Woman, 20, started business after unexpected diagnosis
A woman was given surprising news after her friend urged her to go to the doctors. Maisie Baxter, 20, from Woolton, runs her own beauticians called MJ Beauty, specialising in eyebrows, eyelashes and waxing.
Maisie started feeling unwell at the beginning of last year and felt like she was ‘spinning’ all the time. This lasted for eight months but has now subsided.
Maisie believes it could have been a sign of vertigo which displays similar symptoms, but is still awaiting the results of a test from a brain specialist to know for certain. Then, in October of last year, her friend pointed out she had a lump just above her belly button and urged her to get it checked.
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Speaking to the ECHO, Maisie said: “It was just a lump on my stomach. I didn't have any other symptoms. My friend pointed it out to me and they said, ‘you need to go and get that checked’. I was shocked. Because it was a lump, my first thought was that it could be cancer.”
After Maisie got it checked, it transpired that she had an umbilical hernia. A hernia usually develops between your chest and hips. In many cases the only symptom is a lump in your stomach or groin.
Umbilical hernias occur when fatty tissue or part of your bowel pokes through your tummy near your belly button. Untreated hernias may not only keep increasing in size but could also become harder to manage, more uncomfortable, more painful, and in worst case scenarios, life-threatening.
It turned out Maisie had the lump for many years but because it was initially so small she didn’t even notice it. It was only when it grew noticeably that her friend noticed and pointed it out to her.
After seeking medical advice, Maisie received surgery to repair the hernia which was successful, but it remains a mystery how long she had the lump for. She said: “The doctors said I could have possibly had it from birth, but they don't know.”
After the surgery, Maisie began to think about her career. Although she had always enjoyed her job working as a beautician, she realised it would be better for her to work for herself and follow her passion.
Maisie said: “It was painful after the surgery. You don’t realise how much you use your stomach. At one point my boyfriend was having to lift me out of bed.
“The doctors did say it would take about six weeks to recover but it's been longer than that because I strained myself when I went back to my old job. I stressed myself out about getting back.
“I ended up having to go off for another two weeks and then after that I just thought, you know what, I just need to take some time off to rest.”
Last November, Maisie decided to set up her own firm, MJ beauty, to help her recovery. She said: “I think the surgery and everything around that caused me a lot of stress. I was taking a lot of time off work.
“I knew that going on my own would be a lot less stressful and I could manage my own time. Throughout my last job as well, all my clients used to say to me, ‘why didn't you go and do it on your own? You'd smash it.’
“My clients gave me a confidence boost. But it wasn't planned beforehand. I was probably going to do another half a year at least working for someone else before giving it a go.”
Maisie found a space inside Parker and Dicce hairdressers in Woolton Village and set up her beauty firm there in November. Although it was set up so quickly, Maisie is happy with how things are going.
She said: “It is a lot less stressful. I can take the time off to chill while I'm just building my client base up. It is easier on yourself and you don't have to ask anyone to get the time off.”
“It's been rewarding already and I've only just started. Some people don't even know me, have never even met me and they're just picking me to do their treatments. Then they go home and take the time out to leave reviews. It just makes your day.”
Maisie is still experiencing some discomfort after the surgery but believes the worst is behind her. She said: “As long as I'm not lifting heavy stuff, I'm fine. I've had a lot of support from my family and they've helped me so much.
“ I've got to go back to the hospital again because I went to the doctors the other day and they think there's a stitch left in it but they don't know for sure.”
Hernia stitches are used to close the skin after a hernia repair operation. They may be dissolvable or might need to be removed by a doctor.
Despite not planning to try to start her own business until a few months ago and the worries she has endured, Maisie believes it has all worked out for the best.
She said: “ I wouldn't change it for the world. Obviously going self employed is a scary thing because you're not guaranteed income. I worried that if it didn’t work, I’d feel down on myself, but it’s gone so much better than I expected. The fact that a lot of people have found me already is just amazing.” You can find out more about MJ Beauty by visiting the Instagram page here or Facebook page here.