Military/Overseas Screening/Japan

[kellyjoiii 19]

Ok, I have a question, and hopefully someone can help me...

My husband is Navy. We are looking at overseas as our next duty station. Moreso, Yokosuka Japan. I am going to talk to someone today regarding this, but wondering if anyone has had any personal experience with this situation. I would really like to go, and have him take these orders but am so worried that I will not pass the overseas screening because the facilities cannot handle my band/upkeep/fills and such. I know that there are Doctors in Japan, at least Tokyo (from search done on here) and I already drive 3.5 hours one way to my surgeons office now...so travel time is not a big deal. Can anyone help me?!

I am off to go to the clinic and start asking questions..if it is like anything else military medical wise....it will take a run around to find this information out. Thank you for any info you can offer!

[amjcal 5]

I personally don't think it should be a problem, we are military too and he said the lap band has been around in a lot more countries before it was introduced to the Unites States. I had the same concern as well. We haven't moved overseas yet, but it will be in the near future. If there is a large military medical facility on base and there is a surgeon, they should have no problem doing it. You would think since so many military people are getting the lap band since tricare is covering it that they know they have to offer the service. I am not sure, but I think (according to my husband) that the type of medical services that can cause a problem is children with special needs like CP etc. . I wish you the best luck and let me know what you find out, because I would love to know.

Ok, I have a question, and hopefully someone can help me...

My husband is Navy. We are looking at overseas as our next duty station. Moreso, Yokosuka Japan. I am going to talk to someone today regarding this, but wondering if anyone has had any personal experience with this situation. I would really like to go, and have him take these orders but am so worried that I will not pass the overseas screening because the facilities cannot handle my band/upkeep/fills and such. I know that there are Doctors in Japan, at least Tokyo (from search done on here) and I already drive 3.5 hours one way to my surgeons office now...so travel time is not a big deal. Can anyone help me?!

I am off to go to the clinic and start asking questions..if it is like anything else military medical wise....it will take a run around to find this information out. Thank you for any info you can offer!

[hooahwife 0]

I was just banded this week and I was, in the back of my mind, wondering the same thing b/c my husband is army. The 'job' he has in the army would really only send us to Cuba or Germany!!! My husband is currently in Cuba for a year on an unaccompanied tour so I won't be going there anytime soon!!! BUT I would LOVE to go to Germany one day and was hoping this woludn't hold us back!

[kellyjoiii 19]

Girls,

I know exactly what you mean...I guess I didn't think about this aspect of it! Not that it would have hindered me....I would do it over and over again. I put a call into the overseas screening person here and he shot an email to Japan. This was late afternoon Friday, so I won't hear anything until tomorrow. I will let you know. I do know that it depends on the stations, Hooahwife, I wouldn't think that Guam would have the "facilities" to take us...but I might be wrong on that. Germany on the other hand, should And it is beautiful, so if given the chance GO! Amjcal, as soon as I hear anything, I will let you both know. I know what you mean about special needs, I would imagine that as long as the facility knows about the difference in needles used for our ports, there should be no problem. I am filled enough, but was thinking maybe if need be, having some taken out before I go....Oh, I don't know, it is almost a year away though...so we shall see.

Ttyl tomorrow!

[AlienBandit 10]

Don't worry about coming to Asia with the band, there are docs in Japan, China, Korea, Thailand etc, that are band doctors so it is not like you have a little weight loss alien they dont know ow to deal with.

Bands are becoming a big thing on this side of the world. My doc has been banding people since 2007

[kellyjoiii 19]

Thank You! I thought so too! I am not too worried about it, but the military will be asses if they say "they can't" find people in the network. I found a general surgeon, looking for a specific one Thank You so much!

Don't worry about coming to Asia with the band, there are docs in Japan, China, Korea, Thailand etc, that are band doctors so it is not like you have a little weight loss alien they dont know ow to deal with.

Bands are becoming a big thing on this side of the world. My doc has been banding people since 2007

[AlienBandit 10]

Thank You! I thought so too! I am not too worried about it, but the military will be asses if they say "they can't" find people in the network. I found a general surgeon, looking for a specific one Thank You so much!

Which network are you referring to? The lapband network or some military network?

[kellyjoiii 19]

My medical network

Which network are you referring to? The lapband network or some military network?

[Kristen E 0]

This may be too late, as your post was a few months ago ... but perhaps it will help people who are looking to PCS to Japan in the future.

My husband and I are currently stationed at Yokosuka, Japan. We've been here since May 2008. And I have been working very closely with my doctors in Internal Medicine to find out about getting banded. We have a little less than a year until we PCS again, and I was told that if I have the surgery now, I will not be able to return to Japan for 3 years. So I have to wait until we PCS back to the States.

My doctor is the person who decides on the EFMP/overseas screening. So my source was THE most reliable. She's the ultimate decision-maker in allowing you to come over here or not. Apparently the Navy has a rule that you cannot go overseas within 3 years of having weight-loss surgery. She said that there might be an exception for a few places ... perhaps a 2 year wait for some places in Europe. But generally, it is a 3 year requirement.

Although Yokosuka is a relatively large base, they are not fully equipped for bariatric issues (along with several other needs). Some military facilities, like Balboa (San Diego) and Tripler (the Army hospital in Hawaii) specifically have bariatric departments that can handle our special needs -- including fills.

Regarding fills ... not just anybody can do the fills. Fills have to be done by someone who has trained in bariatrics and are familiar with the band and possible complications. As luck would have it, we recently had a doctor transfer from the East Coast and has been trained in bariatrics. However, she has never done them before. But her help would only come in handy if it's been more than 3 years since your surgery.

Hope this helps! And I'm sorry if it dashes any dreams, as Japan is an amazing place to live. But this knowledge will help you and your spouse be able choose appropriate orders.

Best of luck to everyone!

Kristen