I realize that what I am reporting is just one persons experience. It is
what the medical professionals call "anecdotal," and does not usually carry
much weight. However, my experience does support the only published research
of the impact of mineral supplements on bone density in celiac patients that
I can find. Based on my own experience, and the relevant research, I am now
convinced that magnesium is the most important supplement to consider in the
context of celiac disease. I was thrilled to read my latest bone density
report. Vitamin D may also be an important factor, but limitations of time
and space force me to leave this topic for another day.

References:
.	Marsh MN. Bone disease and gluten sensitivity: time to act, to
treat, and to prevent. Am J Gastroenterol. 1994 Dec;89(12):2105-7.
.	Rude RK, Olerich M. Magnesium deficiency: possible role in
osteoporosis associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Osteoporos Int.
1996;6(6):453-61.
.	Kumar V, Valeski JE, Wortsman J. Celiac disease and
hypoparathyroidism: cross-reaction of Endomysial antibodies with parathyroid
tissue. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1996 Mar;3(2):143-6.
.	Embry AF, Snowdon LR, Vieth R. Vitamin D and seasonal fluctuations
of gadolinium-enhancing magnetic resonance imaging lesions in multiple
sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 2000 Aug;48(2):271-2.
Ron Hoggan is an author, teacher and diagnosed celiac who lives in Canada.
His new book "Dangerous Grains" is available at Celiac.com and bookstores
throughout the U.S.A. and Canada.

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