Question:
Can active duty army receive gastric bypass?
Here is my issue. I am active duty army who qualifies for gastric bypass. I was approved by tricare for the surgery and went to all my pre-op appointments. A week before my surgery I went to a medical appointment to take care of my convelecant leave and profile. It was then that they came to me and said that they made a mistake and that active duty cannot receive gastric bypass. I have read of some people on here who are active duty and received the surgery. If anyone has information that will help me can you please let me know. Im extremly depressed over all of this. — PFCBeefcake (posted on July 11, 2008)
July 11, 2008
Hi Ken....first...may I tell you how happy I am that you have
decided to have a gastric bypass....! Keep a positive attitude about
it...did they just tell you it was a mistake? or did they give you a paper
saying you were not eliagible? I can't believe that the VA won't cover
it?????? I'd look into it further if I was you...ok? I'll be praying that
you will get a...OK on the surgery...Your friend, Linda
— LindaA
July 11, 2008
I don't know this for sure, but I would imagine if you are active duty, you
could be deployed anywhere in the world where WLS appropriate food may not
be available for you. You might not be able to tolerate MREs. I suggest
you check into it further and get some concrete answers. Good luck to
you.
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
July 11, 2008
I dont know for sure... my hubby is active duty army. I was looking one day
online because he was going to recuit my cousin in but he has had hernia's
in the past. This was when I started to research my surgery. Anyway I came
across something saying you are ineligable to join if you have had weight
loss surgery. However, I have seen people on OH join the national guard
after having the surgery. I would think it would have something to do with
complications while in the field. Because of the fact of your diet will
change and Im not sure if I would want to eat an MRE after having gastric
bypass...Well Im not sure I want to eat one to begin with! But I would do
my research because if you qualify for it weight wise I would imagine you
arent making the weight requirements for being active duty. Maybe you can
be the one to change the policy. Take it all the way to the top if you have
to. Who was it that came to you and said you cant....Your CO or tricare?
Good luck, Im here if you want to talk. Kim
RNY 6/18/08
— Kimberlin Katayama
July 11, 2008
I am retired Navy dude, but I would dare say that it has something to do
with being deployable. Good luck in resolving your issue and thanks for
your service to this country.
— criehavendude
July 11, 2008
Here is a link to the ruling.
http://www-nmcp.med.navy.mil/bariatric/BARIATRIC%20SURGERY%20POLICY_20070326160507_924C6A1B.pdf
After the surgery, you are not deployable. The nutrition needs are too
great to a bariatric patient.
— Jen R.
July 12, 2008
I know of a few active duty navy guys that had RNY and as far as I kow only
one had problems, it disqualified him from sub-service. I actually had my
Lap RNY at Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma WA. I did see several soldiers
in uniform at a WLS seminar there not long ago. Not sure if they were there
for themselves or for support.
— Lisa B.
July 13, 2008
It doesn't day anything in the Tricare benefits handbook
http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/Download/Forms/Standard_Handbook_06.pdf
Tricare recently even approved Lap band surgery...so I imagine it is your
unit that is not approving your surgery and for the reasons others gave
you...Deployment issues...
http://www.usmilitary.com/1422/tricare-lapband-servicemember-benefits/
Good luck to you...
— .Anita R.
Click Here to Return