Can I get BAS if I have a medical condition?

Tiffany Goulbourne — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 01:48:13 -0500

I have been diagnosed with chronic urticaria. My doctor advised me to keep a food journal for about 3 months to track the foods that trigger a reaction. Unfortunately, that seems to be 90% of the food at the DFAC. It has become extremely difficult at this point as I not only get hives, but also awful stomach cramps. To say the least, my relationship with food is not the best right now and as a result it's ecoming increasingly hard to "perform at the standard". If I get documentation from my doctor, will I be able to get my BAS?

PS I'm in AIT.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2022 1:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 01:52:48 -0500

Honestly, if you can't take DFAC food, then you're probably not deployable, and if you're not deployable, you need a medical separation

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Jan 12 at 2022 8:26 AM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 08:26:53 -0500

Maybe its the local soap the DFAC washes their dishes with, so try another DFAC to at another post to see if that helps. In the 1980s in Germany one of my soldiers had that problem. We were able to transfer him (contract breech issues) to another Barracks where they purchased a different cleaner.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2022 8:33 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 20:33:26 -0500

Congratulations. You've just been diagnosed with a condition that the DoD says is a PDQ per DoDI 6130.03 v2. You may want to have another conversation with your doctor about this. It's highly possible you could be facing a medical chapter separation.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2022 8:45 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 20:45:08 -0500

I’m curious, is it just the food from your current DFAC or did this affect you in Basic Training too?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2022 8:49 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 20:49:58 -0500

Can someone tag LTC Al Giwa for this one? I can't seem to tag him, and since he is a doctor....

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2022 9:04 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 09:04:48 -0500

All excellent answers and we need the OP Tiffany Goulbourne to chime in.
So a lot will change based on answers to the below questions however assuming this is in fact a food allergy, which it sounds like, there are a few treatments you should discuss with your PCP. One is simple anti-allergy meds targeting your stomach (as well as the rest of you secondarily) and those are any of the H2 blockers like Zantac Pepcid etc. You, in addition, may also need to take an H1 blocker preferably nondrowsy such as Zyrtec, etc.
Knowing what the cause is will be helpful… which implies triggers, locations that you’re affected, etc.

If meds control this I do not think an MEB would be necessary.
Good luck

Thanks to MSG Private RallyPoint Member and SGT Charlie Lee for alerting me to this.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 13 at 2022 11:02 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:02:54 -0500

The question is it food from Military DFACs or food from this specific DFAC? My first thought isn't that you have an issue with food but potentially food being prepared at this location. Whether it be something in the building, kitchen or maybe a sensitivity to how something is cooked.

You are being exposed to something causing a reaction. It could be a food allergy, or an allergy/sensitivity to something else. I doubt you are allergic to 90% of the food they provide but it most likely isn't the food itself but something else you are being exposed to in the process. The biggest thing is to work with medical and identify what you are allergic to. Once you have the smoking gun you can work to identify a solution to avoid exposure. I doubt you will get BAS approved when there aren't any solid determinations that it is an issue with DFAC food.