I ran a busy finance firm in NYC, but my stress got worse when I had surgery. Now I help high-achievers manage illness.

• Sydney Sajadi had an emergency hysterectomy, but said she felt unsupported and alone afterward.
• She researched her own recovery, realizing that she'd neglected her health for decades.
• The ex-financier wanted to help others like her, ditched her career, and founded a wellness brand.

This interview is based on a conversation with Sydney Sajadi, 46, the founder and CEO of a wellness brand from Toronto. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In the financial field, when I co-owned a real estate lending firm in New York City, I was the type of person who checked my emails first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

It was "go, go, go," and I didn't get enough sleep, underate by missing meals because I was too "busy," and overexercised to achieve the "right look."

I'd always had an issue with uterine fibroids. I dealt with the problem as something that came along monthly, which landed me in bed for a whole week.

I burst into tears with no explanation

Then, in 2024, I suffered a health crisis. I went to the ER with a towel wrapped around me because the bleeding wouldn't stop. I was hemorrhaging and needed four blood transfusions.

It wasn't enough, and the only option left was a full hysterectomy. Usually, the surgery is treated as the main event, but nobody talks about the aftermath.

People rallied around me during the operation. They were my cheerleaders. But after I got home, I was pretty much on my own. Everybody has their own lives to lead, and besides, I didn't want to be a burden.

I was completely depleted in every way. I would burst into tears with no explanation. I started feeling that my skin, even my hair, felt different.

Back at work after three weeks of medical leave, I experienced more stress because I couldn't focus and keep up with emails. The hours dragged, and I'd look at the clock and think, "When is it going to be noon? When will it be 1 pm? When can I go back to bed?"

I felt depressed and didn't want to socialize or go to the gym. I felt completely on my own for eight long months.

I tried to push through it, but there came a point when it was clear I couldn't keep operating at that level while my health was declining. The period forced me to step back and reassess everything.

I was suffering from burnout

I started researching my symptoms. My body was full of inflammation, and my hormones were out of whack. I took independent action to improve my digestion, lymphatic support, circulation, and tissue repair.

These were things I'd never thought of before. For years, I'd assumed I was a healthy person who went to the gym and drank protein shakes. I realized I'd burned myself out and not given myself enough time and grace to recover.

I also knew that I wasn't the only one. A lot of high-achieving women need guidance and support after surgery, whether elective, like a facelift, or an urgent medical situation.

I started my own business

So I changed direction in my career, moved from New York City to my native Toronto, and launched my wellness brand, Sanadi Life. It helps women navigate recovery, hormonal changes, and overall health.

Many are high-performing and don't have the luxury of extended downtime, so the focus is on efficient recovery while supporting long-term vitality and aging well.

As for me, I feel wonderful now, more so than I did pre-surgery. I have my energy and vitality back. I feel like the better version of myself, and I like her a lot.