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Celiac Update – Osteoporosis

Posted: July 23rd, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Celiac | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Celiac Update – Osteoporosis

After I was diagnosed with highly advanced stage celiac in April 2009, my gastroenterologist ordered a bone density scan. The results showed full blown osteoporosis (I believe around -2.4) in my spine. I was shocked. No middle-aged man ever thinks about osteoporosis. My doctor referred me to an endocrinologist. She decided to treat me with a regimen of maximum calcium supplements (600mg three times daily) and see if that in combination with strict adherence to a gluten free diet would suffice. She noted that none of the medicines for osteoporosis are tested on middle-aged men and there’s no clinical data of any significance. She didn’t want to make me a guinea pig and I wasn’t inclined to be one.

The following year, my bone density scan had improved to the osteopenia range (-1.9 or -1.8, I believe) so my instructions were to continue my treatment plan. Last year, there was no significant change, but since it didn’t get any worse, my doctor wanted to continue the regimen.

This year my numbers improved to -1.1 (anything under -1.0 is considered normal). It’s still osteopenia, but barely. My doctor wants to wait two years for my next bone density scan since at this point there’s unlikely to be significant change in a year. But it looks like I beat osteoporosis! That’s good news in my book.