Beacon Health | Focus On You | Fall 2021

Michelle Toder, MD, ABOM, FACS, FASMBS, medical director and bariatric surgeon, Northern Light Surgical Weight Loss Anna Welcome, MD, FACOG, FOMA, ABOM, obesity medicine certified physician, Northern Light Medical Weight Management Focus on You is designed to help the Northern Light Employee Health Plan work for you, our plan members. The information in this newsletter comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider directly. If you have questions about our health plan, call our Northern Light Service Center at 207-973-4000 or Customer Service at 855-429-1023 . Sometimes it’s hard to make time to take care of yourself. We understand. But regular checkups are an important part of self-care—just as important as eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. So there’s no time like the present to schedule a checkup with your primary care provider. Once your appointment is set, there are some things you can do to make your checkup easier. Don’t skip regular checkups By Jaime Rogers, LCSW, MBA, director, Community Care and Behavioral Health Services, Northern Light Beacon Health It took me a while to recognize that I was severely overweight. I was active. I ran half marathons—at nearly 300 pounds. I didn’t have diabetes or heart disease yet, but I knew I was a ticking time bomb. That’s when I decided to prioritize myself and my health. I’d been unsuccessful at losing weight on my own, so I turned to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center’s comprehensive Surgical Weight Loss program. Surgery does not guarantee success; it doesn’t meal prep for me, exercise for me, or make good decisions for me. That part’s on me. But there’s still help at every step. And that’s where the care team’s comprehensive support is invaluable—both before and after surgery. In December 2019, after completing all of the program’s fundamental steps, I underwent gastric bypass surgery. Now, after losing close to 130 pounds, I see how my weight was impacting my health in ways I didn’t know. Now, I run and enjoy myself. I don’t have migraines. I don’t wake up with aches and pains. I’ve started doing activities I forgot I loved to do, like water skiing. Finally I feel like how I look on the outside matches how I feel on the inside. After choosing my partner, this is the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. Surgical weight loss has added more life to my years. You can’t put a price on that. Meeting my healthiest me Jaime Rogers’ story begins when she decided to prioritize herself and her health Make a list. Note your current medications, conditions, and any concerns you have. This can help make sure all your needs get addressed. Get screened ahead. If you are due for your annual checkup, see if you can get blood work and other screenings done ahead of time. That way, your provider can discuss results during your visit. Be open. Answering screening questions— like those about alcohol, smoking, and physical activity—honestly helps your care team create a care plan that’s right for you. Ask questions. The more details you have about your health, treatment plan, and test results, the better prepared you are to make healthy choices. Consider taking notes so you don’t forget any details. 2 | Focus on You