<<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. _________________________________________________________________ Your Space. Your Friends. Your Stories. Share your world with Windows Live Spaces. http://spaces.live.com/?mkt=en-ca *Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List* Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC