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.