Why do I doula?

Towards the end of my blog hiatus, I began posting a series about my personal health care journey. I did it partly for me, to put all the pieces together, but I also did it because I've been nauseated for over four years and my doctors have no idea why. I'm not the only one this has ever happened to ... I googled it one night and found a discussion board about all these people who have been/are going through it too. I was doing it as a way to reach out to those who might have the same problem, and also as a hopeful thing, hoping someone had been through it too and got an answer that may be the answer for me.

Two years ago, I had surgery. My symptoms to that point were fatigue, nausea, malaise, and tenderness in random places all over my trunk. It affected my work so much I ended up quitting my jobs. I just couldn't fight it any more. I had also developed a rather distended upper abdomen. I couldn't wear a bra, I occasionally had difficulty breathing (due to the pressure), and I looked pregnant. I figured surgery couldn't hurt anything. I was so wrong.

Actually telling about my whole recovery is painful. Within the first two weeks, I had changed to a stronger pain medicine, gotten into a huge fight with my boyfriend (at the time), cried a ga-zillion times, been to the emergency room, had DISSOLVABLE stitches RIPPED from my body, found out my after care instructions were complete bullshit, got passed off between doctors, discovered I had a hole. In. My. Abdomen. Went for an emergency therapy appointment. Got the white gunk dug out of aforementioned hole, and was on my way to recovery.

Or so I thought. Within a couple of weeks, I started waking up between four and six in the morning about once a week with excruciating back pain. It feels like my muscles are contracting, they pull tighter and tighter inwards until after they can't get any tighter and they finally begin to release. There is tons of pressure with this, too. (Just out of curiosity, I timed it one time and it took 20 minutes.) This still happens from time to time. Now, when I wake up with the pressure, kind of uncomfortable feeling, I take a deep breath and brace myself mentally. Usually by relaxing the best I can when it starts, I can keep the pain from getting as bad as it can.

I also just haven't been "the same" since my surgery. I am even more fatigued, more tender, and now I have muscle and joint (and tendon) issues. I've noticed lately I've been a little better, but my stamina is nothing! Once the weather cools down, I'll know a lot more.

And, of course, I'm still nauseous. But, I can breathe. And wear a bra. The breathing part is wonderful, the bra part ... I was getting used to shelf bra camis and they were oh so comfy.

So, what does this have to do with becoming a doula? Giving birth has such a wonderful outcome (assuming everything goes well), why should a woman have to just go with whatever the doctors and nurses say and hope she doesn't have a bad experience? I'm not saying this happens in every case without a doula, and I'm not saying every case with a doula is all roses. I just think having an advocate and support person to help you during this journey can help the outcome be as best as possible. Like I said in doula training, I think everyone should have a "doula" for every medical experience.

What can I say?

It's been a while, y'all. Lots of changes are taking place :)

I guess I should start off with some 'splainin' as to why I took down all my old posts ... see, what had happened was I thought I was going to start a "lifestyle consulting" business, where I teach etiquette and advise on wardrobe, homemaking, and other lifestyle kinds of things. I'll admit I'm not the best at any of that, but I know what is appropriate and I'm a fountain of advice. What better name that Southern Like That for the business? So, I figured I would take down all my posts and start the lifestyle blog. That didn't happen. Not that it ever won't happen, it's just, well, kind of overwhelming. And I have had this other little project going on.

Last year, I spent the summer suffering from hyperthyroidism and tendinitis. My plan was to go to massage school, get my license, and start my massage therapy practice in Auburn. Well, my tendinitis didn't heal in time to start school and I desperately needed something to do. I considered going to cosmetology school because I love doing makeup, but that's a lot of money to spend to just do makeup. Don't get me wrong, I will cut and color your hair for you if you are a very dear friend, but I don't love doing it. What else do I love, know, and can feasibly do for work? Become an artist. I'm no fine artist by any means, but I'm rather crafty.

It got put on the back burner as life got complicated the past year, but, fortunately, I did do enough work on it here and there to have a (hopefully) fairly good plan in place. As of last week, I am the proud owner of my very own business, Queen B, named for my beloved cat, Boston GoGo. I plan on launching in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

With the business, I began exploring what social networking sites I wanted to utilize to help me promote Queen B. I've been hearing a lot about Pinterest, and really wanted an account, but it didn't seem like the right thing to do with Queen B. It is a great way to promote my other favorite hobby, lifestyle. So, you can now follow me on Pinterest, SoLikeThat. (Southern Like That was too long. Boo!)

Another little thing that happened this summer was I finally began my doula certification. Why would a woman who has no desire to put her own self through pregnancy and who desperately wants to be a mother become a doula? That's a long story you can read on my doula blog (when I get it up and running). I'll probably do a post on it here, just because I also have a passion for health care advocacy.

So, y'all, that's what I have to say. It's been a long, hot summer, and I am ready for the greatest Southern pastime - FOOTBALL. War Eagle, y'all.

P.S. Maybe I'll get around to putting the old posts back up :)