A Wild Ride with Patience, Perseverance

Jul 13 , 2024
By Eden Sahle

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I gained over 40Kg during my pregnancy. A couple of months postpartum, I started exercising at home to shed the extra weight. I am one of those people who are impatient and want to achieve goals quickly and effortlessly. Last week, it cost me dearly.

Every day of the week, I exercised for an hour, lifting weights to build muscle and walking. Though working out as a nursing mother was tough, I persisted. I cut down on sweets and controlled my calorie intake without affecting my milk supply for my daughter. Nursing my baby also supported my weight loss journey. In five months, I lost 20Kg, more than I had expected.

One of my weight loss goals was to fit into my engagement and wedding rings again. Sitting with my daughter, I tried on my rings. With a little force, I got them onto my finger. My seven-month-old daughter shared my joy with laughter and bubbles. When my husband got home, I proudly showed him the rings on my finger. He was overjoyed that I got to wear my rings again and hugged me.

Our celebration was short-lived. A few hours later, my finger started to swell, and the rings gripped my finger tightly. I thought the swelling would subside on its own. The next day, I woke up with even more swelling and pain. I regretted forcing the rings on. My husband and I tried some of ChatGPT’s recommendations to remove the rings, but they only made it worse.

Although my husband and ChatGPT suggested going to a hospital after our home remedies failed, I was hopeful the swelling would go down and I could keep wearing my rings. I feared that going to a hospital might mean having my rings cut off, so I chose to endure the pain. After two days, the pain became unbearable, and my husband rushed me to the hospital early in the morning.

The doctor who examined me first referred me to a surgeon. I was shocked when I was taken to a surgical room and told I would be given anaesthesia to numb my hand to remove the rings. Despite the pain, I was relieved that my rings would not be cut.

The doctor prepared me for the first round of pain, injecting anaesthesia directly into my painfully swollen fingers. I squeezed my husband's hand and quietly shed tears as the needle pierced through my wounded finger.

Suddenly, the pain stopped, and I felt only pulling and pushing as the surgeon started removing the rings using surgical instruments. The bloody procedure was incredibly difficult for my husband to watch. He squeezed my hand and struggled not to throw up, repeatedly telling me to keep my eyes closed. His terrified look was enough to keep me from watching.

Half an hour later, both rings were safely removed and handed to my husband. I was glad, even though my finger looked butchered. We thanked the doctor for his careful treatment. He advised me to rest and take things slow until it healed completely. The next day, the pain and swelling had eased tremendously. I did not want to take pain medication to avoid passing it to my baby through breastmilk, so I had to endure the remaining discomfort.

Impatience kicked in again. I told myself I did not need to rest. I carried laundry to the washing machine but halfway down the stairs, I fell. Fortunately, my injuries were minor. My husband carried me from the floor, and I realized how much pain I could have avoided if I had just been patient.

Resting in bed, I thought about the importance of patience. Embracing limitations and taking things one day at a time is wisdom. Quick accomplishments are easy to celebrate, but the long-awaited ones are the most rewarding. Trying to achieve something too quickly often leads to setbacks.

In essence, what we get in life is determined by our willingness to wait for our desires. I realised I needed to be patient. I still have to endure the physical soreness and early mornings that come with exercising, not just to fit into my rings but to maintain a healthy weight as well.

Eden Sahle is the founder and CEO of Yoda Technology Plc. She has studied law with a focus on international economic law.

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PUBLISHED ON Jul 13,2024 [ VOL 25 , NO 1263]

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